Pasture (pic)

topside1 · #1 09/05/12, 06:22 PM

Hi all, seven years ago I move to my little homestead in Overton Co. Tennessee. The pastures were in poor shape, horse eaten overgrazed mess. Bad, I mean real bad, no fescue, no orchard grass, no clover, honestly nothing of nutritional value. Thanks to the goats, few head of cattle, regular mowing, and hundreds of wheel barrow loads of manure my place has come about full circle. The point being it can be done with a little management and time....Guess I need to buy more livestock....Topside

Pasture (pic) - Cattle

ycanchu2 · #2 09/05/12, 06:49 PM

Looks good

genebo · #3 09/05/12, 07:54 PM

I think I se a lot of crabgrass in there. That's what saved me this year. July 18, bare ground, September 2, knee-high crabgrass.

I had seeded Red River crabgrass the year before, with lackluster results. This year, wow!

topside1 · #4 09/05/12, 08:12 PM

Genebo, there is a whole lot of everything in that pasture, the best part it's all edible...Topside

myersfarm · #5 09/05/12, 08:12 PM

Good job...steward of the land

francismilker · #6 09/05/12, 08:14 PM

Topside, Are you trying to make me jealous!!!!!

Really, that's some good looking pastures. I've got one of those myself that's a work in progress between cattle, hairsheep, and goats. It's taken some time and I'm still fighting a few weeds but I'm seeing things get better.

Congrats on that field!!!

topside1 · #7 09/05/12, 08:15 PM

My wife calls me "Chief Pitch Fork".

topside1 · #8 09/05/12, 08:18 PM

A have another paddock that looks just like this one, love my goats, low paid landscapers.

SCRancher · #9 09/06/12, 07:01 AM

I have pasture envy.

Callieslamb · #10 09/06/12, 07:03 AM

That's really nice. That's what I'm striving for - without the pitchfork. I wish I had your treeline.

willow_girl · #11 09/06/12, 07:20 AM

My cows would like to come visit you!

Bret · #12 09/06/12, 07:50 AM

Good work. Thanks for the pasture walk.

Did you seed any?

Bret

Gregg Alexander · #13 09/06/12, 10:24 AM

Good job of reclaiming the pasture.

mary,tx · #14 09/06/12, 01:33 PM

I'm feeling a little envious, too.

For those of us, okay, for me, who am clueless, maybe you could give us more specific pointers?

topside1 · #15 09/06/12, 03:00 PM

Bret, no seeding just spreading hay, manure and cow patties in areas that needed the most help. Of course all of those products contain organic material & seed. I don't bale hay here, so the hay I buy contains seed from other farms making seeding unnecessary....Thanks for the comments,,,Topside

Deniser · #16 09/06/12, 09:56 PM

Hello Topside,

Been awhile since I've been on this site and am glad to be back visiting! Been also getting some very valuable advice on a few things, and needing a bunch more...learn something new everyday! This post on your pasture has encouraged me as I have a small pasture that has gone to weeds pretty badly. Would you recommend me moving my cow and two calves to another one in order to get it in order? Some of those weeds (thistle, I think?) are quite large and it's just taking over. I know I should've been out there getting a handle on it sooner but it's been an especially busy summer. Should I use a scythe and then a weed killer or would that be detrimental to the cows when I put them back? Should I seed or ???? Also, my daughter is wanting a little goat kid. (Do you happen to know anyone who has any young kids? She was hoping for a Saanen but isn't too picky.) Maybe a goat or two would help.
Anyway, I thank you for your time and any advice you (or anyone) can send my way...

Sincerely,

Denise

topside1 · #17 09/07/12, 06:56 AM

Denise, I mow my pastures more than most people and that encourages the root systems to grow, goats have eliminated nearly all the weeds and that gives grasses a chance. Any weeds that my goats will not eat will be pulled out by hand to prevent spreading. I still have a few weak sections of pasture and they will be targeted this winter. Goats can do amazing things to your property, I started with 22 and now only need 6 to keep the place in check....I'll have Nubian kids for sale during the week of Christmas if you're interested.....Topside

tonyb · #18 09/07/12, 08:29 AM

Pasture looks great Topside. You have mentioned mowing your pastures before in previous threads. I started mowing this year and the transformation is remarkable.

Cheryl aka JM · #19 09/07/12, 08:40 AM

So lets talk a bit about mowing
I just mowed the two lower pastures. I wanted to knock down the undesirable weeds the critters didn't eat. I'm considering mowing part of the upper pastures as well....but there is a lot of good grass still up there. I'm having a hard time deciding to mow and encourage it to grow fresh young grass or leave it alone and be glad I have grass at all up there. (earlier this year that was almost all buttercups up there.....I sprayed the buttercups and put down fertilizer to recover the green grass I have up there now). Should I mow?

topside1 · #20 09/07/12, 08:43 AM

Tony, I mow my pasture with a finishing type mower three times a season. I also do rotational mowing, meaning 3 acres at a time, 10 days later mow another 3 acres, this keeps the animals moving and fertilizing different locations out of necessity. The land in the photos distance is an example of rotational mowing....Topside