24, 48, or even 72!

[jimmer]

Is there a substantial gain from having shorter grazing breaks?
Other than in wet weather will there be big enough gain in a 12 or 24 hour break, to justify major infrastructure expenditure on water, tracks, access etc?

 

[multi power]

More than 48 hours and you loose regrowth

 

[Chae1]

@Kiwi Pete

 

[jimmer]

More than 48 hours and you loose regrowth

Always backfence if 3 days or more, so wonder if 72 hours is acceptable

 

[multi power]

Always backfence if 3 days or more, so wonder if 72 hours is acceptable

Probably be ok outside of peak growth

 

[Agrispeed]

I would've thought intakes would dip substantially on day 3, or you would struggle to get the cows to mop up properly.

You can hit decent residuals a lot easier in 12 compared to 24 but not enough for me to bother a lot of the time. Animal impact is higher on a 12 hour break, but damage is a bit lower in wet weather, and there is a lot less time for fence pacing.

 

[multi power]

I used to run a herd of 150 cows with no electric fences at all, got just as good residuals as on 24 hour feeds, and much happier cows too, and quite often I didn't even shut them in

 

[multi power]

I would've thought intakes would dip substantially on day 3, or you would struggle to get the cows to mop up properly.

You can hit decent residuals a lot easier in 12 compared to 24 but not enough for me to bother a lot of the time. Animal impact is higher on a 12 hour break, but damage is a bit lower in wet weather, and there is a lot less time for fence pacing.

Intakes would dip in day 3, but would increase in day 1

 

[sidjon]

We run 12 hour breaks nearly all season (run 24 hour paddock while calving and last week before cows come in) as get better utilisation as have high SR and cows would reject to much on 24 hour breaks and most paddocks would be 48 hours.

 

[Devon lad]

12hr grazings here all year, first break in a field always bigger than 12 hrs

 

[Beef farmer]

12 hours here for the whole season. Tracks are cheap

 

[multi power]

90% of it is what the cows are used to

 

[Devon lad]

90% of it is what the cows are used to

I think your probably right, never had the balls to see it through for a long period of time to see for myself.

 

[Sylution]

Fresh grass here after every milking. Our cows would not be happy without fresh grass after going into field, because that is how they have been for years. Easier to get them to hit grazing residuals, and they come in for milking quicker.

 

[Beef farmer]

Batt latch wouldnt work on 3 day paddocks

 

[Spudley]

We've been 24 hours for the last 3 years or so, I've tried 12 hours, but the cows panic and go over the fence!!

 

[multi power]

Batt latch wouldnt work on 3 day paddocks

I used to often not shut the cows in the field, usually would be a few in the yard at milking time, once the parlour started they would soon come in

 

[In the pit]

24 he breaks through the biggest part of the year but now going into higher covers (3000) I'm moved to 12 hrs breaks to make sure covers are took down

 

[In the pit]

I used to often not shut the cows in the field, usually would be a few in the yard at milking time, once the parlour started they would soon come in

Surely you would have multiple gateways

 

[multi power]

Surely you would have multiple gateways

Not on that farm, nearly all fields had only one gate