Cows loose on grass/rotation grazing ?

[Andrew1983]

A percentage of my sucklers are very skittery since the last 3weeks or so. I sent a sample to vets to get tested and it has come back negative for fluke or worms. We normally put straw out in rings from end of August onwards to buffer the remaining grass growth of the year and I’m sure this will help dry up the cows assuming it’s just lush grass that’s causing the problem.

My question is what do people using rotational grazing do at this time of year, do you feed straw or not need it..... it’s something that’s always been done by my previous generations and also done by others in the area, I’m interested to know what happens in other areas where straw is a lot less plentiful than here too.

 

[topground]

Does it matter and if so why so?

 

[Andrew1983]

Does it matter and if so why so?

Skittering cows aren’t utilising the grass if it’s going straight through them?

 

[nails]

A percentage of my sucklers are very skittery since the last 3weeks or so. I sent a sample to vets to get tested and it has come back negative for fluke or worms. We normally put straw out in rings from end of August onwards to buffer the remaining grass growth of the year and I’m sure this will help dry up the cows assuming it’s just lush grass that’s causing the problem.

My question is what do people using rotational grazing do at this time of year, do you feed straw or not need it..... it’s something that’s always been done by my previous generations and also done by others in the area, I’m interested to know what happens in other areas where straw is a lot less plentiful than here too.

I think you have answered your question . Put some straw out as soon as you have some. I mentioned on another thread that we put straw out with a little molasses nearly right through the grazing season ,grass or no grass.

 

[Agrispeed]

As long as they're not losing weight, why worry?

 

[multi power]

Straw is for bedding
Grass is for feeding

 

[NZDan]

Skittering cows aren’t utilising the grass if it’s going straight through them?

I would argue that they are fully utilizing the grass, high digestibility in the grass leads to skitters, low digestabilty leads to un-digested grass passing through and firming things up.

 

[Jonny B88]

As said they’re eating highly digestible material so very little is wasted, hence lower material in the dung to firm it up. Ours are rotationally grazed and have been loose all through grazing but are thriving.

 

[Danllan]

A percentage of my sucklers are very skittery since the last 3weeks or so. I sent a sample to vets to get tested and it has come back negative for fluke or worms. We normally put straw out in rings from end of August onwards to buffer the remaining grass growth of the year and I’m sure this will help dry up the cows assuming it’s just lush grass that’s causing the problem.

My question is what do people using rotational grazing do at this time of year, do you feed straw or not need it..... it’s something that’s always been done by my previous generations and also done by others in the area, I’m interested to know what happens in other areas where straw is a lot less plentiful than here too.

Out of interest, what are they and has the herd been on the same grazing system for long - meaning many years?

 

[Andrew1983]

Out of interest, what are they and has the herd been on the same grazing system for long - meaning many years?

Mixture of Simmental/Saler/Shorthorn/Angus, cows. There’s some in each batch both the ones that are set stocked and ones that are rotating around fields.
Last year had autumn calvers on a 6 field 6 week rotation which worked well but this year they ended up set stocked. This year I have ended up with a group of spring calvers on a rotation. Next year hope to have most of the cows on a rotation of some kind.

 

[Andrew1983]

I would argue that they are fully utilizing the grass, high digestibility in the grass leads to skitters, low digestabilty leads to un-digested grass passing through and firming things up.

I was always told you wanted a turd to hit the ground with a clap effect rather than a hose of [emoji90] maybe that’s just with inside/feeding cattle though? I thought that skittering is a sign of too much protein?

I don’t like seeing cows with shitty tails that’s then splattered all along their sides from tail swishing.....

 

[Danllan]

Mixture of Simmental/Saler/Shorthorn/Angus, cows. There’s some in each batch both the ones that are set stocked and ones that are rotating around fields.
Last year had autumn calvers on a 6 field 6 week rotation which worked well but this year they ended up set stocked. This year I have ended up with a group of spring calvers on a rotation. Next year hope to have most of the cows on a rotation of some kind.

Interesting, I can't see anything in what you've told us that gives reason to change what you're doing; as has been said, if they are still doing alright there's nothing wrong.