Grass growth?

[jondear]

Of course cows have blades don't they
Cows rip grass just like a topper

Does he suggest that cows should be housed so as not to check regrowth?

Basically yes!

 

[jondear]

A topper makes the top of the grass look like a cheese string

a cow doesn’t it’s still a clean cut

Sort of but pull up some

 

[som farmer]

flail toppers leave a mess behind them, spread the shite across a bigger area, great for hammering bad weedy bits, a mower leaves a tidy swathe, if sunny, our cows hoover it up, it's nearly hay.

 

[Beef farmer]

Of course cows have blades don't they
Cows rip grass just like a topper

Does he suggest that cows should be housed so as not to check regrowth?

No not housed, moved on to the next paddock. After 24 hours in a paddock cows will start to graze re growth

 

[Sid]

No not housed, moved on to the next paddock. After 24 hours in a paddock cows will start to graze re growth

Anyone grazing should know that, but the practicalities of paddock sizes mean it doesn't happen.

It's the cutting rather than "tearing" part I am interested in.

flail toppers leave a mess behind them, spread the shite across a bigger area, great for hammering bad weedy bits, a mower leaves a tidy swathe, if sunny, our cows hoover it up, it's nearly hay.

I'd take the smearing of the dung pats and the growth that promotes over the "clean cut" not having the option of bagged N

 

[jondear]

flail toppers leave a mess behind them, spread the shite across a bigger area, great for hammering bad weedy bits, a mower leaves a tidy swathe, if sunny, our cows hoover it up, it's nearly hay.

Does the mower have to not have conditioner? Surley it would mix it up.

 

[Farmer Keith]

I'd take the smearing of the dung pats and the growth that promotes over the "clean cut" not having the option of bagged N

Im sure bagged N is half the problem here, the dung sites don’t really need it and end up getting a double dose which just makes the palatability worse, I always assumed organic farmers would have less of an issue with rejection sites but perhaps wrongly?

 

[Sid]

Im sure bagged N is half the problem here, the dung sites don’t really need it and end up getting a double dose which just makes the palatability worse, I always assumed organic farmers would have less of an issue with rejection sites but perhaps wrongly?

Out of interest why do you think that?

 

[Farmer Keith]

Out of interest why do you think that?

Just feel that sprinkling N on top of dung sites already full of N compounds the problem, obviously a spreader that only spreads the clean area doesn’t exist.

 

[som farmer]

Anyone grazing should know that, but the practicalities of paddock sizes mean it doesn't happen.

It's the cutting rather than "tearing" part I am interested in.



I'd take the smearing of the dung pats and the growth that promotes over the "clean cut" not having the option of bagged N

paddocks are a good idea, when you put them in, they never are the right size after, we strip graze, with a back fence, full utilisation.
flail topper does a job, but leaves a 'mess' behind, cows won't touch it, clean mowed, they will hoover it up, esp if weather is hot.
First mower for years without the conditioner, contactor will ted, for under £7 acre, why have the extra cost, less diesel, less wear and tear.
Bag N, is a very cost effective imput, it is only now, after 50/60 years of heavy use, the downsides are beginning to appear, environmentally it's not 'nice', and as we go forward, restrictions on use will increase, as in an NVZ, you rapidly realise we have been too 'liberal' with spreading it, the one good thing about NVZ, you have to justify it's use, and you really don't need as much. It's use will be restricted by regulation, tax and price.

 

[Sid]

Just feel that sprinkling N on top of dung sites already full of N compounds the problem, obviously a spreader that only spreads the clean area doesn’t exist.

Interesting to hear you say cows don't like grass fed by bagged N.

Don't Cows rejected dung sites due to smell more than taste?
If you pre mow they will eat grass from dung sites?

 

[jondear]

The other thing is docks .Cows will eat them without extra N added .
Cows leave dung pat's because of the exceptional growth they create maybe so concentrated taste strong.?

 

[In the pit]

A lot of problems caused at the moment is people not getting so top of there grass at grazing at too high a cover
Anything over 2900/ 3000 should be taken out of the rotation and cut cows have grass under that 2700/2800
They’ll milk better ,less cake bull better and save on pre mowing /topping
Strip grazing must be hard when growth is at 100+ ,in 5 days you’ve another 500 to take off so lovely height of 2700 one day is 3200 in 5 days

 

[jimmer]

As a general rule here we don't allow cows to go back over 3 day regrowth, either back fenced or moved on
Mainly due to gateway and water positions

 

[som farmer]

A lot of problems caused at the moment is people not getting so top of there grass at grazing at too high a cover
Anything over 2900/ 3000 should be taken out of the rotation and cut cows have grass under that 2700/2800
They’ll milk better ,less cake bull better and save on pre mowing /topping
Strip grazing must be hard when growth is at 100+ ,in 5 days you’ve another 500 to take off so lovely height of 2700 one day is 3200 in 5 days

we are grazing way over 3500, and leaving longer residuals, started this in the last 2 drought summers, and it definitely worked for us. We have sampled grass, for 2nd cut, and grazing grass, not a lot of difference between the two, 20% protien, 12-13 me, 14/15 sugars, as always, proof is supplied by the bulk tank, yield is fine to hit 7500l, constits well up, and coming bulling extremely well, no buffer. apr milk price 28.96ppl, in the bank.

 

[RJ1]

Grass coming out of our ears last two weeks- growth around the 100! Shut a heap out for silage and trying pre-mowing. Wedge got a little flat after the cold April and early May. Cows seem to be pleased with it. Fields seem to be alteringbetween morning and afternoon atm!

 

[Tirglas]

Grass coming out of our ears last two weeks- growth around the 100! Shut a heap out for silage and trying pre-mowing. Wedge got a little flat after the cold April and early May. Cows seem to be pleased with it. Fields seem to be alteringbetween morning and afternoon atm!View attachment 965419

Need to start sorting this place out too, it all came up together really should have shut some up earlier!! Bit worried the ground be rough after being grazed in the wet only managed to roll 2

 

[Farmer Keith]

Stopped shutting it up here, stocking rate approaching 6 cows/ha on the platform and there’s no rain in the forecast so growth is bound to slow up in the next 10 days...

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Local dairy farm cutting my grass for thier herd this morning , just 6 weeks growth

 

[Skintagain]

Local dairy farm cutting my grass for thier herd this morning , just 6 weeks growth View attachment 965621

Been better a week ago