Summer grazing stocking rate and strip grazing

[ejensen]

How many cows with followers could you happily graze on a productive 20 acres grass for just the spring and summer months? Is strip grazing a possibilty on a relatively small area?

 

[harperfarmer]

I do just this. Strip graze between 25-30 cows and calves on a 24 acre field. Recently reseeded high clover ley so very productive. I like to mow the top 10-12 acres so just strip into it accordingly and usually by the time I get to mowing time the grass is growing to the cattle in the piece I've grazed if that makes sense. It also gives me the option to just strip graze into the mowing area as much as I need to if we get a dry/cold spring such as this one and can just make a bit more wholecrop in june if needs be.

 

[MrA.G.]

1000 kg/acre is a guide that we work to, better to backfence thought to allow regrowth.

 

[ejensen]

Thanks for rhe responses, also what sort of fencing do you have to split the fields? How many lines do you use? Tia

 

[harperfarmer]

Single strand at calf nose height usually works but sometimes two if there's some escape artists amongst them.

 

[AvonValleyFarmer]

Would it work easier to split the field into smaller paddocks and rotate? That's what I'd do if it were sheep? Don't know as much about coos though

 

[AndrewM]

 

[ejensen]

Would it work easier to split the field into smaller paddocks and rotate? That's what I'd do if it were sheep? Don't know as much about coos though

Probably could be more sensible, I'm just trying to reduce cost of permanent fencing and also keep it flexible.

 

[ejensen]

Single strand at calf nose height usually works but sometimes two if there's some escape artists amongst them.

Do you use poly wire?

 

[harperfarmer]

Do you use poly wire?

Yep!