Guys with livestock.

[Old Cowzilla]

Most guys home 1/4 s the most fertile here because animal byproducts spread there every year or years ago. I think the trace minerals from the feeding program have something to do with that but I could be wrong. Seams these days we are trying different things fertwise in the grain side to boost yields. Some years if it wasn't for the shitpile I woundn't have anything to show for my work.

[LEP]

I have a friend that rotationally grazings his milking dairy cows. Moves them twice a day. Tissue samples the grass weekly to balance his ration. He is organic and says going to grass fed has been the most profitable change he has made in 35 years of dairy farming. Grass varieties are key for his high nutritional needs. Also has a unique irrigation system sprinkler pods spaced on a long length of hose that he can drag behind the quad.

He had a sister in law in NZ and when he visited it got him interested in giving it a go. It has been close to 10 years now and the cows know the program. I think it is a new half acre paddock every 12 hrs for 100. Followed by dry cows and rested for 60 to 80 days.

[Blaithin]

I think it would need to be a larger herd kept in tight quarters to do efficient bale grazing without feeders. I couldn’t do it, don’t have enough animals. If they get a bale without a ring then they think they’re starving in two days while they stand on top of it and bellow.

[DaneG]

I have been using bale feeders to feed bales while bale grazing it seems to promote better feed utilization by the livestock. Waste vs cost of feeders vs fertility value needs to be reconciled by each operation.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Residue layer. Not just fertilizer. Bale grazing isn't solely about fertilizer.

Making the cows clean it up is why I’ve had better luck with bedding as cover than bale grazing.

This year I’m actually having good luck with hailed out barley silage bales. Fair bit of straw in them that gets left behind so it’s a threefor. They eat it. They sleep on it. It’s good cover. I’m excited to see what those spots look like this summer.

I get that the cover is important. But there is much cheaper ways to get cover than to use expensive hay. I consider my straw to be free, since I chop it all back onto the land otherwise, so I bale enough to provide generous bedding all winter, moving it from the richest land to the land in most need of organic matter.

Because I am feeding on crop land, too much hay/straw really hurts the crop the next year tying up all the N, so the waste is a problem.

[Blaithin]

As for bale grazing. The proponents always justify the waste by the benefits the wasted hay does for the soil. Probably true if hay and the land the hay was grown on was free.
Why waste 25% of the hay, when you could just feed 20% more cows with no waste and still do just as much good for the land with the nutrients in the manure, but have 20% more calves for the same feed bill?

Personally, I will put a feeder around the bales keep losses down to a few percent, move the feeders every time I feed and get the benefits of bale grazing. I have enough feeders to feed for 3 to 5 days at a time so still don't need to start the tractor every day. Very little additional fuel required to stack the bales, then haul them back out to where most needed.

Residue layer. Not just fertilizer. Bale grazing isn't solely about fertilizer.

Making the cows clean it up is why I’ve had better luck with bedding as cover than bale grazing.

This year I’m actually having good luck with hailed out barley silage bales. Fair bit of straw in them that gets left behind so it’s a threefor. They eat it. They sleep on it. It’s good cover. I’m excited to see what those spots look like this summer.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

I have been rotational grazing for about 6 or seven years, at first I used daily moves 100+ pairs on 3-4 acres/ day, rest is key to growing more grass along with rain of course. Water may become an issue for rotational grazing I ploughed in about 1.5 miles of pasture pipelines. Most of my cross fences are 1 wire high tensile smooth wire (lots of electricity) I also use some poly temporary with step in posts. I also bale graze on the pastures it seems to give the grass a boost more noticeable the 2nd year.
I have used cover crops a couple of times they grew well and the cattle loved them.

As for bale grazing. The proponents always justify the waste by the benefits the wasted hay does for the soil. Probably true if hay and the land the hay was grown on was free.
Why waste 25% of the hay, when you could just feed 20% more cows with no waste and still do just as much good for the land with the nutrients in the manure, but have 20% more calves for the same feed bill?

Personally, I will put a feeder around the bales keep losses down to a few percent, move the feeders every time I feed and get the benefits of bale grazing. I have enough feeders to feed for 3 to 5 days at a time so still don't need to start the tractor every day. Very little additional fuel required to stack the bales, then haul them back out to where most needed.

[Tucker]

Lol. You should find my youtube channel of Africa Twin videos in Arizona. You'll be fine. I prominse.

All those years of cattle the manure was spread on the home section. I don't see any difference in yield between that section and the others. Manure is good but it isn't all that. Direct seeding is what did it for me. My clay land loves a seedhawk.

[Tucker]

Tell us how you really feel about cows, stop sugar coating it!


Lots of stories from guys that say the same thing, should have quit earlier. I do wonder what I would do with my time though. I fear the laziness embedded in my bones would takeover.

You probably still are benefiting from the fertility, wonder how long it lasts. Can tell where cows were fed 40yrs ago on some of my land still.

Lol. You should find my youtube channel of Africa Twin videos in Arizona. You'll be fine. I prominse.

[Blaithin]

I’m going back to the cow section.... Happier people there.