Pasture grazeing

J. Everett · Aug 3, 2013

The neighbor just added 4 head of steers to his pasture, and 4 more from a friend of his, total of 8 head...on 7 acres. He wants someone to cut rake and bale it on shares...I can't see any grass left over to bale after the cattle get their fill, what do you guys think? Thanks for you'r thoughts.

notjustair · Aug 3, 2013

I don't see it either. Not here at least. Have you had lots of rain? Is the pasture 9 feet tall?

I think he will be looking to buy bales. Probably sooner rather than later if it gets hot and dry. Maybe you should bale up some hay so you are ready when he comes knocking.

uncle henry · Aug 3, 2013

i have always heard 3 acres to a cow

IHRedRules · Aug 3, 2013

Here in Michigan, I always figure about 1- 1 1/2 ac per cow and that's just enough to feed the cows, not make hay. Of course that depends on soil type and plant density/quality. I wouldn't think with the acres and head he has, he will find any forage left for hay, except maybe during the spring flush, assuming the cows haven't destroyed the field already. Rule of thumb is to graze no less than 3-4" to avoid stressing the seeding. That's my 2 cents anyway.

WAYNE-N-TX · Aug 3, 2013

Charge by the acre, with a two bale minimum. So many people want their placed mowed on the halves and nothing there.

retired farmer · Aug 3, 2013

Must be a city dude, wanna be rancher, who thinks he is going to get rich off pasture and hay. We got one living across the fence.

old · Aug 3, 2013

Sounds like a guy that has no clue as to how much an animal can/will eat. 4 head on that is pushing it way to much and 8 well he has nothing to cut or bale let alone feed the cattle

David G · Aug 3, 2013

Not enough pasture unless you get a lot of rain.

J. Everett · Aug 3, 2013

Thank you for all the replys. Yes, he is from the big city...The pasture is old timber ground, rolling clay hills and we have had a moderate amount of rain so far this year. Grass is less than one foot tall right now...and getting shorter by the day. Should I tell him ?

old · Aug 3, 2013

Should you tell him well maybe if you arm your self with facts. Maybe go the soil and water or other such place and get the facts as to how much land you need for how many animals. I know in some states if a person tries to have to many animals on not enough land they can get in big trouble due to not having the feed needed for them etc

da.bees · Aug 3, 2013

There has been a number of "demonstration" grazing projects over the years to establish how many acres is required to carry a pair. With help from the best minds around,1 acre per pair was the very best attained. That included lots of fertilize,rotation grazing,weed control,good ground to start with and carful preparation. If the guy has a degree in ag since and lots of experience,it's possiable but unlikly to run 8 head.

chevytaHOE5674 · Aug 3, 2013

Is he just letting them have a run of the entire acreage? Or is he intensely rotating them in smaller pastures within the 7 acres?

Because if his is rotating them intensely and your getting enough rain to keep the grass growing then 8 head on 7 acres is easily doable (no hay making of course).

paul · Aug 3, 2013

You'll have to ask him where the rest of his hay fields are, that 7 acres is used up now with 8 head.

He has a nice setup it sounds for the pasture, but needs land to have hay ground too.

No one is going to cut hay on shares from an active pasture, the grass will be all messed up, no one wants manures on hay in bales.....

Ah, the learning curve.......

Paul

Mike (WA) · Aug 4, 2013

Dad had a retired agronomist friend who kept 5 head on 5 acres, and made enough hay to winter them too, but it was intense rotational grazing, lots of fertilizer and irrigation, soil testing, etc. Normal guy will be lucky to get enough summer grazing, never mind any hay.

JMOR · Aug 4, 2013

(quoted from post at 00:35:39 08/04/13) You'll have to ask him where the rest of his hay fields are, that 7 acres is used up now with 8 head.

He has a nice setup it sounds for the pasture, but needs land to have hay ground too.

No one is going to cut hay on shares from an active pasture, the grass will be all messed up, no one wants manures on hay in bales.....

Ah, the learning curve.......

Paul

xactly!

Bill Leyba · Aug 4, 2013

Sir: I am in New Mexico and we put 1 unit(cow/calf) on 45 acres.And hay, you buy for the winter.

J. Everett · Aug 4, 2013

And in the real world we live in, He probably made arrangements with a fellow farmer before the season started to share the crop 50/50...added the cattle later not thinling off what the outcome would be or atleast how seveare the pasture would be taxed. Just scratching my head here. Thank you for all of you'r thoughts on this.

tbish · Aug 4, 2013

I got a neighbor put 50 head on 9 acres moved here from Chicago got a lot of money but very green

Pasture grazeing

J. Everett

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notjustair

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uncle henry

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IHRedRules

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WAYNE-N-TX

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retired farmer

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old

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David G

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J. Everett

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old

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da.bees

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paul

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Mike (WA)

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JMOR

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