How much did you end up feeding?Turned some calves in on the last 1/2 acre of Stockpile Fescue tonight. Maybe next year I will make it all winter without feeding. Very hard to get the last month.
Friday morning is going to look a lot different.... so I hear.But it was 64F today so spring is just around the corner here.
Oh I'm going to feed a lot more in the next month. But I had less grass and kept more cattle than normal.How much did you end up feeding?
You hope.But it was 64F today so spring is just around the corner here.
Good luck with that! 60 last Friday, current wind chill 3.But it was 64F today so spring is just around the corner here.
I have seen it snow on Good Friday here!You hope.
I have lived long enough never to trust the weather long-term in our area.
I meant so far, or are you just now having to start?Oh I'm going to feed a lot more in the next month. But I had less grass and kept more cattle than normal.
300 plus grazing days is amazing Kenny. I'm curious to know your stocking rate? We graze about 250 days with 4-5 acres per cow here. I don't have any fescue though.I am already making plans for next winter. I hope to not feed more than 30 days next year.
Virginia has an extension program geared towards being able to graze 300 days a year. I told them I had been grazing more than that for several years. This fall I bought lots more cows than I should have with the thoughts that the price was going to be higher and it is. I have cows I bought in the fall for .35 that have gained weight and will bring .70 now. I been selling a few off the farm because everyone wants cows when they get high.
With good management I can do a cow per 1.5 acres. But I'm still not sure where the break even is on management. I spread 2.5 ton per acre of lime last fall. I soil test and have fertilizer ordered. It cost but compared to feeding hay I like it better.300 plus grazing days is amazing Kenny. I'm curious to know your stocking rate? We graze about 250 days with 4-5 acres per cow here. I don't have any fescue though.
I have been working towards this the last few years Kenny. The last 2 however the stockpile didn't cooperate like you said I have half as much grass as I should to work with. Probably at about 270ish days right now with the growing seasons we have had lately. The first year my stockpile did well and I got to about 290 with more cows than I have now.I am already making plans for next winter. I hope to not feed more than 30 days next year.
Virginia has an extension program geared towards being able to graze 300 days a year. I told them I had been grazing more than that for several years. This fall I bought lots more cows than I should have with the thoughts that the price was going to be higher and it is. I have cows I bought in the fall for .35 that have gained weight and will bring .70 now. I been selling a few off the farm because everyone wants cows when they get high.
Lots of guys will stockpile here but I found out that anything but fescue is just a belly filler. Seems like pretty much everything else is like cardboard nutritional wise. Sounds like you've got a good management plan. I really need to lime but it just cost so much for a "maybe" return with the weather we've had over the last 5 yrs.I am not familiar with any other grass that will stockpile and stay in good condition other than fescue.
We are relocating to my home area and I will update my profile when appropriate, but we're back in my home area where three acres to the cow is understocking.300 plus grazing days is amazing Kenny. I'm curious to know your stocking rate? We graze about 250 days with 4-5 acres per cow here. I don't have any fescue though.