Thank you for posting this video. Where we are (SW France) summer conditions like this are a much bigger challenge than winter and it is hard to find people talking about summer grazing when the pastures go to straw and oxidize. Farmers here will put the cows back inside and feed hay when it gets too dry. Again, thank you and I will be watching for updates.
You’re welcome! FYI, I’m not a fan of ever putting cattle in enclosed spaces. That’s a breeding ground for all sorts of health issues. There’s no barns in nature
Did you soil test? Did you apply lime / fertilizer? From my experience, soil test, recommended lime and fertilizer ,rain and rest makes some really nice pasture.
No soil tests. We’re committed to not applying anything other than hooves, poop and pee. We’ve had success turning around other farms with our practices and not our checkbook! “Nice” pasture and “profitable” pasture aren’t necessarily the same
You can plan on going swimming on your vacation but if your vacation is in January and you’re going to Alaska to. Go camping, it’s probably not going to work out. This guy is the same. Hyper focused on high density grazing. Obviously, not flush with cash so him going hardcore on high density isn’t the best or even a good choice is not primo. Everyone should start out with adaptive, then go from there. Even IF the s guy had bottomless pockets he would still need to plan warm and cold season grasses in the same field. This is just high dense grazing
I think all of us can get caught up sometimes in grazing to improve land. I think it is very important to be adaptive. If I had access to more ground right there I would have a hard time not utilizing it in conditions like he has. Everyone’s situation is different though and he knows his climate and cattle better than me. I think you are correct though. Being properly stocked and starting with adaptive grazing is hard to beat. High harvest efficiency grazing can be hard on the cattle, hard on the land, and very labor intensive. I believe math is the most under utilized tool in cattle. The more math we do for our time, cost of inputs, returns. The better off we are going to be. For me this type of grazing all of the time doesn’t add up. We like to graze what grows, try to leave pretty good ground cover, we feed some hay and that is what we have found works for us.
Some of them have that empty triangle on left side in front of hip - does that mean they are empty and need more forage? Are they loosing body condition when you see that?
So that field is not really ready to be re-grazed. But you have no other pasture available. So you supplement with protein, ease up, watch conditioning and manure even more carefully. They will pee and defecate which will improve fertility, plus you will bush hog as needed. It may take a few years to get fields in place, but as I understand it, all the litter plus the high density is intended to improve the soil biology.
It’s actually over-ready. These are cool season annuals that are 100% done. We have a lot of other pasture available but the annuals will impede the growth of our perennial warm seasons
@@tickcreekranch it is loose. I feed it in a train of plastic drums cut in half. Protein tubs are easier because you can set them out in front of you but in my area (SC) they cost me at least twice as much.
Keep going with what you are doing! Let it do what it is going to do. Nature will balance itself out. I know it's difficult to leave it on the ground but leaving all that fodder on the ground and not mowing is beneficial to the soil, the animals and the environment. It will feed the worms; help retain moisture by absorbing more and protecting from the sun. it will also protect the topsoil from eroding due to flooding. That's my two cents anyway.
That’s a valid suggestion. I considered that . My conclusion: The opens won’t bring as much as breds. Why not feather the accelerator and keep performance high and still maintain an upward trajectory if soil health.
Purist? Even Jim Elizondo has TH-cam videos of cattle on new pastures containing poor quality forage, feeding them with cattle cubes out of portable feed troughs made from plastic 55 gallon barrel drums cut in half. I think you are doing great.
Thank you for posting this video. Where we are (SW France) summer conditions like this are a much bigger challenge than winter and it is hard to find people talking about summer grazing when the pastures go to straw and oxidize. Farmers here will put the cows back inside and feed hay when it gets too dry. Again, thank you and I will be watching for updates.
You’re welcome! FYI, I’m not a fan of ever putting cattle in enclosed spaces. That’s a breeding ground for all sorts of health issues. There’s no barns in nature
How about a pasture walk like once a month over in the areas you are allowing to fully rest until winter?
This is a great idea. Will post one soon on what we’ve done with our rested acres.
Did you soil test? Did you apply lime / fertilizer?
From my experience, soil test, recommended lime and fertilizer ,rain and rest makes some really nice pasture.
No soil tests. We’re committed to not applying anything other than hooves, poop and pee. We’ve had success turning around other farms with our practices and not our checkbook! “Nice” pasture and “profitable” pasture aren’t necessarily the same
what does "clip" mean + what is weight of 100 pairs + what are pairs ????
I appreciate the honestly and transparency. I understand things don’t always go as planned.
What is the consumption rate on the protein tubs?
You can plan on going swimming on your vacation but if your vacation is in January and you’re going to Alaska to. Go camping, it’s probably not going to work out. This guy is the same. Hyper focused on high density grazing. Obviously, not flush with cash so him going hardcore on high density isn’t the best or even a good choice is not primo. Everyone should start out with adaptive, then go from there. Even IF the s guy had bottomless pockets he would still need to plan warm and cold season grasses in the same field.
This is just high dense grazing
I think all of us can get caught up sometimes in grazing to improve land. I think it is very important to be adaptive. If I had access to more ground right there I would have a hard time not utilizing it in conditions like he has. Everyone’s situation is different though and he knows his climate and cattle better than me. I think you are correct though. Being properly stocked and starting with adaptive grazing is hard to beat. High harvest efficiency grazing can be hard on the cattle, hard on the land, and very labor intensive. I believe math is the most under utilized tool in cattle. The more math we do for our time, cost of inputs, returns. The better off we are going to be. For me this type of grazing all of the time doesn’t add up. We like to graze what grows, try to leave pretty good ground cover, we feed some hay and that is what we have found works for us.
I am very interested in this though and commend him for being transparent so everyone watching can learn from what he is doing.
Surprisingly low. I’m guessing about 1 lb/day per cow
We are a soil-first operation. The single most important aspect of long term profitability is soil health, followed by properly adapted genetics
Some of them have that empty triangle on left side in front of hip - does that mean they are empty and need more forage? Are they loosing body condition when you see that?
We start the day with them empty and make sure they are full going into final move
So that field is not really ready to be re-grazed. But you have no other pasture available. So you supplement with protein, ease up, watch conditioning and manure even more carefully. They will pee and defecate which will improve fertility, plus you will bush hog as needed.
It may take a few years to get fields in place, but as I understand it, all the litter plus the high density is intended to improve the soil biology.
It’s actually over-ready. These are cool season annuals that are 100% done. We have a lot of other pasture available but the annuals will impede the growth of our perennial warm seasons
Do you think you would see a difference in their manure if they were t getting enough nutrients?
Lack of protein results in stacked manure and too much makes runny manure
What are you feeding for protein?
Protein tub. I’m not a huge fan of urea protein but it’s cheap and easy and sometimes that wins, lol
Cottonseed meal, if you can get it, will be way cheaper and runs around 40% protein
@@grazing365 understood, what’s your favorite, costs aside? thanks Ben
@@MiscGrazing i heard of others feeding this, but never tried it myself. It’s a loose grind I suppose. Do you feed on the ground or trough’s?
@@tickcreekranch it is loose. I feed it in a train of plastic drums cut in half. Protein tubs are easier because you can set them out in front of you but in my area (SC) they cost me at least twice as much.
is the pasture irrigated?
No it isn’t
50 inch rainfall zone
So minerals only if needed?
We have mineral available 365 days/year. The tubs are a protein supplement to help digest rank/mature forage
Keep going with what you are doing! Let it do what it is going to do. Nature will balance itself out. I know it's difficult to leave it on the ground but leaving all that fodder on the ground and not mowing is beneficial to the soil, the animals and the environment. It will feed the worms; help retain moisture by absorbing more and protecting from the sun. it will also protect the topsoil from eroding due to flooding. That's my two cents anyway.
Yes! Thank you!
Where you been bud!
Been a crazy week!
Why not push them and sell the opens ?
That’s a valid suggestion. I considered that . My conclusion: The opens won’t bring as much as breds. Why not feather the accelerator and keep performance high and still maintain an upward trajectory if soil health.
Purist? Even Jim Elizondo has TH-cam videos of cattle on new pastures containing poor quality forage, feeding them with cattle cubes out of portable feed troughs made from plastic 55 gallon barrel drums cut in half. I think you are doing great.
Thanks
protein tubs ??? you mean nitrogen ??? you are overstocked - assume it is summer ??? you can see in condition of calves in poor condition