I moved the wire yesterday in the rotational grazing of my winter rye/turnip/tillage radish strip. I was surprised at how the mix is growing with most tops over knee high. Radishes and turnips both putting on good size bulbs in the cool wet weather of the past 2 weeks.

The cows do an amazing job of gleaning everything right up to the wire. Even the calves get into the act and look like they are really putting on some weight on the mix.  This experiment seems to be generating a lot of feed here in late Oct when the regular pastures are done growing the the year. Saves hay as I have not had to put out hay for this group of about 30 yet. I'm hoping to get into November before starting to put out hay regularly. These cows should all be bred and will be in good condition heading into winter.

Yesterday while most of this group was in the turnip strip, a few calves and a cow lagged behind in the hay strip as I moved that wire also. The grass/alfalfa mix provides an alternate feed to the turnips and radishes so the group can manage their intake of each.  I'm not sure if it's necessary but seems to be working. The group tends to go back and forth spending some time each day in each strip.  I'll check on them and in 2 or 3 days when both strips are eaten down up to the wire I'll move both wires again.

Here are some pics from yesterday.

(IMG008 Turnips and radish tops about knee high as I move the wire 102417.jpg)

(IMG010 Turnips and radish tops about knee high and cows waiting for me to move the wire 102417.jpg)

(IMG011 Turnips reaching good size in the radish-rye- turnip mix as I move the wire 102417.jpg)

(IMG012 before and after moving the wire cow reaching under wire for a turnip 102417.jpg)

(IMG016 all heads down in the mix good tonnage for late grazing 102417.jpg)

(IMG020 Heifer spring calf doing well on turnip rye radish mix 102417.jpg)

(IMG023 all heads down in the mix-good tonnage for late grazing 102417.jpg)

(IMG034 cow 16 and June calf 16E 102417.jpg)

IMG008 Turnips and radish tops about knee high as I move the wire 102417.jpg (116KB - 74 downloads)

IMG010 Turnips and radish tops about knee high and cows waiting for me to move the wire 102417.jpg (114KB - 69 downloads)

IMG011 Turnips reaching good size in the radish-rye- turnip mix as I move the wire 102417.jpg (135KB - 83 downloads)

IMG012 before and after moving the wire cow reaching under wire for a turnip 102417.jpg (142KB - 52 downloads)

IMG016 all heads down in the mix good tonnage for late grazing 102417.jpg (109KB - 62 downloads)

IMG020 Heifer spring calf doing well on turnip rye radish mix 102417.jpg (94KB - 69 downloads)

IMG023 all heads down in the mix-good tonnage for late grazing 102417.jpg (94KB - 91 downloads)

IMG034 cow 16 and June calf 16E 102417.jpg (99KB - 73 downloads)