Last spring I drilled a grass/alfalfa/red clover mix into what had been a clay hillside soybean field with the idea of baling it for hay this year. I spread fertilizer and lime per the soil test and have a stand but just not looking like a hay field yet. This new-to-me hillside seems to need more OM, so I decided to rotationally graze it. I am hoping the hoof action and manure will over a couple years improve this clay soil.

I don't usually rotate in pie shaped pattern but the fence and access to the woods lends itself to a few days just radially moving the wire. Then I can go to my regular rectangular pattern across a pasture. This fresh area will be about 2 days worth until cleaned up like the first pic. A rectangle would have opened too much grass. I want the higher density grazing.

Here are a couple pictures from opening fresh grass yesterday afternoon while cows and calves watch from the shade along the woods. They did a good job of cleaning up the first segment and waited patiently while my grandson and I put up a new wire and took down the old. Also a picture of my Z072 bull in freshly opened grass with his young winter buddy in their own pasture.

Jim

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(IMG016_Rotational grazing - cows and calves in the shade waiting for fresh grass 053114 .JPG)

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IMG009_Rotational grazing - moving the wire 053114 .JPG (137KB - 129 downloads)

IMG026_Rotational grazing - moving the wire 053114 .jpg (102KB - 122 downloads)

IMG016_Rotational grazing - cows and calves in the shade waiting for fresh grass 053114 .JPG (124KB - 122 downloads)

IMG017_Rotational grazing - cows and calves in the shade waiting for fresh grass 053114 .jpg (62KB - 145 downloads)

IMG019_Rotational grazing - cows and calves in the shade waiting for fresh grass 053114 .jpg (111KB - 132 downloads)

IMG029_Bull Z072 on fresh grass 053114 .jpg (75KB - 122 downloads)