Mastering High Density Grazing: A Comprehensive Guide to Starting and Animal Performance
Dive into the essentials of starting high-density grazing with expert Greg Judy. Learn how to prioritize animal performance, ensure recovery periods, and the importance of plant maturity. Discover the impact of grazing immature plants, proper stocking density, and animal monitoring techniques. This guide emphasizes slow changes to reduce stress for both livestock and graziers. Understand key concepts like paddock size, herd management, and the significance of plant energy levels to enhance both soil health and pasture productivity.
Mastering High Density Grazing: A Comprehensive Guide to Starting and Animal Performance
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Presentation Transcript
Where Do You Start? • Focus On Animal Performance First. • You Cannot Save The World Until You Save Yourself!
Full Recovery Period • Grazing Immature Plants Slows Re-growth. • 40% Pasture Growth Is Gone For Entire Growing Season.
Forget About Seedheads • Huge Paradigm Shift. • Mature Plants Are High Energy. • Immature Plants Are Low Energy.
Feed Soil & Livestock • Monitor Daily Grazing Patterns. • Litter On The Soil, Gut Fill On The Livestock.
Increase Stocking Density • DO NOT INCREASE STOCKING RATE FOR TWO YEARS.
Make Changes Slowly • Less Stress On Livestock and You. • Mistakes Will Not Cost As Much.
What Level Of Density? • Start With 75,000 To 125,000 lbs Per Acre. • Less Stress On Your Animals At Start.
Planned Daily Moves • Never Plan More Moves Than You Have Labor For. • The Higher The Density, More Moves Required Per Day.
Listen & Observe The Mob • Do They Act Satisfied. • Very Limited Bawling. • Proper Rumen Fill. • Limited Health Issues.
Calculating Paddock Size • Must Know Lbs Of Live Weight In Mob. • Acre Is 209’ x 209’. • Measure It Off.
Developing The Grazier’s Eye • Starting Out, Error On The Conservative Side. • DON’T LIMIT ANIMAL INTAKE!!
Not Happy With Your Graze? • Move Them, Don’t Make Them Clean It Up. • The High Energy Plants Are Gone, Animals Will Lose Condition.
Grass Gets Away In Spring • Bank It, Don’t Hay It. • Leave Out Several Paddocks In Grazing. • They Are A Savings Account, Use Later.
Limit Number Of Herds • Multiple Herds Grazing Kills Your Recovery Period. • Mob-Em Together.
Large Herds= More Impact • Improvements Come Faster • More Microbes, More Animal Impact, More Litter Trampled.
Mistakes To Avoid • Taking To Much Of The Plant. • Neglecting Animal Performance. • Leaving Mob An Extra Day .
Avoid Tunnel Vision • Don’t Get Wowed Into Watching The Plants And Forget About The Animals.
Monitor The Water • Are Cattle Licking At The Water? • Should Lower Head & Take Deep Gulps Without Licking.
Closing Thoughts • Monitor Animal Performance. • Allow Full Recovery Periods. • Feed The Soil. • Change Slowly. • Have Fun.