Planting and strip feeding cattle

6 posts
Fri, 09/12/2014 - 07:35 #1

Member for

10 years 3 months
amd
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 09/09/2014 - 13:01

Planting and strip feeding cattle

I’m not really sure where to start but here goes.

I am located in East Greenmount approx. 20km south of Toowoomba. I live on 55acres with 15 mixed breed breeders and a couple of horses. My paddocks are bare and I need an alternate to buying grain and hay in. Driving into town there are a number of farmers who rotate and strip feed their cattle on varying sized paddocks. (Some smaller than a house block). Their cattle are healthy and well fed looking.

Whatever it is they are planting is taking about 4 weeks to get to a height where they let the cattle on it. I have no idea what they are planting, it’s not irrigated and they plant all year round. It looks like the same thing all year but again have no idea.

I want to do this!

They are obviously using small equipment to plant such small areas. I have never actually seen a farmer out in the paddock planting so haven’t had the opportunity to stop and talk to them.

So what do I need advice on? Well hopefully someone who reads this will know what I’m talking about and be able to tell me what equipment I need and perhaps an idea of what they are planting. We have a front end loader that we use for slashing (hasn’t been used in a long time) and quad bikes so have something to tow equipment behind.

Not a lot of information to go on but it’s a start and any advice/suggestions is greatly appreciated

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Fri, 09/12/2014 - 11:07 #2
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

Hi there,

 It is possible that they are growing forage sorgum or similar. Ask at your local feed store or talk to one of the seed merchants.

This is only a suggestion, but if it were me, I would take note of the rural number or property name and then go to the local council who would be able to tell you the name of the people who own the block. Then you can look up their phone number on line or in the phone book and give them a call. When I wanted to burn off this is what I did. You can explain to the people at the council why you want the address. Another way is to just rock up at their door and ask them (watch out for the guard dogs). Queensland country folk are pretty friendly and most will be only too happy to tell you.

Yes, cell grazing is the way to go. Usually keep the cattle in a particular paddock for only three weeks max. and then move them in to the next one. This maximises the the use of the pasture.

Cheers,

Barb

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Sun, 09/14/2014 - 18:06 #3
rmcpb
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/22/2012 - 11:13
Do a search in cell grazing. Basically you let the stock into an area for a short time and they eat everything. You then move them to a new patch where they repeat the treatment. You try to have enough patches so you don't regraze an area till its recovered. This removes the chance for stock to preferentially graze their favourite species so you end up with a multi species pasture that is better for your animals. Anyway, do a Google search to get a better explanation. It really works! Cheers Rob.
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Mon, 09/15/2014 - 18:28 #4
charlie
Last seen: 12/26/2018 - 09:21
Joined: 05/31/2011 - 09:44

Hi AMD,

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for a great question.

If you have noticed the green feed during the autumn / winter months it will likley be oats. Oats has a large seed is quick to establish and can be grazed from 6-8 weeks from sowing. It is usually sown in the late summer or autumn and is grazed through to spring. It is high quality when it is green and leafy and even once it seeds it can be good quality if the seed heads are left long enough.

Strip grazing is a great way to manage feed supply. Dairy farmers are the best example where they manipulate how much grass each cow gets by limiting the area available. Under a small farm system you can use the same technique to ensure that your livestock have enough feed and that you don't run out of feed and need to buy in hay. It requires some simple feed budgeting techniques which I an explain later if you have further interest.

Hope this makes sense is of some assistance. Any further questions please post a reply.

Charlie

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Tue, 09/16/2014 - 13:23 #5
amd
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 09/09/2014 - 13:01

Hi all,

Thank you for your responses. They are all helpful especially the suggestion to Google cell grazing, lots of information out there.

I'm still stuck how ever for what equipment I need to plant. For example Charlie

you suggested the crop they might be planting is oats.

What equipment to I need to plant oats other than a tractor to tow the thing behind

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Sun, 09/21/2014 - 17:32 #6
charlie
Last seen: 12/26/2018 - 09:21
Joined: 05/31/2011 - 09:44

Hi AMD,

I would look at engaging the services of a local farming contractor. They will likley have suitable machinery to manage the whole process. If you ask a larger local farmer they may know of a local contractor.

If you only have a small area to sow it is simply too costly to own your own equipment.

Regards,

Charlie

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