Adaptive Grazing 101: How to Assess Paddock Size and Optimal Stocking Density

[@ADartmoorFarm]

Keep up the great work folks

[@galenhaugh3158]

From my experience, cows should be added to paddocks when the grass is a foot tall and removed when they've eaten the top 6 inches! 2 reasons: 1) most of the nutrients are in the top 6" of the forage, and 2) cows don't like to eat mature forage plants--they're too tough or tasteless. Stems are not where most of the nutrients are found!

[@gmoac]

crystal clear!

[@hadnick1]

What’s the difference between “flex grazing” and “holistic planned grazing”?

[@MrYogi12Bear]

Will the increased density he is talking about in the dormant season still have an effect on pasture quality and tapping into the seed bank or is it all about utilization in the winter?

[@WallaceCenter]

Increased density definitely has a positive effect on soil and forage health and can promote recruitment from the seed bank!

[@ks_hunter7327]

80,000 lbs stocking density vs 500 lbs stocking density. Is amazing.

[@theoriginalmonstermaker]

Yeah, i don't see how those numbers work out. He used the 120 000 lbs and the 1.5 acres, but those cows STILL require the full 3 acres EACH DAY... And then what happens the following day? They're eating half the grass and it can't replenish that quick, so do they then switch to a DIFFERENT 1.5 acres the following morning? Bc however many paddocks you need to rotate through bf returning to the first, THAT is the number you should divide the 120000 lbs by (since THAT is the total acreage required to handle those cattle).

[@theoriginalmonstermaker]

Any minimum, it's 3, so the density in best case is still 40,000, not 80000.

[@Americansikkunt]

80,000 lbs is about 70-80 cattle. Could 70-80 cattle be fed on 1 acre? Doesn’t seem possible….