Greg Judy's Principles at Work in Texas! | Regenerative Ranching

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[@PlasticContainerCity]

Unbelievable!! Thank you so much for sharing! I've stopped watching Mike and Erin from Our Wyoming Ranch because I found it so aggravating to see their suffering through drought. People were telling them to follow Greg Judy and their response was that it's too dry in Wyoming and that . Greg Judy methid only works on wet areas. Well, look at you in texas!! Thank you for posting

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

I was raised in the arid Southwest on a ranch. The annual rainfall was 17”. Here, the rainfall is 36-40”. I’ve been watching Mike and Erin also and it’s definitely a tough situation. Praying they get rain.

[@safffff1000]

@@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher I've seen India farms with just 21" of rain do very well

[@iamsecond3625]

I agree with you. Mike is not being realistic and I stopped following him for the same reason. Management is about using the limited resources you have to succeed.

[@TexarkanaPrepper]

Have you watched Gabe Brown videos. He only gets about 15 inches of rain a year but grows beautiful forage because he keeps the ground covered, builds a layer of carbon that retains moisture throughout the summer and prevents flooding and erosion during wetter periods.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Yes, he’s excellent! I’ve watched hours of his stuff. Very very good.

[@Brian-uy2tj]

When the grass is allowed to grow taller and thicker it also holds more moisture and keeps the soil cooler. When the soil builds up organic matter, it is capturing carbon more effectively than trees do.

[@ronaldclemons5520]

Great management job. Rotating the herd regularly helps improve how much grass you can grow. Someone talked about dew on the grass. As we can see in your video, yours looks much healthy then your neighbors. Rotating regularly truly makes a Huge difference. Thank you for protecting the soil on your farm. Blessings🙂

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

I’m amazed at how much grass I have in such a short time! Rest and recovery makes all the difference! Thanks for watching!

[@nevinkuser9892]

Man. That is phenomenal for texas.

[@TexarkanaPrepper]

Awesome video. You are doing a great job and thanks for sharing with us. I am using the same principles to build my soil, grow, better forage and ultimately improve my livestock.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@robertduffy5805]

That one thing that really hits home to me in the first part of the video is something Greg, Joel, and the other have said about continuous grazing. All the good grass was grazed off and looked like a short lawn and anything tall was weeds or bramble which will soon take over. It really shows that when given unlimited access they will keep clipping off the quality grasses before they can ever really grow. When comparing the shots of your neighbors to yours I didn't see area's of tall weeds or bramble which based on my limited knowledge tell me you have a good balance and have been properly clipping to push out the undesirable. Great Vid Cliff!

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Thank you for the comment! You are exactly right!

[@allenmeinhold7038]

What a great manager of the land you are Sir! Pasture looks great and so do your cattle. Butch Ashland Ohio

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Thanks Butch!

[@wendyscott8425]

I should think even in Texas you get morning dew. In the cool of the morning, dew collects on the taller grass and eventually slides down to the ground once a drop gets heavy enough. This contributes more moisture to the soil than most people realize while the grass above protects it from too much heat and evaporation. That's one reason your grass is green and lush compared to your neighbor's. :)

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Excellent description that makes total sense! Thank you!

[@jpp9876]

Dew on the grass also helped remove heat from the surfaces they evaporate from. 144 btus of heat for every pint of water that evaporates.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Never thought about that. Good information!

[@jpp9876]

@@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher water evaperation and snow melting gives balance to the earths temperatures. We are in a warming period in part because the durring summertime for the northern hemisphere the earth is at the closest point to the sun. More land mass in the northern hemisphere compared to the southern hemisphere. The sun also doesn't give off the same amount of heat day in n out. There are solar flares and black spots. Another cause is all the lakes n ponds that were drained. Add to that all the radiant heat from larger cities, dark colors in roads and building and bare soil. One more source is all the heat from electricity autos, industry. Heating buildings etc. The one thing that balances this is water evaperation and the creation of clouds that create shade.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

@@jpp9876 nicely explained!

[@jae878]

I agree with Greg Judy’s methods and I practice rotational grazing myself. But I would like to see an apples to apples comparison, ie same acres of pasture with same stocking rate of cattle. It’s easy to have stockpiles of forage when your stocking rate is low. I don’t really know what Greg’s stocking rate is but from watching his videos it seems pretty low. It seems that he has about 350 head of cattle, 400 sheep and 1620 acres of land. That’s about 3.9 acres per head figuring 6 sheep = 1 head. That’s a pretty low stocking rate for his area. In Missouri the recommended stocking rate for cattle on grass pastures is one head per acre and sheep it’s 6-10 per acre. So if you figure 1620 acres at those stocking rates with half cattle and half sheep that would be 810 head of cattle and 4860 sheep at 6 per acre. I know he is not anywhere close to those numbers. I understand not all 1620 acres is covered in pasture I’m just using the numbers provided for reference. So comparing Greg’s pastures or the pastures in this video to another farmers pastures that have a much higher stocking rates is not an apples to apples comparison.

[@bryanrobinson1980]

Dr Honnas, so neat to see what you are doing now. Hope this all works out for you long term. Had some of the best times in vet school on equine surgery rotation with you. I've followed Greg Judy for a bit now and hopefully soon will be able to use his methods on my own place. As always, "look me in my good eye!"

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Hey!! Great to hear from you! I’m having the time of my life! Our practice is crazy busy and I’m working way to hard but still having a blast! The cattle and improving my place through regenerative ranching is what keeps me going! Fantastic to hear from you. Email me and I’ll send you my cell number! “Look at my good eye!” Lol

[@bryanrobinson1980]

Will do. Just about to buy my own clinic and move to East Texas. Gonna be primarily small animal, but some large animal. May have to pick your brain on equine things. Its been 16 years since I worked on horse or cattle!@@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

I can say from experience…..now the work begins!! Good luck!!

[@marybraud8718]

Nice looking animals and land. Thank you for your stewardship and for sharing the information.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Thank you! More to come, appreciate you watching!

[@debbiesue4287]

Wonderful, huge difference, Great Job!!!

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Thank you!

[@PoplarRidge]

Loved the contrast you show but yet still showing respect to your neighbor. You are definitely way ahead. Maybe the neighbor will see the difference and make a change!

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

My neighbor is no different than I was. He just doesn’t know there’s another way. All in good time 😊

[@VeganV5912]

@@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher , . ✅❤️😬💪🦍 never brush their teeth, and they are clean, and they are plant based. Never eat animals. And they’re huge !! 99% the same as us. But we eat meat, et cetera, and have plaque and tooth decay 🧟‍♂️🦠🍖🍳.... go to the dentist twice a year !!! No fibre if you eat animals and their secretions. We’ve got flat teeth. Little flat teeth. Moving left and right -_ 😬. We are herbivores. We choose to be meat eaters, and get cancer and heart attack and high blood pressure and diabetes... 51% death rate if you eat animals and their secretions !!! Scientific fact. PH is different. I don’t stink anymore because I’m plant based. Don’t need to go to the dentist because I haven’t got plaque. 6 years vegan, smooth arteries and my shoes and socks and armpits are absolutely clean and fresh. Fibre is plants and fruit and nuts and berries and tubers. Try it for a month you’ll see. And I’ve gotten bigger and stronger and fitter on a plant based diet. Vegans have 4% cancer, and that’s it. Peer reviewed science..

[@vernonvest9927]

Sometime we have blinders on and can not see. American farmers wake up now is the time.

[@VeganV5912]

@@vernonvest9927 . Indigenous Nation came here first. Then the Spanish, killed Indigenous Nation. Then the English. Bludgeoned the indigenous Nation again. Leave white people !!!! Traitor !!! 100% !!!!!

[@davidhickenbottom6574]

Looks great, pretty country for sure. I have a friend in Connecticut that is rotational grazing he is the only one in his area. Our pastures are so mismanaged here it breaks my heart. I know how absolutely beautiful they could be.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Rotational grazing has transformed my property. Enough so that the neighbors are noticing and are allowing me to graze their property. It’s a win win situation!

[@CountyLineCowpokes]

Would love for you to check out our KZbin channel, County Line Cowpokes! We are a multi-generational family farm and ranch having fun and doing what we love!❤️

[@Drewskidelmar]

Results are undeniable!

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

I’ve been amazed at the results myself.

[@bennygirten9317]

Mr. Cliff Your da bomb. I love your videos Wish I had the money to build a cattle handling facility like you have love it. I followed Greg Judy‘s videos and way of thinking in philosophy and now I have another mentor I can follow in you thank you keep up the good work.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

I very much appreciate you watching Benny! Thanks for riding along with me!

[@jonerlandson1956]

I like to hear success stories like this...

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Thank you!

[@lynettedelong6211]

Very good video. Thank you, for sharing your management strategies. The health of the grass and your cows is evident! Please “dig into” what is going on underground as well!

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

I will do so! Stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@CountyLineCowpokes]

-Would love for you to check out our KZbin channel, County Line Cowpokes! We are a multi-generational family farm and ranch having fun and doing what we love!❤️

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

@@CountyLineCowpokes will do so now! It’s a great life!

[@CountyLineCowpokes]

@@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher thank you! We totally agree!!

[@davemi00]

Greg Judy - brought me here, Lol ! *Grazing Animals Need Tall Forage to Wrap their Tongues around… to get Enough eat. They Cannot do that on Short Pastures ! It would be like us trying to eat soup, w a Fork.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Good point for sure!

[@jamesross8274]

Impressive

[@safffff1000]

Greg's great, all you need is to watch his videos and be a very successful cattleman

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Totally agree but also have to factor in region of the country you live in and annual precipitation. Adjustments needed accordingly as what works for me in Texas or Greg in Missouri, won’t work where I was raised in Arizona where they get 17” annual precipitation.

[@safffff1000]

@@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher 200 yr ago Arizona was described by having grass as high as horses.Maybe these techniques can return that environment back

[@safffff1000]

@@Jj-gi2uv Growing grasslands with mob herds can do it

[@peterclark6290]

From what was visible I'd suggest introducing more species other than grasses. Forage-ready forbs and legumes also, for what they add (sequester) to the soil. The cows maybe were hungry for other nutrients, that could be why they're hollering. Inoculate the introduced species (with compost tea) to give them a fighting chance. The other reason, grasses of all species compete at the root level, which ends when there is a mix of species. Nice spread BTW. The shout out to Greg was a nice touch. He's the real deal.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Great comment! I have been doing some of that. I have been broadcasting Ball clover and several species of Arrowleaf clover, which has gradually taken hold. This year I unrolled Klein grass and bluestem hay in an attempt to get those species going. It’s a process but in slowly making progress!

[@mikepowell8611]

That long grass is collecting dew in the mornings.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

It sure has been until this little dry spell with low humidity! It’s still growing though when the cattle are moved off so definitely the right way to graze!

[@steveaguinaga3821]

Yup me too. I had to stop watching our wyoming life out of frustration. I still come back to watch them. Admit i am one of them who suggested they use Greg Judy method. They have so many acres. I just don't see how they cant be successful at it. Wish them the best.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

The problem they will have is getting water to the paddocks if they try rotational grazing. It would be doable I suspect but would require lots of pipeline and $$.

[@rollie3383]

Steve Keynon would beg to differ. His watering systems are all recycled farm and oilfield equipment and even some gasoline pumps. It cost two dollars a day to pump water with a Honda pump

[@willsummers3248]

Cliff, great video Sir. Where are you in Texas and how long have you been rotational grazing. I'm in NE Texas and just started.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Hi Will, I live just North of Bryan/College Station. I started rotational grazing in the Spring of 2021, so I’m pretty new to it as well. How’s your grass looking?

[@tomcondon6169]

Hi, You talk about it being grass. Greg is always discussing the many species of pasture, clover, for instance, I believe it is a legume, providing protein. I would be interested in hearing about your pasture species there where you are. I could have waited to hear your discussion of the differing species.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

See if this helps and if not, we can revisit. Pasture Grass Varieties in Central Texas | Regenerative Ranching kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKHTlmmfprSEY6c

[@Velacreations]

Your property looks just like mine. I'm in the Post Oak Savanna in Central/East Texas with yaupon and briar and bahia grass. Check out the work of Jaime Elizondo, who uses a similar method of Greg Judy, but adapted to hotter and humid climates.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Indeed…the exact same type of property!

[@bonsukan]

Hi, I came across your channel. I’ve been watching Greg Judy as well, but your video caught my interest b/c I’m in central Texas. I have a question about your paddocks. Do all of them have access to a natural water source like a pond or are you using stock tanks as the water source?

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

In each 35 acre pasture (which I then divide into 5 to 6 acre paddocks), I have a pond. Some paddocks are watered by the pond but most paddocks are watered out of a trough via a water well.

[@davemi00]

The nutrients and minerals, Still Exist in Browned Graze just like in Hay. Don’t lose sight of that ! It’s why clipping Tall Pastures can Hurt you Later. Unless it’s to trim down a woody undesirable.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

You are 100% correct. I was raised in Southern Arizona and the grass was brown 10 months of the year and the cattle stayed fat grazing that grass. It packed a punch. In East central Texas, the grass is weaker with regard to protein content when brown. The adage I’ve always heard is that it takes 7 mouthfuls of the grass here in our area to equal 1 mouthful of grass in Southern Arizona. Interesting topic.

[@davemi00]

@@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher A Very Great Topic, it does depend on the pasture grasses. Taller pasture Allows more evening Dew to collect on the Leaves to provide free moisture to the plants. Often overlooked nowadays.

[@ReubenBen]

Looks good!! Do you supplement the cattle? Also, do you plant grass seed? I need to plant my pasture for the first time.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

On my established Bermuda grass and Bahia grass pastures, I overseed with Ball clover, Zulu clover, and Blackhawk Arrowleaf clover. I’m looking into getting a no till drill and planting rye grass (rather then broadcasting the seed) and having one pasture dedicated to winter pasture that I can rotate through. This will hopefully decrease my need for hay substantially. Baby steps.

[@ACPMEATANDHONEY]

Cattle and equine surgeon! That has to be enough content for weekly videos.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Probably is but time to do it is the hard part.

[@ACPMEATANDHONEY]

@@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher I also don't know of another central Texas regenerative rancher on KZbin. All the guys I see are in MO or KY/Ozarks. It's good to see how other guys are doing around here and getting tips that pertain to central Texas.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

The toughest part about texas is no cool season grasses like they have up north (Fescue). Have to plant rye or oats etc which is somewhat expensive.

[@pharvalleyaussies6215]

How long have you been grazing as Greg Judy? Very good comparison. I am from PA and dream to graze hair sheep when I purchase some land

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

I’ve been watching all his videos and the other graziers like Jim Gerrish and Joel Salatin etc for several years. Been thinking and planning and getting my infrastructure set up. I have 4 larger pastures that I have rotationally grazed for years, but I have made paddocks with electric fence in each of those pastures and now rotate through 24-30 paddocks as I rotate around the farm. I started this in June of this year. Unbelievable amount of forage I now have because the grass has time to recover.

[@clint4472]

Sir, how long have you been practicing the Greg Judy style grazing? I'm curious as to how long it has taken for your pastures to generate the growth you have. Thx

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

I just started separating my pastures into paddocks in May of this year. I’m usually getting shy on grass this time of year. I have 2/3rds of my place fully regrown and still in front of me.

[@clint4472]

@@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher Thanks for the reply. That's very impressive. I look forward to following your progress.

[@tireddad6541]

@@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher I understand about 3 years in you start seeing it really improve. Maybe that will be longer with our rainfall. I would love to see regenerative build in various areas of Texas and Oklahoma. It is kind of like saying we live on the East Coast. I wonder North East, hill country, plains,.... But I really would love to see West Texas embrace it. I am in DFW, so when we went on vacation in Texas we saw a lot of changes.

[@peterclark6290]

The fast way is in what Allan Savory recommends: Bring in feed, spread it out in smaller paddocks for maximum impact (hoof, dung and urine) and then move the herd on when the feed is done. Keep going until you've done what you can. Those areas will get a big lift in forage production. It is also a time to consider seeding of preferred species. See also Joel Salatin's experience with mobile cattle shade units (and scratching posts) for a huge local impact, 5 years of plant available nitrogen is one of his estimates.

[@wallacewimmer5191]

👍👍

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Thank you!

[@leelindsay5618]

The neighbors paddock looks like lawn that was cut in a neighborhood. Most people living in suburbia in Texas cut their Bermuda or St. Augustine grass too short and wonder why it burns out in the summer. I'm surprised you don't have Johnson grass or some of the taller varieties that get 6 foot near you.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

We do have some Johnson grass. All the Johnson grass that grows on my place has come from unrolled hay. The cows devour it. Just adds diversity.

[@goodfarms5905]

Would you be willing to do a video on the different grass and weed species that are good for forage in central Texas? Will fescue just not grow here as a cold season grass, and is there a good alternative for cold season? I’m about an hour NW if you

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

I can do a video of the grass types I have on my place. I will do a weed video next spring when they start growing and give my ideas about control. Thank you for your input and for commenting!

[@counterculturefarms]

I've got some videos on weeds of east texas and management without poison on my channel. Here's the link to one of the videos. This one is on the purple top thistle. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5KsoaJ5ibxnf6c

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

@@counterculturefarms thank you!

[@jerrylansbury9558]

Thanks for the comment ! At that point ..... the grass can be cut and baled for later use. And it will grow back vegetative again. If it dont you still have the baled hay to feed. Greg Judy preaches its expensive to own hay equipment. Thats not true at all ! I own all my own haying equipment for less then 13,000 dollars. ( Tractor / round baler 4x4 /rake/two flat bed wagons/bale spears/ disc bine/ bale wrapper" ). If a farmer is going to go broke because of those expenses they should not be farming ! Thats less money then Gregs four wheel drive truck !

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Ii don’t like baking hay off my pastures. I used to get it custom cut but they cut it too short, remove all the solar panel, and then the grass takes forever to regrow. I prefer to buy hay and use that to feed the cows (I unroll the hay) and the small amount they waste decomposes and feeds the soil. It’s a win win for me.

[@vernonvest9927]

I am over the hill ,but if I seen my neighbor Grass looking good as your ,I think I would be asking how are doing this. $$$$!$$$ in your pocket.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

It’s very satisfying and enjoyable!

[@kyledykesauctions]

What type of grass do you have? Can I let a coastal field go (fertilizer wise) and start regen grazing moving forward?

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

I have Coastal, Jiggs, and Tifton 85 Bermuda grass and Bahia grass. Are you planning to use your coastal field for cutting hay? If so, the best way to keep it going is to unroll hay on it and graze it so that you provide fertility with manure and decomposing hay. It will respond favorably but you likely won’t have much hay production this year without fertilizer. If not using the pasture for hay production, then grazing is absolutely the best option plus unrolling hay next winter.

[@kyledykesauctions]

@@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher well I was hoping to limit cutting a bit more but I’m open to whatever works most efficiently. Thank you for the reply!

[@masonbaylorbears]

So overgrazing is keeping the cattle on the grass to where they graze regrowth correct? Not eating it too far down? What causes my question is Jim elizando teaches total grazing which is grazing more severly but having much longer rest because you get more from each paddock you dont cover as much ground

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Yes, they graze the new growth on the already grazed grass plants which takes away the solar collectors (leaves) for photosynthesis and regrowth. I prefer not grazing it down to the ground on the land I have because it seems to take forever to regrow. When I take half and leave half, I have some insurance for future grazing, the grass regrows faster, and the soil fertility is enhanced. That’s my observations on my little corner of the world.

[@masonbaylorbears]

@@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher definitely makes sense. I watch alot of videos so comparing gregs and jims styles Im thinking to how the Bison would have grazed and think they would have completly grazed before moving on? Would the spot have rested for years or would another bison herd grazed it sooner? I have 0 experience so im not challenging anything you are saying just very curious and have a ton of thoughts

[@leelindsay5618]

Joel Salatin has some good talks about grazing regrowth and how it stunts grass growth and reduces root depth.

[@masonbaylorbears]

@@leelindsay5618 yeah he does, Salatin has some awesome talks and books. Overgrazing makes perfect sense. The area that seems to change with climate, species, time of year is how much or severe the graze. That will be the part that will take many years of practice to get right i think

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

@@masonbaylorbears I think it also depends on climate and location. When it’s really hot down here and the grass is really grazed short, the grass burns and goes dormant whereas if you leave the grass taller, the soil is cooler and the grass doesn’t seem to burn to the same degree.

[@yoopermann7942]

could you use them heavy milkers as nurse cows? thank you for the tips and info

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Probably, but my day job keeps me from venturing away from the bare minimum so far.

[@vernonvest9927]

Show when they finish their and also when they come back into that pasture.

[@truthseaker2944]

wow

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

😃

[@jerrylansbury9558]

Either unrolling hay or through a bale feeder .....just unrolling takes a bit longer....and buying hay is just one more expense....otherwise both are equal from my experience. With balage there is no waste... and the cows spread " most " of the manure through out the pasture.......because of the smaller bales.....they stay in that bale area for only a short time before its cleaned up. With a bale feeder " if " there are weeds in the bale its mostly confined to a small area....where the bale was. Those areas could be treated easy.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

I’ve never seen any balage fed in our part of the world. Not sure why. I really like the results I’m getting with unrolling hay. It doesn’t kill the grass out like feeding in bale rings. The grass grows back with purpose after the bales are unrolled. I don’t have time to bale hay, so much easier for me to buy it but my circumstances are different then full time farmers like yourself. I have had my pastures baled in the past, but I don’t like what it does to my pastures and regrowth. Also, I’m trying to not to use any fertilizer, and that would definitely be needed in our area to get reasonable hay production.

[@desmomotodesmomoto2033]

How many acers per animal? thanks,

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Right at 2 acres per cow/calf unit.

[@SasquatchBioacoustic]

That's a huge contrast between your SP bull and your Angus cross cows. If his frame size is the goal, then I guess you'll be replacing some of those cows some day?

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Definitely…I have 5 SP heifers coming next month, will cull 5 Angus cross cows and keep heifer calves for replacements as the new heifers have calves.

[@lynettedelong6211]

Based on previous videos of his crosses between south pole and Angus, he is getting some gorgeous crosses and increasing diversity! Gradual transitions work also!

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

@@lynettedelong6211 I’ve done baby steps my whole life. Has served me well. Thank you!

[@jerrylansbury9558]

Part of the problem with baling hay off of a pasture is......not because its cut too short. Its because often a farmer takes forever to get the hay off.......too much tire/ wheel traffic. No different then cattle trampling the soil. Thats why I prefer balage. On and off the field the same day ! Most times the second day new leaves are already up and growing ! Baling dry hay often takes three days......and longer if it gets rained on. That with " late " wheel traffic keeps the new growth from coming back.....along with the " matting" not allowing the new growth to begin. Often Im grazing the same field with in a week after taking hay off of it.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

You hit the nail on the head there!

[@jerrylansbury9558]

Ive listened to many of Greg Judys views. I asked him a few times how he can suggest he has high quality forage when its 2ft tall ? Of course he blocked me. First of all.....once grass reaches over 6 inches in high its no longer vegetative ! Ive milked cows for years.....rotationally grassed the entire time. I promise anyone who would expect a cow to give milk off of the grass he presents the dairy farmer would go broke ! Interesting enough he " use " to be dairy farmer from Min. I can imagine he would go broke !!!!! Now then...stock cows. After milking for years.......I currently have stock cows instead. When I started I questioned why stock cow farmer always feed the stock cows junk for forage. I would imagine they are the same as a milk cow.....if your going to get milk production......a larger calf.......you would want high quality forage .......no different then a dairy cow ? I guess instead of a 50 heavier calf in the fall time they rather have a small calf ! And......now I realize also why there are so few dairy farmer whom graze. They have no clue how ! So sad !

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

You raise some excellent points. You are right about the vegetative state of the grass and energy content etc. In the Spring and early Summer, fast rotations around the farm take advantage of the high energy in the vegetative grass. The problem then becomes too much grass and too few cows at some point during the grazing season. Then the grass plateaus and becomes tough with a high lignin content. Definitely not ideal but at that point I would rather have too much “not as good grass” as not enough “good grass” in a vegetative state. If I add more cows to keep my rotations vegetative and then it stops raining, then I’m overstocked. It’s a trade off on both sides. We end up being at the mercy of the weather most years and end up trying to manage the rotations as best we can. Very legitimate and insightful comment. I hope it stimulates a lot of discussion!

[@erichaagen9973]

@@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher Cliff couldn't you just shred to regain combat the high lignin content and maybe keep the rotation off for a short beneficial regrowth ? thnx in Adv.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Definitely a possibility. Because we weren’t getting any rain, I was reluctant to shred and reduce the forage I had in front of me on the off chance we were in for a long haul drought. You are exactly right though, that is the logical next step. I think what I should have done is speed up the rotations to harvest the top third of the grass to get it back in the vegetative stage. I’m learning as I go. It’s hard to outguess the weather. Thanks for bringing that up!

[@bearupfarm1818]

How many cows in 4 acres paddock?

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

About 50 cows

[@vernonvest9927]

How long have you been farming this way. My guess four years .

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

I had my place fenced into 4 separate pastures and rotated when the grass was short. Always was running out of grass. Started doing rotational grazing last May. Paddocks were 5-6 acres and they were in those paddocks 4-5 days. That have each pasture a 4-6 week rest period which allowed the grass to recover. Unbelievable difference in the amount of forage grown.

[@vernonvest9927]

All that grass on 24/ acres wow.

[@vernonvest9927]

How many head of cattle are you running on the paddock.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Currently 50 cows and 25 calves.

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

I graze about 140 acres total.

[@davidtimus4026]

How many head were in there?

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

44 adults and about 30 calves.

[@tonykanavil]

What kind of grass is it?

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

The grass in that video is Pensacola Bahia Grass. I will upload a video in a week or so on the different kinds of grasses I have.

[@tonykanavil]

@@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher where do you get the seed from? I have some land in tx border to ok and looking for ways to make good pasture

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

@@tonykanavil I have used Hancock Seed Company in Florida. They have been excellent.

[@yukoncornelius8669]

How many paddocks do you rotate on? And how many cow's do you run?

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

I rotate through about 24 paddocks but the paddock size changes depending on the amount of grass so may be more or less. I currently have 54 adult animals and 25 calves.

[@vernonvest9927]

I would call it being a smart move , the guy next door is he blind and he can’t be very smart.

[@carolynroth7373]

That was a barbed wire fence, the first part of the video was of mowed grass. Do you truly think cattle graze that perfect length over a large area. NOT

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

Every bit of what I showed in the video was grazed. Nothing was mowed in any segment.

[@HectorPerez-tb8hn]

it looks like your cows aren't use to eat grass !!

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

They are spoiled! Lol

[@qasimqasim___]

Hello, how are you? Can I live with you? I like to live like this

[@cliffhonnasregenerativerancher]

I’m fine! Yes, it’s a good life! Hope you are well!