Intensive Rotational Grazing: 50 Sheep and Goats on 4 Acres

[@FulbrightFarmstead]

I liked the pvc over the T post idea!

[@LinessaFarms]

Thank you! We are glad you found it helpful.

[@SustainablyYoursHomestead]

I really liked the zip tie idea! It looks like it holds those end together nice and snug. Thank you for the very informative video.

[@LinessaFarms]

You’re welcome. The zip ties and the t-post with pvc around it seem to be our “secret weapons” helping to keep the fence tight.

[@paqdmeats5148]

We have an almost identical process! We have 30 sheep and 20 goats. Its a lot of work but well worth it!

[@Lindseyfarms270]

How much ground do you have

[@paqdmeats5148]

@@Lindseyfarms270 we rent about 6 acres for pasture. We rotate them weekly in 1/4 acre sections.

[@Lindseyfarms270]

@@paqdmeats5148 I'm about to start rotational grazing on my farm hope that I can increase my stocking rate I have 12 ac but only around 6 for pasture the rest are woods

[@paqdmeats5148]

@@Lindseyfarms270 it works really well for us! We don’t have to feed hay from May through October, so it really cuts down on costs for us! Plus, they are much healthier from a parasite perspective!

[@Lindseyfarms270]

@@paqdmeats5148 how long are you leaving them before moving

[@hashihashi1019]

Fantastic presentation.

[@LinessaFarms]

Thank you very much. We appreciate you watching and thank you for taking the time to leave a kind message.

[@rossholmes178]

Tim...greetings from Australia! Enjoyed your vid and the interesting consistencies between operations...we are located in some of the colder country of Oz, but rarely have snow (and then only a dusting) so don't have the need to confine stock to cover. We provide shelters in our paddocks but find that while the goats love them, the sheep rarely use them. Our e-fencing (we use an Australian manufactured product) is solar powered and has never missed a beat, pushing out a consistent 8kva or over...I usually slash a strip along which I'll set up the e-fence to keep the grass from touching. We have two energisers (chargers), both of which will reliably power 10km (6.2 miles) of fencing. Sheep and goats have TOTAL respect for the e-fence and I have never seen it successfully challenged. Love your vids and your down to earth approach...

[@LinessaFarms]

Thanks, Ross. We always love to hear what is going on over in Australia. You folks have historically led the way in regard to many of the products we use in the states. I am thinking we need to start mowing some of our pastures where our fencing is going to go. Without any weed load we see rates closer to 6-7kv. I think there is so much moisture in the grass and clover it just sucks the juice right out of it. Thank you again for taking the time to leave us a message and share your experiences. Much appreciated. 👍🏻

[@sandracurrie5904]

Loving your videos from Nova Scotia, Canada. Very informative and enjoyable to watch.

[@LinessaFarms]

Hello, Sandra. We are excited to have you following our videos. Thank you very much for watching and for taking the time to leave us a kind message.

[@spoolsandbobbins]

Ha! We love them too! We’re in the valley, NS!

[@geralddunn2654]

good job Tim, keep up the good work

[@LinessaFarms]

Thanks Gerald. 👍🏻

[@paulhildebrand-e5v]

Do you ever have to mow the lines where the fence is to keep the grass off of it? My goats don't graze very closely to electric net and am afraid that if I left the fencing up permanently during the grazing season, too much grass would grow up, in, and through it, and therefore reduce the charge.

[@DovidMoshe]

Added subscribed cause I’m from northwest Indiana as well lol … I’m hoping to start my own homestead in the next few years

[@LinessaFarms]

That’s great! Thanks for watching and keep us posted. 😎

[@Salomaeful]

I really appreciate this video - I WAS pricing solar chargers but now realise I have too much weed pressure :)

[@LinessaFarms]

You can always mow a path where the fence is going to be placed. This can be a pain in the rear depending on where your pasture is located. 👍🏻 As always, thanks for watching our videos and taking the time to comment.

[@Salomaeful]

@@LinessaFarms :D if you have any hints on mowing the correct path before setting up the net I'd be delighted - I end up cutting a path, setting up the net, moving the net and cutting the correct path before finally setting up the net!

[@LinessaFarms]

@@Salomaeful if you are able to set your corner posts first, this helps a lot. We will put out a video soon on setting up fencing. 👍🏻

[@philliphall5198]

I raise goats on five acre but I have four areas I deep plow every three years on one area and disc the others Been doing it 45 years on same place Turning ground and running propane burner keep the worms under control

[@johnjacob442]

If you’re rotating the every one to three weeks then you need to rename your grazing because it’s not intensive grazing. Intensive grazing is 400 sheep or more to an acre for 1 day. Or better yet 400 sheep to a quarter an acre for 2 to 3 hrs then move them and do that 4 times a day that is intensive grazing.

[@LinessaFarms]

Thank you for your input.

[@folsterfarms]

@@LinessaFarmsooooooo… THAT was the Linessa Farms equivalent of a Tennessee “Bless Your Heart…” BOOM!

[@kuliatv]

Helpful video. Thanks. I understand the issue with integrated solar fence chargers, but how about trickle charging your deep cycle battery in the field with a solar panel? Seeing as you place your tote outside of the active pasture, you could probably place a solar panel on top of or lean it against the tote for southern exposure. Not a recommendation - just curious if you’ve considered it, as I’m gathering the components to try this myself. I’ve got an AC charger and a small integrated solar unit, so I have a little experience with those ends of the spectrum. A powerful DC fence energizer with a deep cycle battery kept topped off by a solar panel seems like a happy medium. But that’s just theory until I put it into practice.

[@LinessaFarms]

We actually do this. 😬 I guess I should make a video on this? Watch for something in the next few days.

[@tribeofjesse6191]

@@LinessaFarms 🙌🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@farmerjeffsiewicki]

Do you have a more permanent perimeter fencing? If i only used the electric netting without a woven wire or high tensile perimeter fence, should i worry about goats escaping?

[@LinessaFarms]

Hi, Jeff. Yes. Having a strong perimeter fence takes a lot of the risk out of using electric netting or single strand hot wire. Generally speaking, your goats will challenge fence more than sheep. This is a generality and there are different animals with different personalities but I would be more concerned with goats. I will tell you that we have had very few instances regarding animals getting out of the electric netting but depending on your location, it could be a disaster. Thank you for watching our videos and thank you for taking the time to send us a message!

[@SumaSuma-wl6tk]

Some people told me 1 acre can hold around 5 sheeps maximum, i am from Egypt but asked many around the world they always told me 3-5 , i don't know if i get 5 acres and plant it barley for feed sheeps if can hold more than 5 sheeps

[@LinessaFarms]

There is no way to give someone an answer. Different pastures can support different animals. There are way too many variables to give a simple answer. Rainfall amount, breed of animal, size of animal, kind and amount of crops, etc.

[@TravisClark-t5g]

Thanks for posting this… even if Johnny boy says it isn’t intensive 😂 I enjoyed it.

[@LinessaFarms]

I didn’t get a Christmas card from him either.

[@northernozarkhomestead]

We have a solar charger powering 2 string poly wire not netting to keep our sheep and goats in the paddock they are given, usually about an acre a day for 60 ewes and 40 lambs right now.

[@LinessaFarms]

Very nice. 😎 We change our speed depending on lots of factors such as rainfall this past summer we were in a drought and had to use significantly more land, but that is to be expected. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a message.

[@stevendemoss5766]

Nice video Tim really enjoyed it....... My question is, would that web netting work in a woods?

[@LinessaFarms]

Hello, Steve. You would probably have to zig-zag it around a little bit but you can definitely do this. We have used this method to clean out tree lines multiple times with good results. You’ll have to clear some small trees more than likely.

[@MrBlackguy8]

Hello! I use a similar electicnet fencing setup to what's shown here. My lambs get enough of a shock to keep them off of the net but when they get shocked - it scares them into stampeding right through the fence on the opposite side of the paddock, either getting tangled in the netting or just roaming free. Any suggestions on fence training? I do not have T-Post/PVC in the corners currently - is that the game changer? I'm in the Northeast and our ground is very wet this time of year - maybe it will be harder for them to run over the fencing when the ground dries? I am trying desperately to not drive t-posts and metal fencing around and through our 2 acres.

[@LinessaFarms]

I do think the t-posts with the pvc are a game changer. It helps keep the fence a lot tighter and seems to at least help against push-down.

[@FlexityAlt2]

hi Tim i wanted some advise I have 11 acre of land and my soil is pretty good and water in the land is also good i have chosen a type of grass which grows quickly I am going to do rotational grazing for 100 sheep's in this 11 acres. I was thinking to make a padlock of 1.5 acre and move the sheep's everyday for 7 days so the grass will have 7 days to regrow as I am making a relatively big padlock I don't think 1 day will be too little. the sheep's wont eat even 1/3 of the grass in 1 padlock please correct me if I am going to do this correctly. and instead of putting a electric fence can I put a normal fence like a grand slam fence or something thank you.

[@LinessaFarms]

Setting the number of days on a paddock might be a mistake due to variations in growth and environmental factors such as rain and air temps. Best case scenario, let them just clip the tops and move them on. So long as you aren’t letting them eat it down too low, you should be fine. I think as the season progresses, you will see changes in how fast you are moving them. Yes. You can do whatever you need to do with your fence that works for you. Many people will use a permanent perimeter fence and portable for internal paddocks. You can also do all permanent and would just need to make smaller paddocks with gates. Generally, doing all permanent can be cost prohibitive and create problems later if you should decide to use the land for other purposes, such as baling.

[@brandoncolen8440]

How many sections of the premier fence is it taking to make one of your areas?

[@LinessaFarms]

Hello! We are using at least 12-15 sections. This will depend on the fencing you purchase. Some are different lengths. We advise purchasing 10% over what you think you will need.

[@wadelentz-basssingingpreac9846]

I need major help! I am so embarrassed, depressed, and defeated. I had 27 lambs born in March, but unfortunately, I have 15 die in a month. Barber Pole worms have wreaked havoc on my small farm.

[@LinessaFarms]

Hello, Wade. It happens. Lambs can easily fall ill to coccidia and parasites. Moving forward you will want to develop a worming and coccidia protocol. For now, start with a white wormer, progress to an injectable, and then you can move to copper sulfate. As far as your coccidia protocol, we have free choice mineral with anti coccidia meds in it or feed options for you as well. I am going to attach a few links to videos I would like you to watch. You can also email me at [e-mail] We also have a live stream every week at 8PM CST. You can ask questions on the live stream and we can talk about things. Just let me know what works. Check out the following videos if you haven’t already. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHemc4x4Zd1oZtk kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoDaYomHpbaknMk

[@greggmcclelland8430]

What are you doing for a ground rod?

[@LinessaFarms]

Hi, Gregg. I am using a single 8ft galvanized rod. I have a gator clip on my ground line, I clip to the rod. Depending on soil type and moisture, this may not be enough for some people. We have heavy clay soil that holds moisture well and provides excellent grounding.

[@folsterfarms]

Tim, are you using four 1/2 acre parcels, including a permanent (sacrificial) area? Wouldn’t that be two acres total?

[@LinessaFarms]

We have 2 total set-ups that will be used by the end of the season totaling 4 acres. What you see right now is 2 acres. I just didn’t want to mislead people by stating 2.

[@DomDaBomb77]

Another great video Tim. Do you make decision on when to move based on how far along grass is in other areas, or is it primarily based on what's left in their current paddock? Thanks

[@LinessaFarms]

Great points. We do both. If grass is getting out of control in some areas we will move them early. There is something called lodging where clover and alfalfa will fall over due to weight and grow close the the ground. It is difficult to bale when this happens and can smother some of the grasses. We try to prevent this from happening. We are at a “must bale” time right now where we have to cut no later than this week. In some places, the grass is getting up to my shoulders and it is too stemmy.

[@michaelripperger5674]

If chickens 🐓 get in the area where goats or sheep are … and you have baking soda out … any risk for the chickens ?

[@LinessaFarms]

There are no concerns and most of the time our chickens don’t mess with it at all. We know of some individuals that add baking soda to their chickens water but we do not.

[@shermdog6969]

No

[@philliphall5198]

No problem at all

[@lmd2454]

To add to your comments about the options to power your fence, I'd advise others that you really don't want to be on AC power because it uses a LOT of electricity to power those fences and it can run up a huge electric bill! It's much more economical to invest in a large solar powered fence charger.

[@philliphall5198]

I use it and it’s not that costly because I turn it on for two days after moving them and turn it off rest of there grazing time

[@LinessaFarms]

We actually wrote an article on this and the usage is very small.

[@jesayamutota4219]

How big is the whole area for rotation?

[@LinessaFarms]

4 acres.

[@gerryburde5663]

Does not seem like intensive grazing, isn't intensive grazing moving them to a new pasture every day or two?

[@LinessaFarms]

Management-intensive Grazing is a flexible approach to rotational grazing where paddock size, stocking density, and length of grazing period are adjusted to balance forage supply with animal nutrient demand through the grazing season. There is no definitive “this is what you do”.

[@therealsideburnz]

Are you seeing degradation in the quality of your pastures? I’m far from expert, but my understanding is that allowing animals to graze plants in their regrowth stage is about the worst thing you can do for your grass. By leaving them on that ground for so long they will be returning to their favorite plants over and over while they start to regrow. This forces the plant to use its energy reserves as it doesn’t have enough leaf area to capture the sunlight required to fuel its regrowth, eventually depleting its stores and killing the plant. Not saying you’re “doing it wrong” and wagging my finger, just curious if this is working for you in the long term as it goes against a lot of what I’ve learned.

[@LinessaFarms]

Yes, you cannot do this on the same piece of property over and over and over. The hoof pressure alone will cause excessive soil compaction and you can run into some serious problems. We have heavy blue clay in our location and we rotate this system onto different parts of our pastures to allow rest periods. We will also utilize cover crops/over-see plants that can help to regenerate compacted soils such as deep tilling sorghum sudan grass to help break up and aerate. We find it best to give our fields a “break” after grazing. So, for instance, what we graze this year will go to hay next year and vice versa. Individuals must take the time to really keep an eye on pastures…. It’s not just a simple “throw them out there and forget about it”. Thank you very much for the questions and the points. We appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment.

[@therealsideburnz]

@@LinessaFarms thanks, that’s making a lot more sense to me now, especially knowing you might seed there

[@Lindseyfarms270]

So in Kentucky running 10 per acre wouldn't be crazy on good pasture

[@LinessaFarms]

I don’t think this is out of the question. Keep in mind we dry lot our animals during the winter months so you need to have a plan on what to do with them when they go to hay in the winter (if they go to hay in the winter). We have other ground we use for hay production as well.

[@Lindseyfarms270]

@@LinessaFarms I'm doing open pasture right now with 30 head of sheep feeding hay in the winter but want to increase my stocking rate