Sort of Winter 2012 (lots of pics)...

[RSL]

Last of the Rake bunches

Replacement heifers that don't even bother to go as far as bunches

Gate waiting...

A river of cows

Bale grazing montage (We have found if we alternate between moving swaths and moving bales they clean up everything a lot better)

With last weeks row beside

Stragglers

Young cows on swaths coming to investigate

Calves had found the bunches by the time we got home

Telephoto off the deck (The church in the background is 1 mile away and is named for my Great Great Grandfather - Ganton Presbyterian)

Waiting all winter to finally have snow to push

A giant cougar attack

We also had our AgriProfit$ interview this afternoon which is a free benchmarking service from the AB government. It takes some time, but the information is invaluable.

 

[Hayguy]

Wonderful pics RSL, let me get this straight, you alternate between swath and bale grazing, how long in each, and how many acres did you bunch for how many head.

 

[RSL]

Wonderful pics RSL, let me get this straight, you alternate between swath and bale grazing, how long in each, and how many acres did you bunch for how many head.

They usually have access to both at all times, but we seldom give them new of both on the same day. We used to swath graze and take out an alfalfa/grass hay bale or two on the last days of each swath grazing paddock so they cleaned everything up better. Since we are now too lazy to do even that, we offer them new bales when they get near the end of a swath grazing paddock. Cleanup seems equally as good as us doing work to take bales out. It also balances out the calhos ratio a little better in our feed as swath grazing ends up high phos over time.

 

[Hayguy]

now i get it :???: :? :wink: sure am glad that we tried the bunch grazing, extended the season by two to three mo`s, with fuel and power where it is, it was quite a saving`s,and the calves did really well on it. will be trying all three (bale,swath,bunch and any variation in between) next winter. now it`s time to figure out my summer program :lol: :lol:

 

[Jinglebob]

now i get it :???: :? :wink: sure am glad that we tried the bunch grazing, extended the season by two to three mo`s, with fuel and power where it is, it was quite a saving`s,and the calves did really well on it. will be trying all three (bale,swath,bunch and any variation in between) next winter. now it`s time to figure out my summer program :lol: :lol:

Now, if a smart feller would just figure out a way to not have to swath it or bale it and the cows could still eat it..... Hmmmmm......

 

[Hayguy]

now i get it :???: :? :wink: sure am glad that we tried the bunch grazing, extended the season by two to three mo`s, with fuel and power where it is, it was quite a saving`s,and the calves did really well on it. will be trying all three (bale,swath,bunch and any variation in between) next winter. now it`s time to figure out my summer program :lol: :lol:

Now, if a smart feller would just figure out a way to not have to swath it or bale it and the cows could still eat it..... Hmmmmm......

that would be called climate control :wink:

 

[RSL]

now i get it :???: :? :wink: sure am glad that we tried the bunch grazing, extended the season by two to three mo`s, with fuel and power where it is, it was quite a saving`s,and the calves did really well on it. will be trying all three (bale,swath,bunch and any variation in between) next winter. now it`s time to figure out my summer program :lol: :lol:

Now, if a smart feller would just figure out a way to not have to swath it or bale it and the cows could still eat it..... Hmmmmm......

that would be called climate control :wink:

That was called - until Feb 14th this year. I just have 90 days or so left to work on...

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

now i get it :???: :? :wink: sure am glad that we tried the bunch grazing, extended the season by two to three mo`s, with fuel and power where it is, it was quite a saving`s,and the calves did really well on it. will be trying all three (bale,swath,bunch and any variation in between) next winter. now it`s time to figure out my summer program :lol: :lol:

Now, if a smart feller would just figure out a way to not have to swath it or bale it and the cows could still eat it..... Hmmmmm......

If we could just figure out a way to produce a forage that produces stands that equal close to the volume of annuals and tame perennials. Retain nutrients like a hard prairie grass and grow in a drought we'd be in Heaven.

 

[RSL]

now i get it :???: :? :wink: sure am glad that we tried the bunch grazing, extended the season by two to three mo`s, with fuel and power where it is, it was quite a saving`s,and the calves did really well on it. will be trying all three (bale,swath,bunch and any variation in between) next winter. now it`s time to figure out my summer program :lol: :lol:

Now, if a smart feller would just figure out a way to not have to swath it or bale it and the cows could still eat it..... Hmmmmm......

If we could just figure out a way to produce a forage that produces stands that equal close to the volume of annuals and tame perennials. Retain nutrients like a hard prairie grass and grow in a drought we'd be in Heaven.

I doubt we could afford the seed... :lol:

 

[PATB]

Now, if a smart feller would just figure out a way to not have to swath it or bale it and the cows could still eat it..... Hmmmmm......

If we could just figure out a way to produce a forage that produces stands that equal close to the volume of annuals and tame perennials. Retain nutrients like a hard prairie grass and grow in a drought we'd be in Heaven.

I doubt we could afford the seed... :lol:

Just buy hay with the seed in it.