How tall should the pasture be when I start grazing?
With most improved pastures consisting of grasses like Brome, Fescue, Orchardgrass, and Timothy as well as legumes like Red Clover, Ladino Clover, and Birdsfoot Trefoil, I tell farmers to start grazing when the plants are about 8 - 10 inches tall. In early Spring, you can start grazing when the plants are about 4 - 6 inches tall. That saves you a few extra days of winter feed plus it helps stagger pasture regrowth a little bit.

Don’t be tempted to start too soon or you’ll damage the pasture and it won’t recover. I’d rather have the grass ahead of the cows than the cows ahead of the grass. Don’t start grazing in the same paddock every year.

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1. What kind of fencing should I use?
2. What shape should my paddocks be?
3. How should I orient my paddocks on slopes?
4. How tall should the pasture be when I start grazing?
5. When should I move livestock to new grass?
6. Should I drag my pastures?
7. I’ve done everything that you suggested and I’m still not getting the production, what should I do?
8. Should I reseed my pastures?