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Realistic Expectations for First-Timer Pasture Rotation

 
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Wiser heads on here, I appreciate your experience and insight into my situation as I attempt to rotationally graze American Guinea Hogs and Nubian Goats on 15 acres of western Ponderosa Pine forest.

I have a main 1/2 acre pasture where I house my hogs and goats during the barren winter months where the ground is covered in snow or too sloppy. Both groups of animals consider there pens in this pasture to be their safe home. Now, I am in summer and experimenting with rotational pasture. Using Premier 1 Supply's netting options I have been able to keep hogs and goats in their designated paddocks all day for grazing, browsing and all that good stuff. However, I've noticed at night that there is an urgent desire for them to return to this "home" pasture. In fact, as I was unplugging the hog's netting to step into it and give them food tonight they sensed an opportunity and bolted out, straight for their "home" pasture.

My primary concern is this: I do not like like leading animals from their "home" pasture every single morning to a new designated paddock. This is turning into a time-consuming exercise since the animals simply are getting tired of being led to a contained area every morning and have plenty of other delicious distractions along the way. Is it reasonable to leave my animals in their rotational pasture paddock over night? I'm talking 4 hogs to 100 linear feet paddock and 2 goats to 100 linear feet paddock. Or should I be living with the morning and evening routine of moving animals and just grin and bear it? Any suggestions or past experiences would be much appreciated. Thank you for your feedback!
 
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Several quick thoughts,  related to my several years running sheep that way,  with electronet paddocks.  

1).   A bit of grain feed leading them to pasture MOSTLY kept them interested in coming with me.

2)   A calm trained dog helps oodles for anyone *thinking* of taking off.   She didnt have to "work" just be there.

3.  Going back to their home pen at night gives you better safety,  imo,  and a place to keep them in if the weather is bad or you need some health care/checks done.   Being in a hurry isn't a bad thing,  they'll likely reliably run right where you want them.   I didn't put extra water or minerals out on graze,  so that was another incentive to go "home" in the evening.

4)  Electronet corridors can really help with moving too.  

5.  They DO learn that new paddock = fresh graze pretty quickly,   and that increases cooperation as well.  
 
Bernie Clark
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Thank you for the thoughtful response! The one dog I keep with them is an Anatolian Shepherd so I may bring him on leash just to see if his presence calms the situation and keeps animals more under control. Also, to further confuse the matter, have you ever done rotational grazing with chickens? I'm using Premier 1 netting which is 1. not shocking them 2. has holes big enough for my hens to crawl through. I'm thinking of switching to a 1" chicken net either made from plastic or metal. Any experience with using these and advice on which would be easier to move and have durability? Thank you again for the insight!
 
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