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Winter Stockpiling Pasture Grass??

posted 2 years ago

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Anyone here in the Northern climate have success with Winter Hay Stockpiling https://youtu.be/xJMhAwYnFwI Grass for winter rotation Grazing?
I am in WI on 20 acers with 5 cows plus their offspring. I have 15 in rotation grazing for the warm months but have a deep desire to push grazing to Jan 15 ot Feb 1 or longer is possible.

This Video is what I have for reference https://youtu.be/xJMhAwYnFwI

The issue here in this vid is I don't have any large of even small equipment for that matter. I run my Farmstead here 100% No till without so much as a utility tractor. I'm 44 and I roll by hand all winter 800 to 1000 pound bales by hand to the cows and other livestock. This is why I want to extend Grazing weeks into the winter months.
My question is how can I deal with late Dec Jan heavy snow without creating them waves of hay with equipment? Will my cows adapt and simply dig?
Some help from anyone who has had success in the North. Yes I mean in the North because we deal with -40 and 5 foot of snow.

Brendon_Anderson_cattle_-_winter_pasture_cmyk-e1611764508372.jpg

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Phil Stevens

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posted 2 years ago

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The pre-mechanised solution was to cut and stack hay in the pasture where you'd turn the stock out in winter. just let them walk up to the stacks and eat. Stacked hay that was cut and dried at peak maturity will be a lot more nutritious than "standing hay" that's been out in the weather for months, too.

I can cut a quarter acre or more per day with a scythe (and this is going at a relaxed pace, quitting when it gets hot). Stacking is a rake and pitchfork task. I move mine under cover because I can, and because winter is the wet season here. But in a snowy climate (especially where the ground freezes so you don't have to worry about pugging damage) I would definitely lean toward this method.

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