Split grazing advice

[Marmi452]

Any advice on best way to rotate 3 paddocks split over 4 acres as first time split grazing rather than free graze and ending up with bare fields by July! 1 dales and 1 Welsh b who is a fatty so will be further sectioned in the paddock to keep weight down.. Not out 247 all the time.. My field buddies think free grazing till bare is the way but I want to try rotating to see if I can keep my half of field going longer.. Any tip and encouragement would be great... X

 

[Micky]

I just used to split my field in two and rotate on a two weekly basis in summer

 

[kirinsam]

I have a 3 acre paddock and a 1 1/2 acre paddock. Previous owner free grazed , land was in a dreadful state , weedy with bare "toilet" patches. 3 acre is split with electric tape into 6 half acre plots (3 water troughs) each one is used for 1 month of the winter then harrowed to spread poo. 1 1/2 acre is split into 5 smaller blocks each one does 2 weeks twice then 1 week once on rotation harrowing in between. Normally have 2 lambs just for the summer to keep things tidy in the 3 acre but now have too much grass as grazing is so improved so this year have had 2 ewes all winter as well (due to lamb next weekend....terrified). This system is for 2 15hh horses stabled at night. Other advantage is that due to paddock resting and sheep my worm counts are 0. I have been told I make too much fuss and just have OCD about grazing and its fine just to let them have the whole lot but the results speak for themselves.

 

[JillA]

Tracks - you can set up one in the first paddock with electric fencing, then when that is grazed down, move to the next etc. Fattie on the track, anything needing a bit more in the centre. It takes at least a month to recover when it's rested so you will have to factor that in but you could graze each paddock in this way for three or four weeks and have two very well rested to move on to. It also gives you the resting time needed if you need to spray or much spread the ones not in use.