Can I put cows on freshcut pasture?

skeleroo

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My husband is out right now bushhogging down some fields. They were cleared out a year ago but nothing's been on them and have gotten a bit out of hand. Can I put cows on fresh cut fields right away?
 

greybeard

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It depends...on what was cut. Generally it's ok, but some forages present problems after being cut, especially if they were drought stressed, the pasture mowed and a good rain falls on it, as it is often, the initial re-growth after mowing and rain that presents the problem. (I'm referring to prussic acid problems..they don't happen only after frost stress..they can happen after any kind of stress and regrowth)

If there was much Johnson Grass or shatter grass (they look similar) in the fields, I'd be a bit leery of it if your area has been hot and dry for any length of time and you have rain now or in the next few days.

http://agebb.missouri.edu/drought/sudan.htm
 
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skeleroo

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Well my husband broke the mower. I'm assuming putting calves in waist to shoulder high grasses is a bad idea?
 

mysunwolf

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We do that all the time too haha. Some folks say it gives or spreads pinkeye, but we have not found that to be true (yet). We stock it really densely with electric strands to get them to trample what they don't eat, this helps in the really tall forage.
 

Donna R. Raybon

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The irritation of tall grass poking eyes, does make pink eye more of a risk. And, they really don't like getting eyes poked. Biggest risk is flies, so keep fly spray on their face and that goes a long way to not having pink eye. I penned cows close, used a gallon sprayer with synergized pyrethrin in mineral oil base and about once every two weeks sprayed them down. Bulls always seem to have more flies, quicker than cows.

When turning in on new pasture, I always like to ensure everyone was already well fed with hay and/or pasture to ensure not overly hungry. And, do it in morning so if they decide to 'migrate' out of new field you have daylight to find and recapture.
 

greybeard

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And, do it in morning so if they decide to 'migrate' out of new field you have daylight to find and recapture.
True but also so :lol:.
:idunno where they went......

(I'm assuming there is an adequate water supply in the new areas too)
 

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