To ensure efficient grass- based beef production, a rotational grazing system is essential. A rotational grazing system should have a minimum of six and, ideally, eight grazing divisions or paddocks per grazing group on the farm.
Why use a system?
Paddock grazing works on the basic principle of `graze and rest’. Therefore, once a paddock is grazed, it is allowed to undergo a rest period to rejuvenate the sward leaf for the following rotation. Grazing swards with fast rotations in spring, (e.g. 12 to 15 days) will decrease grass production on the farm and place the farm at a greater risk of running into grass deficits.
A rotational paddock system can reduce the risk of parasites, especially when calves are part of the production system.
Setting up
Paddock sizes
Aim for equal divisions, avoiding long, narrow divisions. The ratio of field sides should be no more than 4:1 to prevent narrowing of paddocks. The ideal size for a 40-cow suckler herd is 2ha/paddock. Ensure that each paddock has a number of access points. Water trough access is equally important. Temporary electric fencing should be used to divide larger fields to give the required paddock size, especially when grazing silage fields during the first rotation.
Divide paddocks so that at least four or five grazings can be achieved in spring and two or three in autumn.
Water
A water supply in each grazing division is necessary. Ideally, every paddock should have a permanent water supply.
Placing troughs across fences reduces the number required.
If using a temporary wire to strip or block graze, strategically place troughs in the field so that animals do not have to walk back over the grazed area for water (see Example 2).
Keeping water troughs in the centre of the paddock allows for them to be further split with temporary fencing. Alternatively, water troughs can be fitted with a long length of water piping and the water trough can be moved between grazing areas within the one paddock.
Water supply/pressure will often dictate the size and type of water trough used.
Example 1
The map shows a section of a farm — there are two groups of stock (e.g. young steers and beef heifers) grazing the area shown. Each group has eight grazing divisions. The young steers graze the eight paddocks light-shaded and the beef heifers graze the eight dark-shaded paddocks. The red lines show the road network throughout the farm.
Example 2
Diagram A shows two water troughs (in blue) placed across the fence and serving two paddocks. The heavy dark lines show where strip wires might be placed and how the water troughs serve two divisions.
Diagram B shows a paddock that is block grazed. One trough is placed in the middle and services each of the four grazing divisions.
Farm roadways
Roadways are an obvious advantage as they allow easy access to paddocks and avoid soil damage.
Water supply
Keeping water troughs in the centre of the paddock allows for them to be further split temporary fencing.
Temporary fencing
Temporary electric fencing should be used to divide larger fields to give the required paddock size, especially when grazing silage fields during the first rotation.
This article is an excerpt from 'Grazing Guide' which was published a jointly between the Irish Farmers Journal and Teagasc.
To read the more of the 'Grazing Guide' click here.