First off don’t let the girls chew the pasture down to bare dirt give them a break and move them on before it gets too short that way the grass bounces back quicker and you don’t burn it out
Keep an eye on the weather if there’s rain coming let them graze a little harder so you don’t waste the fresh growth but if it’s getting dry ease up and let the pasture rest longer
Watch your paddock sizes if they’re too big they’ll just cherry pick the sweet stuff and leave the rough you want them to clean it up pretty even before moving
Don’t forget water clean and close by a cow won’t walk far for a drink and if they don’t drink they don’t milk
Lastly keep walking your fields you’ll spot trouble before it becomes a problem and you’ll learn which paddocks bounce back fastest
here’s how I’d lay it out nice and simple like we’d talk in the shed: If you’re on a 20–30 day round in spring that’s usually good the grass is flying then and you can get them back around before it gets away from you. In summer when it slows right down stretch it out to 30–40 days give the paddocks time to bounce back especially if it’s hot and dry
Autumn tighten back to around 25–30 days so you can set up covers for winter and don’t go into winter with paddocks hammered
Winter depends on your ground and weather some folks go out for a graze in the afternoon then bring them in at night so you don’t pug the paddocks some even go 60–70 day rotations to protect the grass
Key is keep watching growth rates if the grass is jumping shorten the round if it’s crawling lengthen it the schedule’s just a guide the paddock will tell you the truth
Whichever rotational strategy you choose, keep an eye on your pastures and animals. Use data if available (even if it’s just notes in a notebook, or better yet, an app that collects data for you) to see what’s working. Over time, you’ll likely blend methods and develop your own “farm style” of grazing – and that’s great. The cows don’t mind what you call it, as long as they get fresh grass and you keep the pasture productive.
