A Grazier's Favorite Day of the Year

For our farm, it happened yesterday — the first day of grazing. 

This marks the kickoff to the growing season for us and it feels so good to see (and hear) the herd munching on lush pastures after they’ve been cooped up eating hay all winter.

You can’t help but stop running to the next chore and simply watch them. Which is exactly what CJ did yesterday after letting the cattle out into their first paddock at the Shew farm in Morgan County. 

I was home, keeping busy with nesting around the house while we wait on baby to come. And I actually felt a little bittersweet having missed the moment. But there will be plenty of time to watch cattle graze this summer.

To a non-grazier, perhaps it sounds boring? Like watching grass grow.

But observing the cattle and moving them from paddock to paddock is our favorite chore. And we have often heard the same from other grass-fed beef producers.

Observation is our most valuable tool on the farm. 

When we stop and observe the cattle, we notice which forages they’re selecting, how full their rumens appear, the odd cow that’s limping a little, a calf that’s growing faster than the others. 

Or we’ll set off on a walk and say “lets’ go look at grass.” As we walk through the pastures, we’re looking at how dense the stand of forages appears or how well a certain field bounced back after grazing or how there’s more clover popping up around where we fed hay.

Nature shows us what to do next, if we watch carefully enough.

Do we need to speed up our grazing rotation so the forages don’t “head out” and go to seed, making them overly mature and less nutritious? 

Do we need to feed hay alongside the watery spring forages so their manure isn’t so runny? 

Are the steers looking finished and ready for butcher as we had hoped? 

Many influential figures in the grazing world have taught us this. As they say…

• “The pasture is never wrong. It reflects the management it receives.” — Allan Savory
  
• “Take half, leave half—but observe always.” — Jim Gerrish
  
• “Walk your pastures. The best grazing plan is written with your boots.” — Greg Judy

What are you keenly observing these days? 

Warmly,
Molly & CJ

P.S. We are back outside at the Athens Farmers Market and expanding our booth this year so we can display more of our products! Come see us every Saturday at 9-12pm.