Finally Out to Pasture

Well I definitely shouldn’t have complained last year about it feeling late to be out in April! We are finally out to pasture on a record late date of May 2nd. After a record breaking wet Winter and Spring, it really was still too wet to go out, but we just couldn’t wait any longer! This is the latest turn out that anyone can remember, we are usually always out the first week of April. Feels even crazier that just two years ago we had already been on pasture for 3 months! We truly are at the mercy of Mother Nature!

As is tradition I had to capture the moment of the Ladies going back out to pasture. The first turn out ended up with a bit of choas as the Ladies had to learn the way to exit the new barn. There is always lots of excitement when we first open the gate, everyone is ready to go to pasture. The new exit, it not a usual gate, but a single file sort gate. Let’s just say the Ladies were not to keen on having to go single file out! But we really wanted them learning their exit to make it easier once we are grazing 24 hours a day.

There always has to be a bit of chaos the first day, and we were expecting it since this is all new! By the next day it was much calmer and everyone has fully learned the system at a week in. That chaos the first day was worth it in the long run for them to learn their new exit.

After the inital excitement and choas the Ladies were the calmest I think they have ever been on a first day! I was only one cow away from everyone laying down in the pasture after they had been out for only about 45 minutes. That never happens! It truly is my favorite day of Spring to turn the Ladies back onto pasture. Waiting this long definitely made it feel like the longest Winter ever. We are looking forward to learning as we go along how we can be successful with grazing and robotic milking. It will definitely be a learning season.

We really are so happy to finally be out to pasture! Happy Spring!