Table 7-1. Tall fescue grazing management guide for sheep and beef farms.

Period and conditions

    

Recommended management

First grazing

    

When plants are 10 to 12 cm, graze for 1 to 2 d with concentrated mobs, leaving 5 cm behind.

First spring

    

Maintain grass at 4 to 12 cm by frequent rotational grazing or short periods of careful set stocking.

First summer

    

When growth slows due to dryness, remove stock until 12 cm of regrowth occurs.

Autumn

    

Keep tall fescue at 4 to 10 cm after the autumn break.

Vegetative phase autumn to early spring)

    

Rotationally graze from 10 down to 2 cm, or set stock with at least a 5-cm cover.

Heading phase (Sept.-Nov.; Aug.-Oct. for early cultivars)

    

Use set stocking at 2 to 4 cm of cover, or between 5 and 7 cm with stock rotation. High stocking rates may be needed.

Drought

    

When tall fescue growth has almost stopped, remove stock until 12 cm of regrowth occurs following substantial rain (not essential with Mediterranean cultivars).

Wet weather

    

Remove stock from paddock when soils are wet, especially with heavy stock, to prevent compaction.

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Tall Fescue Monograph