LeatherneckPA
12-17-2008, 06:09 AM
Somewhere in the dim, dark recesses of my mind I remember posting about my theoretical homestead. And some of you posted that the idea wasn't as far-fetched as I thought it was. So I am now asking for suggestions based upon what I know of myself.
Management intensive grazing is most likely not an option, at least not at the beginning. I just can't see myself going out there every day or so and pulling poles and wire to move my stock around.
What I do envision as more likely is having a more permanent infra-structure through which I rotate my stock on a bi-weekly or monthly basis.
The homestead plan that I have in mind includes raising meat animals for conscientious consumers. So I'm planning on one pasture for poultry, one for cows ( two for draft power for moving feeders and shelters, and two for meat), one for goats and a donkey (6 for milk and 6-12 seasonally for meat), and one for pigs (a sow plus one litter growing for meat). And then I figured on having two pastures fallow/resting in the rotation.
My proposed rotation would be goats, followed by cows, followed by poultry, followed by pigs, then two rest periods before the goats are re-introduced.
Now for some questions.
Will pastures of 1-2 acres be large enough for my intended capacities?
Will one month of rest be sufficient time between rotations?
What do you think of the intended rotation?
Will one growing season be sufficient for the beef or hogs?
Management intensive grazing is most likely not an option, at least not at the beginning. I just can't see myself going out there every day or so and pulling poles and wire to move my stock around.
What I do envision as more likely is having a more permanent infra-structure through which I rotate my stock on a bi-weekly or monthly basis.
The homestead plan that I have in mind includes raising meat animals for conscientious consumers. So I'm planning on one pasture for poultry, one for cows ( two for draft power for moving feeders and shelters, and two for meat), one for goats and a donkey (6 for milk and 6-12 seasonally for meat), and one for pigs (a sow plus one litter growing for meat). And then I figured on having two pastures fallow/resting in the rotation.
My proposed rotation would be goats, followed by cows, followed by poultry, followed by pigs, then two rest periods before the goats are re-introduced.
Now for some questions.
Will pastures of 1-2 acres be large enough for my intended capacities?
Will one month of rest be sufficient time between rotations?
What do you think of the intended rotation?
Will one growing season be sufficient for the beef or hogs?