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  Discussion on Grazing after mowing
Author Message
Member:
leslie1

Posted on Sunday, Aug 10, 2008 - 10:32 am:

Is it safe to turn out horses after mowing? Re grass clippings.

thanks
L
Member:
leslie1

Posted on Sunday, Aug 10, 2008 - 10:38 am:

oooops,
I just found the thread..so nevermind.

I mowed with a lawn tractor but cant bag or pile the clippings, so I guess i will leave them off it for a couple of days.
L
Member:
imogen

Posted on Monday, Aug 11, 2008 - 7:02 am:

Leslie

Earlier this year I was at Kildalton College where they train Irish agricultural students in horse care including breeding. I was surprised to see that they happily mow the paddocks and leave the horses, including mares and foals, straight back on to the clippings, just like cattle.

I didn't get a chance to ask anyone at the college why they weren't leaving them to dry, but I meant to ask Dr O at the time if there was any new research on possible colic risk from mowed clippings.

Imogen
Member:
nadia

Posted on Monday, Aug 11, 2008 - 7:55 am:

My horses are at boarding facility. We have had a very wet summer and the pastures have been overgrown this year (past years, it was so dry, mowing wasn't needed as the horses ate it down faster than it could grow).

They just mowed the pastures (3+ acres each) Saturday, leaving the horses in them as they mowed. I know there was hoary alyssum in the fields as my horse has had reactions to it a few years ago.

Mowing was necessary, but I am concerned that the chopped up hoary alyssum is now something my horse cannot avoid. He obviously was doing it on his own in the pasture when the weed was intact. I checked his legs last night and I saw a small amount of swelling on his front legs. I am hoping that this will be the extent of it, but I told them to check his legs this morning and to call me if he is swollen.

Questions:
1) If you have overgrown pastures with weeds that seem to affect only a small percentage of your herd, what would you do? Mow the pastures (chopping up the weed) or leave as is?

2) On the just mowed pastures:
a) Isn't there a concern for laminitis (some kind of sugar change in cut grass), choke and colic?
b) Should clippings always be bagged? If not, how long do they need to be off the grass?

I realize there would be a large cost in trying to kill the hoary alyssum in the pastures (too late for right now, can only plan for next year).

Thanks.
Member:
scooter

Posted on Monday, Aug 11, 2008 - 8:03 am:

When I mow my pasture I let it dry for a few days, the horses don't seem to like the dried grass and leave it alone.(mine will eat just about anything) I have seen quite a few horses choke on fresh mowed grass, I think they eat it too fast and it balls up.

I believe I have read also it is not good because of the grease ect. can get on the mowed grass from the mower.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Aug 11, 2008 - 8:22 am:

I think much depends on the length of the grass, the fineness of the clippings, and how large the clumps are on the ground. Pastures that are clipped with a tractor (PTO) run pasture mower are not likely to cause any problems because of the long pieces. I have seen horses choke on finely chopped grass like you get with a lawn mower when thrown in and piled up. I have even seen two horses choked at one time on such grass clippings.

If your pasture clipper is shedding grease at a prodigious rate, that needs to be addressed not because the grease is likely to be that dangerous but because your pasture clipper is at risk of falling apart.
DrO
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Monday, Aug 11, 2008 - 9:21 am:

I let the horses graze, then mow with the garden tractor. I have 4 seperate grazing areas, so 5-7 days before the horses would be back on the mowed part. I was told to mow at 3 1/2 inches, and mow before weeds go to seed, and never, ever let horses eat the fresh clippings.
Member:
imogen

Posted on Monday, Aug 11, 2008 - 4:17 pm:

I agree with Dr O that the clippings from a topper (tractor PTO mower) are a lot longer and less gungy than those from a lawnmower.

Imogen
Member:
scooter

Posted on Monday, Aug 11, 2008 - 4:39 pm:

Yes when we us the "brush hog" I don't worry to much, but I usually do the horse pasture with the riding lawn mower and have caused choke twice.....learned my lesson.
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