It is important to consider that what you do with your pasture in the spring can determine what will happen for the rest of the year in terms of pasture and animal productivity. Here are a few things to consider that might help you improve pasture and animal performance. Start grazing on time .
Spring is when grasses have the highest growth rate during the year.
If you start too late, the animals will never catch up. A good rule of thumb is to start grazing when the grasses reach about 3 inches in height if it is Kentucky bluegrass or 4 inches in height if it is a tall grass like orchardgrass. Adjust stocking rate so animals keep up with the grass . Besides a high growth rate in the spring, grasses also have the urge to produce a seed head. Once that process starts, your grasses have definitely gotten away from you.