The first sight of green grass this spring may tempt producers to put their cattle out early, but a regional forage specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture says they should still be patient.

Trevor Lennox says turning cattle out before the grass can get enough leaf growth to support the roots can cause the plants to become less productive, and in turn, increase costs for extra feed.

He says the ideal time to start grazing is when the plant reaches the three- to the three-and-a-half-leaf stage.

Lennox says they should still be patient and wait until the right time to graze cattle if at all possible.

"If you graze those parts too early, they just don't have enough leaf growth to support the roots and if they are grazed too early before they can start to replenish root reserves from the winter they weaken. The plants become a lot less productive."

Lennox adds a good trick is to purposely set some land aside every year for early grazing and leave it enough time to recover for the following year.