Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development is advising cattle producers to wait before turning cattle out to summer pasture.

Forage and Pasture Specialist Tim Clark says it's best to hold off until the pasture grasses get to the three to four-leaf stage.

He notes this will help the plants develop better down the road.

"In the spring time of year, the carbohydrates reserves are low in the pasture plants. They need to produce some carbohydrates in order to get spring growth. Once they get three or four leaves on the new spring growth and they can produce more carbohydrates, the roots will develop more fully and the plant will be able to extract more water and nutrients out of the soil during the growing season."

Clark adds the general rule of thumb is that for every day you hold off at this time of year equals two or three more days of grazing in the late summer and fall.