- Location
- Quebec, Canada
please define ‘nbsp’
"Improving Our Lot" - Planned Holistic Grazing, for starters..
- Thread starter Kiwi Pete
- Start date
Fault on my phone! Sorry it's not there when I type it.
Can't find embarrassed emoji
JohnGalway
Member
- Location
- Connemara, Ireland
I'm seeing moss creeping into quite a few of our poorer fields at the moment. Recently soil tested and came back perfect for PH in these areas (if that has anything to do with it). We have been very wet over the last couple of months but even so and it's not even restricted to the really wet bits. I'm struggling to see it as a good thing but should I be concerned?
Would your stock density be too low? Might they benefit from a higher impact for a shorter time.
- Location
- NI
Not sure if it qualifies as art yet but this was my first attempt at hedge laying, think a lot of it was really too big! Very satisfying though.
NZDan
Member
- Location
- Broomfield, New Zealand
It does depend a little on you system and genetics, recommendation here is to drench at 500 but we normally don't drench till 800. But we always drench at weaning regardless and monitor from there.
Woolless
Member
- Location
- Berwickshire, Scottish Borders
Quite possibly yes. During the summer they'll have been grazed by sheep for three days approx then rested for about three weeks. They've just had a period of set-stocking though, as I was running five tupping groups.
It is quite noticeable in a paddock here which used to be one but the neighbours now have part of it and now it every couple of weeks through the summer has got very bad for Moss this year whereas ours the other side of the fence is looking reasonably well. Quite an extreme example but shows the reasons why moss will do well through hard grazing and wearing the plants out creating bare soil which hardens. In our less brittle environment nature will find something to fill a gap which is Moss in this and your case.
To remedy it animal impact and let the grass express itself, would be my guess. With a lack of animal impact harrowing would do the job but then let the grass do its thing.
To remedy it animal impact and let the grass express itself, would be my guess. With a lack of animal impact harrowing would do the job but then let the grass do its thing.
Woolless
Member
- Location
- Berwickshire, Scottish Borders
The moss isn't bad but is noticeable. All these fields will be rested now until March, then more set-stocking for lambing
. I try to get the lambs tailed and everything mobbed up as soon as I can, having said that. On the other side of the farm will be my showpiece regenerative grazing platform
Looks fine, If I had to pick holes I would say that the bit to the right of the tree could be put down lower, remember it will grow upwards not down. that said Its as good as I could do.
given a choice you wouldn't lay really big stuff as you would want that for wood but if there is nothing else then it don't matter what size it is its better than nothing.
JohnGalway
Member
- Location
- Connemara, Ireland
Tupping is rather a PITA here as well, it's something I'll have to sort out.
No it has to be 2 presents unless the kid specifically asks for one big present instead of 2. Every other kid gets a present on their birthday and at Christmas why should a December born kid be any different? Maybe when they are older and understand money and value and don't mind waiting till Christmas to open their birthday present or open it on their birthday and have nothing to open at Christmas.Cue the future conundrum of once combined present or 2 separate ones
Yes I am still annoyed about it. So is every other December born person I've ever spoken to about it.
Woolless
Member
- Location
- Berwickshire, Scottish Borders
I've come to the conclusion that to make the most of this type of grazing, it's best if you're not too fussy about genetics. One tupping group with five tups would be much better but no good for the performance recording job. Ditto with cattle.
- Location
- somerset
this clearly shows the benefit of always having soil covered with vegetation, also portrays the argument of drilled or broadcast grass seed, i have always preferred drilling, having grown a lot of cereals, probably the reason. Yet, if you look at old or permanent grass, there should be an even spread, damage leaves a scar, which in turn lets a 'foreign' plant in. This spring, we had a field which simply didn't grow, dug holes, obvious pan 5 ins down, so, subsoil p/h and maize, we took the opportunity to take out an old fence/track, and amalgamate with another field. This second field, rather different, having recently dug some ditches, a very healthy soil structure, 8 to 10 ins, of dark brown soil. It has been interesting to see how the 'new' field, has grown, with maize. The yield has pretty well followed soil condition, as one would expect, the better 20 t/a down to 10, with the lower end slower to get going. The field is now down to rye and winter vetch, and no difference end to end in growth. The thoughts garnered on here, coupled with my own gut feelings, will be fascinating to see how both ends continue to grow/yield. I know no pan exists, that's sorted.
exmoor dave
Member
- Location
- exmoor, uk
Just going back to the idea of how hedges could be managed holistically,
I've a couple of mates who are looking in to the idea of making machines that can collect and bind hedge timber, ready to stack to dry before feeding chippers for biomass boilers.
But I'm wondering if maybe exporting that timber is a missed opportunity, why not cut out any bigger timber for the farms own fire use, then chip all the rest (rather than the traditional bonfire approach), to be either be piled, composted, then spread evenly across the land or target certain areas?
Or spread chips straight to the land? But I'm sure I've read somewhere that can cause some Carbon/ nitrogen balance problems?
Although we don't have a huge number of hedges personally (USA army remodelled the farm in WW2)
typical exmoor farms are heavily hedged with beech hedges on top of 6ft high banks, so really those hedges can't be allowed to grow to larger trees, as they can topple the bank.
I've a couple of mates who are looking in to the idea of making machines that can collect and bind hedge timber, ready to stack to dry before feeding chippers for biomass boilers.
But I'm wondering if maybe exporting that timber is a missed opportunity, why not cut out any bigger timber for the farms own fire use, then chip all the rest (rather than the traditional bonfire approach), to be either be piled, composted, then spread evenly across the land or target certain areas?
Or spread chips straight to the land? But I'm sure I've read somewhere that can cause some Carbon/ nitrogen balance problems?
Although we don't have a huge number of hedges personally (USA army remodelled the farm in WW2)
typical exmoor farms are heavily hedged with beech hedges on top of 6ft high banks, so really those hedges can't be allowed to grow to larger trees, as they can topple the bank.
JohnGalway
Member
- Location
- Connemara, Ireland
I'm not worried about genetics at all tbh. My recording system, which should have been done this year but my dog got hurt, will be at weaning. Let out the bad lambs to find their mothers and that gives me the info I need in one go. I've half the flock blackface and half cheviot x, so I need two groups at tupping at the moment, it's not ideal.
exmoor dave
Member
- Location
- exmoor, uk
My argument was that if it went past dec 20th.... one present was totally legit
She popped out on the 18th
so 2 presents
exmoor dave
Member
- Location
- exmoor, uk
My thoughts pretty much, the best advice I've been given, to put your trust into your ram breeder for genetic gains (if you buy rams in), or find a ram breeder you do trust!
Culling problems in the ewes is of course good practice but, if you're buying rams in, that culling is really just tidying up at the edges
Why not use the chip for bedding before composting ?
exmoor dave
Member
- Location
- exmoor, uk