Oats in muck

solo

Member

Location

worcestershire

• Dec 5, 2021

• #1

I have bed and breakfast cattle on a straw for muck deal which has worked well for years without major issues, however this year the cows and calves are being fed concentrate nuts mixed with whole barley and whole oats. Is this likely to result in a crop of barley and oats from the muck, although it is mostly stacked in field heaps for 6 to 12 months before spreading?

 

PSQ

Member

Arable Farmer

• Dec 5, 2021

• #2

As long as there’s no wild oats in the feed pile. We’ve learned that lesson the hard way.

Composting should seriously reduce the problem, but oats can be taken out of a following cereal crop with Topik easily enough.

 

solo

Member

Location

worcestershire

• Dec 5, 2021

• #3

It’s the wild oats that bothers me most of all having reduced them to very low levels. If I have to use topic then it will make the muck deal dear. Might as well chop the straw and save the work.

 

solo

Member

Location

worcestershire

• Dec 5, 2021

• #4

Just realised this needs moving to the livestock section Please @Bald Rick

 

Renaultman

Member

Arable Farmer

Location

Darlington

• Dec 5, 2021

• #5

solo said:

It’s the wild oats that bothers me most of all having reduced them to very low levels. If I have to use topic then it will make the muck deal dear. Might as well chop the straw and save the work.

Click to expand...

Even at current fert prices?

 

solo

Member

Location

worcestershire

• Dec 5, 2021

• #6

Ive spent a lifetime along with my forefathers before me eradicating wild oats so don’t wish to turn the clock upside down with one rash mistake. Fertiliser prices will settle down long before the wild oats stop breeding.

 

T

Tractor Tim

Member

Arable Farmer

Location

Sticky out bit by liverpool

• Dec 5, 2021

• #7

We have chicken muck from local poultry and so as to stop any incoming weed burden supply them with any grain they need for the ration. Could you do similar I know it might not help this year

 

Zippy768

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

Dorset/Wilts

• Dec 5, 2021

• #8

Why are they being fed whole grains?

 

solo

Member

Location

worcestershire

• Dec 5, 2021

• #9

Usually comes down to cost. I have supplied barley for his mobile mixer man to roll in the past but normally it’s just bought in concentrate. I need to speak with him but this last week didn’t get chance to see him. Mobile reception at his home farm is iffy at best.

 

Bald Rick

Moderator

Livestock Farmer

Location

Anglesey

• Dec 5, 2021

• #10

solo said:

Just realised this needs moving to the livestock section Please @Bald Rick

Click to expand...

You‘re wish etc …

 

solo

Member

Location

worcestershire

• Dec 5, 2021

• #11

Bald Rick said:

You‘re wish etc …

Click to expand...

Thank you

 

jh.

Member

Location

fife

• Dec 5, 2021

• #12

Oats are a barsteward.

We've straw for dunged and ended up with oats in fields that have not had cropped oats for donkey years and could easily be hand rogued , to now needing sprayed .

Dad had a 3 acre horse paddock , all it had been for 40 years that we know of . About 15 years ago I hauled the fence out and ploughed it as part of a larger field , it had a few more oats than the rest of the field but bearable . A few years ago it was rented for tatties and ploughed much deeper . It's been rotten with oats ever since right to the old fence line , so must have been at depth and brought back up .

 

Zippy768

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

Dorset/Wilts

• Dec 5, 2021

• #13

solo said:

Usually comes down to cost. I have supplied barley for his mobile mixer man to roll in the past but normally it’s just bought in concentrate. I need to speak with him but this last week didn’t get chance to see him. Mobile reception at his home farm is iffy at best.

Click to expand...

Tell him it'll be far more cost effective to get the grains milled or crimped and his cattle actually fully utilise its value.

And solve your volunteer issue

 

solo

Member

Location

worcestershire

• Dec 6, 2021

• #14

Issue has been resolved today. Yards will be cleaned out to his own grassland after the feed regime has been changed. The oats had been through a roller mill but were thin so I guess the rollers were set too wide. Normal service will be resumed once the clean out is complete.