anyone sheep graze field beans ?

[andybk]

friend asked today if it was ok to graze sheep on field beans , apparently they werent harvested last autumn and there is a crop there a foot or more high , will be with ewes pre lambing or hoggs , not done it myself , anyone else had to do it problems ?

 

[Hesstondriver]

something in my head tells me there could be an issue with unchitted beans and tannin toxicity .

 

[andybk]

something in my head tells me there could be an issue with unchitted beans and tannin toxicity .

thats what went through my head , i know feeding dried beans can cause stones , due to wrong ca/p ratio but wasnt sure about grazing green ones

 

[unlacedgecko]

At that stage they will be bitter and unpalatable.

 

[sheepdogtrail]

Not beans, but I have done peas on the vine and the whole plant gets consumed. The only issue I had was the ewes wanted more after they where done with that section. I suppose bloat could be of a concern. It was not for me.

 

[Tim W]

At that stage they will be bitter and unpalatable.

That was my experience