- Location
- Ceredigion
Does it cope OK competing with that much grass- would it not do better with some early ryegrass and red clover
autumn re-seeding
- Thread starter som farmer
- Start date
0.25kg plantain seems very much a token gesture. Some of the di hards are using 7kg/acre plantain 7kg grass 3kg clover. I prefer plantain to clover, not sure if there is more milk in it or not tho.
- Location
- Ceredigion
7kg would be a pure stand
Seeds larger than grass seed, so be a thin stand!
- Location
- Ceredigion
25% CHOICE Chicory
25% Sheeps Burnet
5% Yarrow
10% Sheeps Parsley
35% TONIfC Plantain
100%
In going to try this mix in the spring with some red and white clover and a bit of Hybrid Ryegrass for fattening lambs later on
25% Sheeps Burnet
5% Yarrow
10% Sheeps Parsley
35% TONIfC Plantain
100%
In going to try this mix in the spring with some red and white clover and a bit of Hybrid Ryegrass for fattening lambs later on
Jdunn55
Member
- Location
- Helston, cornwall
Should make a good mix, ours is doing really well, the only difference being it has lucerne and several different grasses (to suit gs4) as well.
Personally wouldn't bother with white clover though and would just have red! Unless you're grazing ewes at tupping time, in which case do the opposite.
- Location
- Ceredigion
Thanks. Our land is marginal for Lucerne - just want it to put lambs on
Cows 'n grass
Member
- Location
- Modbury, South Devon
It is a bit. I think it's a balls up and was supposed to be more but I can't remember because it was all done over the phone.
Cows 'n grass
Member
- Location
- Modbury, South Devon
Red clover is a great feed when it comes out of a clamp but that is the only way it should ever be fed to a dairy cow. It's plain dangerous for a seed merchant to recommend putting any red clover in a grazing ley. The stuff is lethal to grazing dairy cows.
If you look at the name of my mix you'll see it says 10 year. What is the point of recommending something that is unlikely to even be there by year three? The same goes for lucerne or chicory in herbal leys.
This particular field is a fine bit of Devon dirt with potential to produce 15t + DM which is why it has some tetraploids in. Most of the farm is too thin and will stay 100% diploid.
, only problem is the lime hasn't been spread on it yet
- Location
- Ceredigion
I said for fattening lambs - nothing like red clover and herb mix for fattening lambs
Friesianfan
Member
- Location
- Cornwall
What’s your take on grazing red clover @Agrispeed ?
Seen it grazed in Australia, but was sprayed with tallow before the cows grazed it, not sure you could do it here
, but still had to carry a knife and oil just in case.
Cows 'n grass
Member
- Location
- Modbury, South Devon
I have grazed red clover and cows love the stuff. You will get away with it most times but at some point you will go out and you will find dead cows. It just not worth the risk.
ollie989898
Member
I've seen dead cows from grazing white clover. I wouldn't graze red clover with cows mostly because it probably wouldn't like it. It won't stick a lot of punishment in the wet. It's a cutting crop in my book and should be treated as such. Treated nicely it does tend to persist a bit, abuse it and it will be gone.
Jdunn55
Member
- Location
- Helston, cornwall
It can definitely be grazed but like you say abuse it and it doesn't like it.
I would also add that it should be allowed to flower every year, we have seen by doing so it persists for a year or two longer!
Imo, a graze in late march/early april then left for a late cut in june (to allow for flowering) then grazing afterwards works best - unless you want it for just cutting of course
Friesianfan
Member
- Location
- Cornwall
You've worried me now. I've just planted a load of herbal leys
Jdunn55
Member
- Location
- Helston, cornwall
When do you find the dead cows, it cant just be on random occasions can it? Surely there must be another factor that coupled with the red clover causes the bloat.
Is it when it's a wet day or something as I know wetter weather you have to be careful?
- Location
- Ceredigion
Cold wet weather Temperature- dont send cows out hungry - feed long fibre- quick grown rape is deadly for bloat if you don't follow a routine
Don't go overboard with seed rate - I have sown it with Hybrid Ryegrass that does not over compete but grows back fast so they are getting plenty of palatable grass as well as
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Jdunn55
Member
- Location
- Helston, cornwall
Thankyou, that's what I thought.
Once used to red clover (after the first couple of days) am I right in thinking the risk of bloat decreases as they become used to it?