- Location
- Fife
Sheep can eat tighter than cattle due to their use of teeth and pad rather than tongue. If sheep grazing is managed correctly (grazing period no longer than 72hrs, high enough stock density to hit 1500kg/dm residual during this time) it will promote tillering, leading to thicker grass and more bales/ha.It depends who you speak to. Dairy farmers on here say sheep are a nightmare for grass then the contractor who does my silage says he thinks sheep make the grass grow better. I imagine timing makes the difference. Sheep on all winter isn't going to give early grass but if it then gives it a boost for silage time I don't know.
I'd think the days of spending money on reclaiming ground are past. All the grants that there were any ground that was worth doing would have been done. Without gov funding I'd be doubtful. Every farmer probably wants to do it but is it a sensible way to spend money.
Whe sheep are left on the grass longer they will eat the fresh grown shoots. This is overgrazing. It will deplete root reserves and reduce grass yield.