Cover crops for sheep on an arable farm

[unlacedgecko]

Cover crops are ok , but I'm thinking for fatenning a lot of lambs you need specialist crops otherwise let someone else graze them , not a thing you want to be throw ING money at , and lambs are a lot of work , and hard work

Lambs fatten very well off an arable cover crop. Get the nutrition right (feed budget, fresh break every 2/3 days) most of the "normal" problems don't manifest themselves, provided you have the right intake procedures.

By that I mean dip, crutch, worm and vaccinate.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Lambs fatten very well off an arable cover crop. Get the nutrition right (feed budget, fresh break every 2/3 days) most of the "normal" problems don't manifest themselves, provided you have the right intake procedures.

By that I mean dip, crutch, worm and vaccinate.

I would agree. The only reals costs after buying and transporting the lambs is cover crop seed.

 

[neilo]

You need lots of acres of it too, for lambs to fatten and not just store/grow frame, which makes for many acres of that seed.

I see my neighbour is again racing over his Rye based cover crops put in after WW. Meanwhile, over a couple of hedges, I have 230 ewe lambs on 4.5ac of maincrop turnips and expect them to last from New Year into early March.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Lambs fatten very well off an arable cover crop. Get the nutrition right (feed budget, fresh break every 2/3 days) most of the "normal" problems don't manifest themselves, provided you have the right intake procedures.

By that I mean dip, crutch, worm and vaccinate.

Yes but it won't hold them long will it

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

You need lots of acres of it too, for lambs to fatten and not just store/grow frame, which makes for many acres of that seed.

I see my neighbour is again racing over his Rye based cover crops put in after WW. Meanwhile, over a couple of hedges, I have 230 ewe lambs on 4.5ac of maincrop turnips and expect them to last from New Year into early March.

Yes but it won't hold them long will it

Bit of a no brainer really. Put 1kg per ha of turnips in the mix.

 

[BenAdamsAgri]

Bit of a no brainer really. Put 1kg per ha of turnips in the mix.

Will be doing that this coming year here

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Will be doing that this coming year here

If you still want to put mustard in, I would limit that to 0.5kg and perhaps cut back on your radish if you are growing any. They will still eat them but the turnips is what they really do on.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Yes but it won't hold them long will it

This mob got an allocation of 5ha/day of vetch, tillage radish, phacellia and oats. As I've said previously arable cover crops aren't grown to feed sheep, they're grown to condition soil.

Sheep feeding just saves the arable man topping it.

 

[BenAdamsAgri]

If you still want to put mustard in, I would limit that to 0.5kg and perhaps cut back on your radish if you are growing any. They will still eat them but the turnips is what they really do on.

This is what I am thinking this year, last four are home saved, keeps price down

 

[unlacedgecko]

This is what I am thinking this year, last four are home saved, keeps price down

Buckwheat is poisonous to sheep

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Bit of a no brainer really. Put 1kg per ha of turnips in the mix.

A lot won't grow brasicas for the obvious reason

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Buckwheat is poisonous to sheep

It usually does quite early though...

How poisonous is it?

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Buckwheat is poisonous to sheep

It usually does quite early though

This is what I am thinking this year, last four are home saved, keeps price down

A bit light on the oats maybe and sunflowers will be cheaper from the petshop.

 

[BenAdamsAgri]

Buckwheat is poisonous to sheep

Buckwheat will be dead by the time sheep are in there

 

[BenAdamsAgri]

It usually does quite early though

A bit light on the oats maybe and sunflowers will be cheaper from the petshop.

Will likely be following with spring oats so don’t want to have too much in there, will also have volunteer wheat in the mix.

Yes that’s something I’ve been looking into, am currently awaiting a sample from someone who does bird food to do a germ test

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

This is what I am thinking this year, last four are home saved, keeps price down

Interested to know what sort of millet and how big you are expecting it to grow? What's it like for feed value?

 

[BenAdamsAgri]

Interested to know what sort of millet and how big you are expecting it to grow? What's it like for feed value?

Probably Reed millet, main purpose is a backup c4 plant if the sunflowers are eaten by hares.
It’s only a tiny component, limited feed value I’d imagine

 

[Peter Hitchcock]

Where in Herts are you? I can think of 2 large flocks off the top of my head in that county.

I'd start with a grazier. PM me for details.

Or if you want to own the stock, just hire someone in for a day with the handling system and weighing equipment. My prices start at £250+VAT per day.

If you've got a quad then a rappa ATV system is £1400. A 600m system is £425. That's £4,000 in fencing. Then you'll need an energiser, at least 2 batteries and a battery charger. Probably £4500 all in.

We are about 10minutes north of Bishops Stortford. I like the idea of owning the stock, just so I have control of the grazing. My sheep experience is fairly limited, but I will likely have someone who knows what they are doing to help me out.
I think the main thing stopping me at the moment is having the economies of scale to make it work. I've got a 40ha block I am planning on trying it for next year, but not too sure how far that will get me.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

We are about 10minutes north of Bishops Stortford. I like the idea of owning the stock, just so I have control of the grazing. My sheep experience is fairly limited, but I will likely have someone who knows what they are doing to help me out.
I think the main thing stopping me at the moment is having the economies of scale to make it work. I've got a 40ha block I am planning on trying it for next year, but not too sure how far that will get me.

40ha is 100 acres. Should be good for a lorry load. You don't have to decide till November, hopefully by which time the arable work will have eased off.

My advice would be a joint venture in year one before jumping off in the deep end. Things can and do go wrong so it's handy having someone with a bit of experience when they do.

 

[andybk]

I've got a 40ha block I am planning on trying it for next year, but not too sure how far that will get me.

Ive kept 80 , 50kg ram lambs (av) on 26 ha inc 10ha of red clover leys , end oct till now ,(clover grazed till 2nd week dec , its lasted a few more weeks as its been dry , vetch/ st/ wheat/ barley on catch crop put in 3rd week august , wasnt over thick , A run back is needed in time of wet weather so they dont trample it, i left about 5 days grazing on the RC just in case