Is there any crop or combination of crops that would be suitable to grow on heavy land that would keep in lamb ewes goin through winter from November to January/February? Completely new to this and have no idea if it’s possible as would need something with good ground cover so ground doesn’t turn to soup! If there is how many ewes would an acre keep as a rough rule of thumb or would it be better to reseed and keep it in grass?
Crop for wintering sheep
- Thread starter JohnAC
- Start date
- Location
- Ceredigion
How wet is it
How many acres ,how many sheep ?
Roots will outyield anything but not ideal if its very wett
Best Yield and how long they will last
Swede
Maincrop Turnips
Then Stubble Turnips
In that order
If you wanted a shorter term crop that would give you more cover then rape and Ryegrass
How many acres ,how many sheep ?
Roots will outyield anything but not ideal if its very wett
Best Yield and how long they will last
Swede
Maincrop Turnips
Then Stubble Turnips
In that order
If you wanted a shorter term crop that would give you more cover then rape and Ryegrass
sticky
Member
- Location
- Near Stratford upon Avon
I’ve not done brassica's for a while,but on my heavy wet ground, believe me it’s not pretty.
- Location
- South Devon
Would guess that something that is growing well off the ground would be best and plenty of it so you can move the animals on before they eat it down to the mud. Fodder rape works here but fairly light land
spin cycle
Member
- Location
- north norfolk
out of the box idea
fodder beet will out yield anything. ...so sow in strips 50% of area keeping other half as grass
12-24m strips fb/grass
fodder beet will out yield anything. ...so sow in strips 50% of area keeping other half as grass
12-24m strips fb/grass
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
I'm on heavy, wet ground too. It's certainly not ideal for outwintering sheep, and not pretty in a wet time, but it still works, cheaply.
There is more wasted in a wet time, so more area needed. I don't dare put bale feeders out in the winter either, let alone try to drive a tractor to them.
It would be wet no chance of driving on it with anything more than the quad from mid October to march in a normal year! It’s heavey clay land. the feild im thinking of is about 8 acre with another dry rough feild beside it for a lye back
Grass it out properly and don't use it poaches in the winter wet .or summer wet as in 2012 lol.
Horses for courses.
can be costly in various ways trying to fight nature
Last edited:
- Location
- Ceredigion
why cant you put roots on the dry field
- Location
- South Lanarkshire
Guy I know planted turnip and Swede mix with off run grass for ewes seems to have worked well and not a particularly dry area
Which ever crop you go for don’t cultivate the field or it will be a mess! Spin it on the top or use a disc drill like a moore or avatar. I’d be inclined to go for turnips, they produce less yield than sweedes but that’ll keep the sheep moving and help minimise damage. The seed is also a lot cheaper.
- Location
- Ceredigion
Ive put my ear defenders on to protect myself from i told you so 
But Swedes and Turnips dont realy work together, but maybe it did for somone who posted aboove
But if your lanf is wet, most is in winter , dont fold it , turn them in the lot and even better if you have a grassy run back
But Swedes and Turnips dont realy work together, but maybe it did for somone who posted aboove
But if your lanf is wet, most is in winter , dont fold it , turn them in the lot and even better if you have a grassy run back
When do you want to drill it is as important as anything?
You'll drill rape into mid Sept if your in a favourable location. I drill rape every year after harvest to graze Dec Jan Feb. Will he as tall as the sheep in Jan if all goes well.
I drill swedes but they need to be in by end of july. Swedes will produce more tons an acre but then if your land can't carry a lot of sheep over winter you won't gain much
You'll drill rape into mid Sept if your in a favourable location. I drill rape every year after harvest to graze Dec Jan Feb. Will he as tall as the sheep in Jan if all goes well.
I drill swedes but they need to be in by end of july. Swedes will produce more tons an acre but then if your land can't carry a lot of sheep over winter you won't gain much
- Location
- Bucks
On heavy land I would go half mustard then half winter oats for when the mustard gets frosted.
However 4ac of mustard and 4ac oats might be more trouble than it's worth?
How many ewes are you hoping to feed?
However 4ac of mustard and 4ac oats might be more trouble than it's worth?
How many ewes are you hoping to feed?
Drilled grass with added fodder rape to replace a ley and give me extra bite for weaned lambs, and as they go, pressure eases . But for ewes on heavier land, grass with haylage / silage taken too, has to work for me, and thats bad enough some times, especialy this backend.
Oh to be on wold land and have swedes, stuble turnips, kale and rye folded on, sheep not clatted up. Could take hoggs out of fold that morning straight to market
Even a sacrifice area on this land would be like a battlefield. Spread em thin and bring em in end of Jan
Oh to be on wold land and have swedes, stuble turnips, kale and rye folded on, sheep not clatted up. Could take hoggs out of fold that morning straight to market
Even a sacrifice area on this land would be like a battlefield. Spread em thin and bring em in end of Jan
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