Ewe lambs on stubble turnips

[JR27]

Is it ok to graze ewe lambs intended for breeding on stubble turnips? Or would it be a bad idea, teeth wise?

 

[neilo]

Is it ok to graze ewe lambs intended for breeding on stubble turnips? Or would it be a bad idea, teeth wise?

Mine have always been wintered on turnips, since we were able to start growing them 30 odd years ago. They create no issues with teeth whatsoever, as with any other root crops.
The only way roots cause any issue with dentition is if they are already loose anyway, for whatever reason.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Won’t take any harm at all. If their teeth come out as ewe lambs on turnips they are as well culled anyway!

 

[yellowbelly]

Or would it be a bad idea, teeth wise?

Hope not Most of ours are munching away at 'em now.

 

[Mc115reed]

Hope not Iv got 1400 ewe lambs here on turnips at the minute for somebody

 

[thorpe]

Hope not Iv got 1400 ewe lambs here on turnips at the minute for somebody

dont worry there not yours.

 

[It was already broken.]

Think you might be confusing turnips with sugar beet @JR27. We used to be told super beet were too hard for sheep teeth.

 

[JR27]

Thanks all for confirming...growing for the first time this year and I've had them on but an 'old-timer' saw and said it was a big no-no and to get them off

 

[Bury the Trash]

Won’t take any harm at all. If their teeth come out as ewe lambs on turnips they are as well culled anyway!

i don't quite know what you mean, lambs (baby ) teeth will actually fall out at about 12months old or so anyway its natural ..... like yours did

 

[Al R]

Thanks all for confirming...growing for the first time this year and I've had them on but an 'old-timer' saw and said it was a big no-no and to get them off

I wouldn’t graze single bearing ewe lambs on turnips but it’s a perfect diet for twins and triplets. Lambs can get to big with the singles, same as with mature ewes.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

i don't quite know what you mean, lambs (baby ) teeth will actually fall out at about 12months old or so anyway its natural ..... like yours did

Sorry, I was thinking of their Hogg teeth. but thinking about it now, it’s unlikely they will be on turnips when the Hogg teeth come through!

 

[roseshep]

Think you might be confusing turnips with sugar beet @JR27. We used to be told super beet were too hard for sheep teeth.

Just finished 400 lambs on sugar beet tops and bulbs no problem with teeth. Just need mineral drenching and Heptavac before they go on. Had growth rates of 550g per day nearly fell off my chair!

 

[It was already broken.]

The two biggest problems with sugar beet land is modern machines smash the tops to nothing and if it before first wheat then it won't be available for long if the land can be worked. With turnips before maize or spuds there is no rush to get off.

 

[roseshep]

The two biggest problems with sugar beet land is modern machines smash the tops to nothing and if it before first wheat then it won't be available for long if the land can be worked. With turnips before maize or spuds there is no rush to get off.

To be fair the sugar beet tops where smashed to bits but there was plenty of bulb left, they lifted it and I was grazing for a month after that, there was pretty much no leaf left by the time i got to the last paddock. I'm not going to lie i got pretty nervous that they wouldn't do on it but had no other feed, did offer them silage as well at one point but they just jumped on top of the bales and used them for playing as appose to eating them!!