Ewes on red clover pre-tupping

[MJT]

Been offered some grazing of a red clover ley locally ,would be ideal to flush some ewes for 5 weeks before tups go in . However I know there are issues that it causes with fertility / conception . Would I be ok grazing for this long, or should I just say no thank you . Not sure on variety of clover but it’s a red clover ley so not much else out there .

 

[milkloss]

You’d be a brave man I reckon. You’ll get told modern clovers are safer etc but do you want risk it?

 

[Al R]

I graze some for a neighbour, ewes go on it 17 days after the rams finish with the ewes until point of lambing. These are 80-90% red clover so not much else for them to pick at and I don’t want to risk it. Once their pregnant and the egg is fertilised and stable I can’t see a problem - that’s my reasoning anyway.

 

[neilo]

I graze some for a neighbour, ewes go on it 17 days after the rams finish with the ewes until point of lambing. These are 80-90% red clover so not much else for them to pick at and I don’t want to risk it. Once their pregnant and the egg is fertilised and stable I can’t see a problem - that’s my reasoning anyway.

Iirc it’s a problem that is cumulative over time, even from one year to another. It likely won’t b3 a problem, until it is, then there’s nothing you can do to reverse it.

 

[neilo]

Been offered some grazing of a red clover ley locally ,would be ideal to flush some ewes for 5 weeks before tups go in . However I know there are issues that it causes with fertility / conception . Would I be ok grazing for this long, or should I just say no thank you . Not sure on variety of clover but it’s a red clover ley so not much else out there .

Can you put some fattening lambs on it instead, even if it means putting the ewes on the fields the lambs were going to have?

That said, you’ll likely get away with it, but you’ll kick yourself if you find issues at scanning time.

 

[sticky]

The rule of thumb used to be keep them off 6 weeks either side of tupping. I agree with Neil lambs would be better.

 

[Tim W]

Cumulative effect as @neilo says
I have grazed ewes on 30% RC leys for 6 months of every year for every year of their working lives and been fine , scanned at 180/200% all the way through with only 1 or 2% barren rates
I don't worry about it too much

 

[Al R]

Cumulative effect as @neilo says
I have grazed ewes on 30% RC leys for 6 months of every year for every year of their working lives and been fine , scanned at 180/200% all the way through with only 1 or 2% barren rates
I don't worry about it too much

But do you take them off around tupping? I’ve spoken to some people who have most of the farm as red clover ley and have for 15-20 years on ewe grazing systems only and they never knew it could even be a problem?

 

[d-wales]

Seems to me that someone did a trial years ago with ewes on pure red clovers and had a slight problem after many years of doing it............. now farmers are scared to put ewes near a single red clover flower for a few weeks

 

[Tim W]

But do you take them off around tupping?

Sometimes i have and sometimes not ---depends on grass availability /how many tupping groups i have etc