Fat Hens will they eat them or am I going to have to kill the clover

[roscoe erf]

i'd get the ewes off and mow it down hard....chem choice in fresh reseed is limited anyway and actives have little effect on big fat hen.....happy to be put straight BTW

got some broom handles and twine be with you soon

 

[som farmer]

Think with docks you just have to give up with clover for a few years Minstrel is relatively cheap and will sort them out in grass , but roundup them before you sow anything

Imo , you've been farming as long as me so not trying to tell you how to farm sorry [emoji23]

never to old to learn, sir. We have found a novel way to help dock control though, as we have been so short of grass the last 3 dry summers, we have kept i/c hiefers and dry stock, very tightly grazed, with a back fence, the number of cattle, you can keep grazing it right down to the roots, rather than putting them 'in a field', is probably x4, with no effect on condition whatsoever. The spin off, they munch the docks right down, that trait has continued after calving, as long as they haven't got to hard, Other than that, r-up pre sowing, and as we have herbs and clover, regular topping., not a lot of choice really. l think the benefits of clover on dry ground, justifies extra topping, esp with the price of N rapidly going up, £325/ton, we were quoted for a 10 tonne drop, full artic not a lot less, just 1 quote, so far.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

never to old to learn, sir. We have found a novel way to help dock control though, as we have been so short of grass the last 3 dry summers, we have kept i/c hiefers and dry stock, very tightly grazed, with a back fence, the number of cattle, you can keep grazing it right down to the roots, rather than putting them 'in a field', is probably x4, with no effect on condition whatsoever. The spin off, they munch the docks right down, that trait has continued after calving, as long as they haven't got to hard, [emoji106] Other than that, r-up pre sowing, and as we have herbs and clover, regular topping., not a lot of choice really.

The tack cattle here just push the fences over if you hold them tight , they won't touch docks , sprayed 50 acre this week , Docks bad everywhere about since first cut . Been a good year for them

 

[Kidds]

On fat hen?
Leystar doesn’t do much on that in my experience.
Just topped a reseed absolutely full of it sprayed with leystar. On reflection should probably have put a touch of MCPA in with it.

Label says "some control". Probably the effectiveness is governed by various things like weather, growth stage etc.
Worked for me when I used it, maybe next time it won't.

 

[Exfarmer]

many pop these sprays which give limited control work far better if you pick your day. Ideally a sunny day about 4 days are a good rain. It can be stunning the difference in control

 

[Happy]

Label says "some control". Probably the effectiveness is governed by various things like weather, growth stage etc.
Worked for me when I used it, maybe next time it won't.

Well down the list after those in good and moderate control categories though.

 

[Courier]

I cut and ensiled fat hen in a reseed few years ago as was short on forage.
Just as well as tipped it on the dung heap.
Was a layer of crap onto of the clamp.

I'd top it of mow and bale to remove it.

Cutting it and leaving rows would affect the sward beneath.

Ideal job for a direct cut flail forage harvester towing its own trailer but not many of those combinations around nowadays

 

[muleman]

Are they laying?
If they arent and theyre fat just kill them .

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Ideal job for a direct cut flail forage harvester towing its own trailer but not many of those combinations around nowadays [emoji3061]

I think I already said that as well , Martin Markam or A Kidd to a good job [emoji1787]

 

[Sid]

never to old to learn, sir. We have found a novel way to help dock control though, as we have been so short of grass the last 3 dry summers, we have kept i/c hiefers and dry stock, very tightly grazed, with a back fence, the number of cattle, you can keep grazing it right down to the roots, rather than putting them 'in a field', is probably x4, with no effect on condition whatsoever. The spin off, they munch the docks right down, that trait has continued after calving, as long as they haven't got to hard, Other than that, r-up pre sowing, and as we have herbs and clover, regular topping., not a lot of choice really. l think the benefits of clover on dry ground, justifies extra topping, esp with the price of N rapidly going up, £325/ton, we were quoted for a 10 tonne drop, full artic not a lot less, just 1 quote, so far.

Mob grazing, very fashionable

The tack cattle here just push the fences over if you hold them tight , they won't touch docks , sprayed 50 acre this week , Docks bad everywhere about since first cut . Been a good year for them

Sheep may be a better option but are more selective , cows seem to munch the lot if it's not to mature , but you need a big mob so they are in and out quick View attachment 974068

So are you holding them tight or not? Seems to be contradictory posts?

Reason they won't eat docks is probably too much N.
Or too old.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Mob grazing, very fashionable [emoji106]




So are you holding them tight or not? Seems to be contradictory posts?

Reason they won't eat docks is probably too much N.
Or too old.

Two different topics here , cattle on new seeds just for a few days , stuff is young and tender so they clear it up , the older pastures have established Docks , I can't get cattle to eat those no matter how well grown on not

 

[Derrick Hughes]

My Biggest problem with reseeds is keeping them out , Especially when they've tasted Hurrells [emoji23] they should no be in there now

 

[neilo]

My Biggest problem with reseeds is keeping them out , Especially when they've tasted Hurrells [emoji23] they should no be in there now View attachment 974091

Sounds like you need someone to teach you how to put fences up.

 

[neilo]

I’m amazed there’s been no mention of lawn mowers yet….

 

[ollie989898]

I don't understand you guys and your aversion to herbicides. No, sooner spend £60 on grass seed and see it fudged by weeds for want of £10 worth of spray. If you have clover then try some half rate MCPA or polo or something, if it zings the clover out you can stitch it back although you probably want to avoid sowing clover in land you know is dirty to begin with. Rotation will always be your best bet for reasons everyone on here knows.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I’m amazed there’s been no mention of lawn mowers yet….[emoji850]

Open your mind , you will be a better farmer for it [emoji1787]

 

[som farmer]

Two different topics here , cattle on new seeds just for a few days , stuff is young and tender so they clear it up , the older pastures have established Docks , I can't get cattle to eat those no matter how well grown on not

apparently, nice dock leaf's are 24% protien. Adding clover and herbs to a mix, means spray is unusable, so have to rely on topping, and cows nibbling them off, a bit.
First year of adding herbs, interesting results, main thing is the cows love them, but they do really well, where grass is a bit thinner. Inclusion because we can dry out badly, long roots means better growth, was hoping they would take the place of grass, as it gets drier, thus keeping something green there. Not the right year to try them, as grass is still at max growth, chicory and plantain growing well, as well!

 

[Radio]

Got a reseed that is just full of fat hens
I took the chance as it was sprayed off and put a decent amount of clover in the mix. Now I’m staring at a bloody mess. Have put ewes on it and obviously they are loving the grass but it’s becoming obvious as they eat it down how bad the bloody things are. If I graze it bare how enthusiastic will they be tomunch on the weeds ?. I expect I’m going to have to spray but I’m sure all of you fine optimistic folk will say otherwise

Similar here new red clover ryegrass ley , mowed and tedded once ,big baled 36 hours later, 4 bales an acre.Ley looking well so hopefully will take off. Enough grass in big bales so should get eaten. You could mow after sheep and if too much swathe then bale.

 

[ollie989898]

On fat hen?
Leystar doesn’t do much on that in my experience.
Just topped a reseed absolutely full of it sprayed with leystar. On reflection should probably have put a touch of MCPA in with it.

What size weeds are we talking about?

MCPA and 2,4D will be cheaper and hit a lot faster. If you use leystar etc then you are relying on the florasulam component (IIRC) which will be a very very slow kill compared to MCPA or similar.

 

[Bury the Trash]

cut with disc mower on topping skids with swath board(s) removed and if necessary spin over it after a few days with a hay bob and move and spread it out once more .
I've done it many a time.