Forage rape dried up by the wind

[Mcnulty24]

The last week has taken its toll on my forage rape turnips mix. The ewes are 7 weeks out from lambing and this is to last them for the next 5 weeks. It looks better this morning but I am worried it will have lost its nutrient value. The turnips are fine and the ewes are eating what there is of the rape.

Any thoughts? there is plenty for them to eat but if it is not meeting their requirements I will need to make a plan.

 

[Still Farming]

Stubble turnips flat here too.
Milder conditions and rain and they should freshen up

 

[Six Dogs]

No consolation @Mcnulty 24 but ours looks exactly the same,it’s like it’s been freeze dried!Be interesting to say how this next week does for them

 

[JSmith]

I had all singles on the same mix with some mollases feeders out an the lambs have come massive an plenty milk on ewes !!

 

[betweenthelines]

They've lost moisture content, nothing to fret about.

 

[Al R]

My turnips had salt burn 5 weeks ago, it went from knee height to this overnight.

it had recovered to almost full strength until these easterly’s have thinned it out again but fortunately no frost on them, I’m having wires pulled down by the weight of dead leaves blowing on them and every polystake has a rugby sized ball of leaves attached to the bottom. Give them shorter breaks and make them eat every last inch if their 7 weeks out, you’ve got until 4 weeks pre lambing until TLD can really take hold, feed silage too to make it last longer?

 

[serf]

Yes same here , freeze dried turnip tops , crisp to the touch !

 

[Mcnulty24]

Thanks folks. Good to know it isn’t buggered, just been to have a look, it has perked up a bit from that photo.

 

[Al R]

Thanks folks. Good to know it isn’t buggered, just been to have a look, it has perked up a bit from that photo.

Are you having this rain? It’s 11*C and raining heavy with a strong wind today, it should wash everything clean again

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Rape don't stand much frost . Seen crops completely wiped out
Plus it was said year ago not to feed brassica with frost on . No idea why that was

 

[neilo]

Rape don't stand much frost . Seen crops completely wiped out
Plus it was said year ago not to feed brassica with frost on . No idea why that was

Because the old wives were concerned about Braxy.

There’s plenty of sheep wintered on nothing but brassicas, and eat them when frosted plenty of times.

 

[Romney SE]

My tops have literally all turned to dust.

 

[Bury the Trash]

If its properly frosted for a few days, then when it thaws it will start to smell and consequently rot,its one the big gambles with it im afraid, having a serious cold snap.

 

[Al R]

Rape don't stand much frost . Seen crops completely wiped out
Plus it was said year ago not to feed brassica with frost on . No idea why that was

Don’t turn stock into frosted crops because of bloat, pulpy kidney etc... if their on grass and full stomached and then put onto it their fine, but sat in markets and lorries for a day or 2 and then put on green crop/clovers they’ll drop like flies from gorging on frosted leaves, same as turning hungry animals onto crops when it’s really windy, fill them up on normal grass first and then move onto green crop/clovers and the risk is near 0. It’s been that windy this week that I’ve been moving ewes on turnips at 4-5pm when the wind is lowest so they don’t eat quick while windy.

 

[Mcnulty24]

Update, they are looking a lot better, no shortage of moisture at the minute.

 

[serf]

Yep, amazing how they soon turn around with the weather, wouldn't think its same crop .