Grazing fodder radish

[kfpben]

I have been offered an area of fodder radish that the neighbouring arable farmer planted as a cover crop.
He wants it eaten off late Aug/September.

Has anyone grazed sheep on fodder radish? Does it have much feed value? Better for lambs or dry ewes? Anything else I should be aware of? Thanks

 

[neilo]

@JD-Kid grows it iirc?

 

[Mc115reed]

I have been offered an area of fodder radish that the neighbouring arable farmer planted as a cover crop.
He wants it eaten off late Aug/September.

Has anyone grazed sheep on fodder radish? Does it have much feed value? Better for lambs or dry ewes? Anything else I should be aware of? Thanks

I got offered a good block of it, when I had a look at it the radishes were smaller than baby carrots and the plants didn’t look too appetising so I left it as I want too start upping the ewes diets going Into Tupping and don’t want too risk them loosing condition

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

I have been offered an area of fodder radish that the neighbouring arable farmer planted as a cover crop.
He wants it eaten off late Aug/September.

Has anyone grazed sheep on fodder radish? Does it have much feed value? Better for lambs or dry ewes? Anything else I should be aware of? Thanks

We grazed a block last winter. A lot of feed but not particularly nutritious.
I wouldn't want to put ewes on it pre tupping, we went on it in late November and it was fine. Cull ewes would be alright on it but I don't think they will fatten much on it. Depends what else is growing with the Radish.
The recommendation as a Cover crop is only about 5%.

 

[kfpben]

We grazed a block last winter. A lot of feed but not particularly nutritious.
I wouldn't want to put ewes on it pre tupping, we went on it in late November and it was fine. Cull ewes would be alright on it but I don't think they will fatten much on it. Depends what else is growing with the Radish.
The recommendation as a Cover crop is only about 5%.

Thanks Frank. I might put some leaner lambs on it then to keep them going until the forage rape and turnips get going.
Sounds like ewes is a no go.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

We grazed a block last winter. A lot of feed but not particularly nutritious.
I wouldn't want to put ewes on it pre tupping, we went on it in late November and it was fine. Cull ewes would be alright on it but I don't think they will fatten much on it. Depends what else is growing with the Radish.
The recommendation as a Cover crop is only about 5%.

Finished a batch of cull ewes on a lock 2 years ago. Did right well, but they only need a full gut of something half nutritious to put weight on. Would have done same last year but block of ground spent most of last autumn/winter under 2 inches of water.