Grazing kale

[Just because]

Hi everyone thinking of planting some kale direct into some grass in next couple of weeks want to graze it with mainly cattle from November until January only 4acre patch. Which would be best to grow. Thanks

 

[Derrick Hughes]

The Hybrids are popular now and seeds a lot cheaper

Marrow Stem types are the highest yielding and Frost Hardy but more stem
Kestrel Types have more leaf and more palatable but not as high yielding
Voltage is a good intermediate veriaty

 

[Great In Grass]

Caledonian or Bombardier are excellent varieties of Kale ideal for cattle.

Give me a shout for prices happy to have a chat on the phone.

 

[tinsheet]

Get on well with Thousand Head,

 

[Derrick Hughes]

[email protected]
For prices

 

[Just because]

I also grow stubble turnips/forage rape is there any benefit from mixing stubble turnips seed in with kale ???

 

[Great In Grass]

We have a very popular mix of Forage Rape/Stubble Turnips/Kale.

Establishes very quickly giving high protein levels from the brassicas and energy from the stubble turnips, ideal for fattening stock.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I also grow stubble turnips/forage rape is there any benefit from mixing stubble turnips seed in with kale ???

Personally I would say no . They are chalk and cheese crops . Kale is an expensive high input crop to grow but the highest yielding if all brasica crops. Stubble turnips will get away quick and compete with it , but then when the kale gets going it with swamp the turnips ,that's my experience from growing kale for over 30 years ,
I would avoid fancy mixes as well. Just buy straights and mix them yourself . A lot cheaper in the long run

 

[neilo]

I would avoid fancy mixes as well. Just buy straights and mix them yourself . A lot cheaper in the long run

Have you broken your shovel?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

You don't need a shovel to mix a few kg of turnips and rape

 

[JD-Kid]

I also grow stubble turnips/forage rape is there any benefit from mixing stubble turnips seed in with kale ???

grew kale main crop turnips and oats years ago for cows winter grazing
worked well oats were dried off standing straw so added fibre to the crop and what was not eaten acted as a mat to stop pugging of soil
also good for microriza in soil as oats are a host were the kales etc are not

 

[tinsheet]

grew kale main crop turnips and oats years ago for cows winter grazing
worked well oats were dried off standing straw so added fibre to the crop and what was not eaten acted as a mat to stop pugging of soil
also good for microriza in soil as oats are a host were the kales etc are not

What rates would you put the kale and oats on at? Normally put 2kg an acre of kale seed.
Putting on quite A bit of kale in here soon, would like to try a field with this mix!

 

[JD-Kid]

yea most kale here sown at 4=5 kg per Ha
so would need to be lighter to stop the shading efect and maybe more a med hight kale which will also be finer in the stem as well
as a starting point I would look at say 2 kg per Ha kale 50 kg oats per Ha and 1/4 kg main crop turnip a more leafy type per Ha
could add in crimson clover maybe faba beans
if a rape mix used the oats could be used earlyer and grazed green I would then be adding in a bit of grass some herbs chicory plantains etc etc. to make up a realy total mix to try and balance out the protein and carbs in the feed along with minerals and vitamins also trying to mix up the things in the soil so feeding fungi etc

 

[JD-Kid]

https://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/features/big-on-brassicas/

Value of Oats and Brassicas for Fall Forage

An overview of five experiments evaluating the use of winter-sensitive, cool-season species planted in mid-August after wheat or early September after corn silage harvest for grazing of fall-weaned calves during November and December.

cropwatch.unl.edu

Oats-Forage-Brassica-crops-for-grazing-1-7-15-12-D.-Wilson1.pdf

Oat and brassica quality in fall and winter

LINCOLN — Cover crops can provide great fall and early winter forage for grazing before killing frosts stop growth. After the cover crop winter freezes, turns brown, and does not look “good” is it still good quality? Oats and brassicas planted in late summer and early fall will change in quality...

www.morningagclips.com

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/189485406.pdf

National Beef Wire

National Beef Wire is an interactive platform for the display of real-time pricing and news relevant to the cattle and agriculture industries.

beef2live.com

a few things about the mix growing the oats etc will add fiber in to the diet
which of straw is cheep and tractor runs of fresh air then might not be worth doing it but if stick and dog man mixing the diet up while growing might be well worth thinking of

 

[Derrick Hughes]

https://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/features/big-on-brassicas/

Value of Oats and Brassicas for Fall Forage

An overview of five experiments evaluating the use of winter-sensitive, cool-season species planted in mid-August after wheat or early September after corn silage harvest for grazing of fall-weaned calves during November and December.

cropwatch.unl.edu

Oats-Forage-Brassica-crops-for-grazing-1-7-15-12-D.-Wilson1.pdf

Oat and brassica quality in fall and winter

LINCOLN — Cover crops can provide great fall and early winter forage for grazing before killing frosts stop growth. After the cover crop winter freezes, turns brown, and does not look “good” is it still good quality? Oats and brassicas planted in late summer and early fall will change in quality...

www.morningagclips.com

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/189485406.pdf

National Beef Wire

National Beef Wire is an interactive platform for the display of real-time pricing and news relevant to the cattle and agriculture industries.

beef2live.com

a few things about the mix growing the oats etc will add fiber in to the diet
which of straw is cheep and tractor runs of fresh air then might not be worth doing it but if stick and dog man mixing the diet up while growing might be well worth thinking of

Its an interesting idea

 

[exmoor dave]

What rates would you put the kale and oats on at? Normally put 2kg an acre of kale seed.
Putting on quite A bit of kale in here soon, would like to try a field with this mix!

Best get practicing your rain dance??

 

[tinsheet]

Best get practicing your rain dance??

Ha! Ploughs not going in till there's rain in the forcast 🌧

 

[JD-Kid]

Best get practicing your rain dance??

if yer get one that works let me know

 

[exmoor dave]

Ha! Ploughs not going in till there's rain in the forcast 🌧

Same here!

 

[exmoor dave]

if yer get one that works let me know

You're going to need a whole troupe of rain dancers Pete!