Grazing kale

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

Member
Location
Ceredigion
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
 
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Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
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
 

JD-Kid

Member
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

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Somerset
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!
 
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JD-Kid

Member
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

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

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

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