Grazing lambs on redshank

[hubbahubba]

I have a new grass lay with serious amounts of redshank in it. I've had sheep in it for a fortnight but there not really eating it. Would I be silly to force weaned lambs to eat it? I've been told there is nutrition in it but not sure. Or would I be best to put ewes into it? Mowing isn't an option and I think if I topped it, it could smother the grass out.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

No cows ?

 

[hubbahubba]

No cows ?

I do yeh, try not to graze them on fresh lays but maybe an option if it stays dry. They ok on it?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Dad, said they milk well on it

 

[ritchiekirkland]

Redshank is good feed. I had a bad go of it on a reeseed last year. Grazed it to the wood with ewes and lambs behind electric , job done .
Not be so easy with weaned lambs right enough . Be ok with long keep jobs , probably not the best of your trying to force lambs to eat it that are nearly fit

 

[neilo]

I have a new grass lay with serious amounts of redshank in it. I've had sheep in it for a fortnight but there not really eating it. Would I be silly to force weaned lambs to eat it? I've been told there is nutrition in it but not sure. Or would I be best to put ewes into it? Mowing isn't an option and I think if I topped it, it could smother the grass out.

It's very high in protein I think, as lambs will grow framey and squit on it, but not finish, IME. If the ewes are a month+ from tupping, then I'd use them instead if there is an option.

Lambs will go backwards if you starve them to it, which you will likely need to if it's got that strong that you can't now it. Even with ewes, I'd just take the worst of it off and then top it tbh.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

For reseed you need to mob stock as many mouths as you can muster and leave them on for a short time
It's no use me saying you should have gone in sooner as we past that ,but all these weeds graze better at a young stage ,