Grazing oats?

[Sid]

Looking for an option for an early bite in the spring , forage rye is quite pricey.

Anyone planted and then grazed oats once then allowed to go on for wholecrop or combining?

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Yep, dairy up the hill from us does exactly that.
Early autumn sown, heifers may nibble it over winter if it gets too forward.
Used for the second half of the first spring rotation, then wholecropped into the pit when the grass silage is happening.

They lime and muck it a year in advance, grows strong

 

[Sid]

They lime and muck it a year in advance, grows strong

Oats are known for tolerating acid soils ?

Mucked a year before planting?

 

[redsloe]

Did it this year, drilled 30kg/acre in

early September, grazed with sheep in February and left it to harvest a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Sid]

Did it this year, drilled 30kg/acre in View attachment 1059204View attachment 1059205early September, grazed with sheep in February and left it to harvest a couple of weeks ago.

When did you graze with the sheep?
What about grazing with cattle?

 

[Farmer Roy]

Oats are a major grazing forage crop here.
Most generally aren’t carried through to grain ( too hot / dry a finish for oats here ), but other dual purpose grazing / grain cereals such as barley & winter wheat are very popular in the southern ( cooler / wetter ) grain growing regions.
Dual purpose canola ( OSR ), for early grazing then locked up for grain, is also becoming increasingly popular

 

[sidjon]

We've done it with out any problems, better with cattle as sheep can eat it to hard if not controlled properly. We've always limed before drill, better the PH quicker it seems to get away.

 

[som farmer]

it was traditional to graze wheat with sheep in january, until the agrominist talked you into buying some more fungicides. Not sure any/many still do it, one up to the reps.

Used to grow forage rye, for early bite, never thought it any good, milk never went up on it, only shot up, after moving onto grass. Hybrid rye is better, but not sure if it would stand grazing.

Cereal silage is a more reliable source of fodder, than grass, in some parts of the world, if this weather is the 'future', might be worth looking at some time.

 

[Still Farming]

it was traditional to graze wheat with sheep in january, until the agrominist talked you into buying some more fungicides. Not sure any/many still do it, one up to the reps.

Used to grow forage rye, for early bite, never thought it any good, milk never went up on it, only shot up, after moving onto grass. Hybrid rye is better, but not sure if it would stand grazing.

Cereal silage is a more reliable source of fodder, than grass, in some parts of the world, if this weather is the 'future', might be worth looking at some time.

Natural growth regulators and disease reducers .

 

[redsloe]

When did you graze with the sheep?
What about grazing with cattle?

February.
Don't know, there's no water on that block.

 

[Dead Rabbits]

I can’t remember a single time in my life that oats haven’t been a disappointment.

Cereal rye I have not seen a complete failure yet.

 

[som farmer]

the last time we grew oats and vetches, they were so flat, the mower missed to much, we even went through, in desperation, with an acrobat, to see if we could 'lift' it a bit, so we could mow more of it, and failed, and never tried again, until l tried h/rye and vetch, which did stand up.
I've baled oat straw behind the combine, and been shocked at how much was missed.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Oats are known for tolerating acid soils ?

Mucked a year before planting?

Yep, they tolerate it, this doesn't mean they do best in acid soils. Nor the pasture to follow.

They have a large outdoor standoff area which gives a lot of muck, it's divvied up between all the planned cropping area.
Grow mainly beet for the cows on the flatter parts, oats on the steeper parts, and no cropping on the even steeper parts.

 

[Kevtherev]

Oats will tolerate poorer soils a very useful crop with slightly lower inputs.
Always enjoyed combining oats on a hot day.

 

[Sid]

Yep, they tolerate it, this doesn't mean they do best in acid soils. Nor the pasture to follow.

Some times a compromise needs to be had.

Cost v benefits
IIRC it's about a 5.9ph
Reseed always have quality lime.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Some times a compromise needs to be had.

Cost v benefits
IIRC it's about a 5.9ph
Reseed always have quality lime.

These guys have highish Mg levels I reckon. I spread most of their granular fert + lime and the soil is very "sticky" - reminds me of gateway or sheepyard mud - which is probably why they lime well ahead of the cropping.
Usually a good dose of product goes on, whatever it is they're fairly limited as to the area that can be safely cropped, it is a hill farm

We have a great triticale cultivar "Double Take" available down here, seed availability is the problem with that stuff.
It's bred for exactly the use you're talking about, with a more prostate growing habit to protect the growing points from teeth when grazed low.

 

[Kevtherev]

@Sid would it be an idea to do an oat and Italian ryegrass mix maybe?
Just a thought as Italian is quite cheap and maybe in a mix with oats a fairly high seed rate will/could suppress any weeds??

 

[57shepherd]

Other option is westawolds, autumn planted grazed by sheep all winter, then 3 cuts.

 

[Sid]

@Sid would it be an idea to do an oat and Italian ryegrass mix maybe?
Just a thought as Italian is quite cheap and maybe in a mix with oats a fairly high seed rate will/could suppress any weeds??

Are you suggesting I have weeds

Other option is westawolds, autumn planted grazed by sheep all winter, then 3 cuts.

I'm looking for milk production not a cheap feed for maggot taxis!

 

[57shepherd]

There will be a good early bite if not grazed over winter