Grazing short term leys

[Cows 'n grass]

I grow 20-30 acres of summer brassicas each year that is normally returned to a prg/WC ley in early September.

We use the same 20-30 acres as a sacrifice field on wet nights in the preceding autumn and spring and this year I am going to be bale grazing the late calvers on it through April.

The problem is that a previously healthy looking crop of docks ends up with very little leaf area before it is sprayed off in April prior to turnips/kale which doesn't give a great kill

I'm thinking of establishing a decent seed bed in September after turnips but just planting a two year ley which would be pushed fairly hard for maximum production. This would get a selective weed spray in its second year then roundup and DD at the end of its second year into a longer term ley.

Does anyone successfully graze short term leys like hybrid ryegrasses?

 

[sidjon]

We use Lofa without any problems, chuck white clover in plus plantain and jobs a goodn

 

[Derrick Hughes]

We used to do that 40 years ago with Italian . Then Hybrids came in that are are more Hardy. Put just 2 kg of hardy late Perennial in just to give it a bit more bottom

 

[Jdunn55]

I grow 20-30 acres of summer brassicas each year that is normally returned to a prg/WC ley in early September.

We use the same 20-30 acres as a sacrifice field on wet nights in the preceding autumn and spring and this year I am going to be bale grazing the late calvers on it through April.

The problem is that a previously healthy looking crop of docks ends up with very little leaf area before it is sprayed off in April prior to turnips/kale which doesn't give a great kill

I'm thinking of establishing a decent seed bed in September after turnips but just planting a two year ley which would be pushed fairly hard for maximum production. This would get a selective weed spray in its second year then roundup and DD at the end of its second year into a longer term ley.

Does anyone successfully graze short term leys like hybrid ryegrasses?

I'm doing the exact same this year with a shorter term italian (but I'm undersowing mine under spring barley for wholecrip), and then going to direct drill a herbal ley next autumn will let you know how I get on with it.

 

[jimmer]

My autumns favourite fields are a festulolium mix
As with most, they'll bolt and seed if not grazed hard