Grazing store lambs on volunteer oil seed rape

[Just because]

Been offered some volunteer OSR to graze store lambs on do they grow ok or stay clear?? Thanks

 

[Jerry]

Been offered some volunteer OSR to graze store lambs on do they grow ok or stay clear?? Thanks

I did it last year as the only green thing I had on the farm. They did well as it’s clean ground

 

[unlacedgecko]

Been offered some volunteer OSR to graze store lambs on do they grow ok or stay clear?? Thanks

They'll do like hell on it. Just be careful of bloat during the induction period.

 

[andybk]

They'll do like hell on it. Just be careful of bloat during the induction period.

is cropping (combine able) rape safe these days , compared to forage rape , regard erucic acid and glucosinolates . Remember loosing a few lambs last time we used volunteers .

 

[unlacedgecko]

is cropping (combine able) rape safe these days , compared to forage rape , regard erucic acid and glucosinolates . Remember loosing a few lambs last time we used volunteers .

Not sure about that. I've never had a problem with it...

 

[ganderman]

A bit of topic but I know nothing about sheep not in a sheep area but I have drilled grass as cover crop to plough in in a couple of months , is there any value in it.

 

[andybk]

A bit of topic but I know nothing about sheep not in a sheep area but I have drilled grass as cover crop to plough in in a couple of months , is there any value in it.

yes sheep will graze till , nextt spring assuming its reasonably dry

 

[gatepost]

We have done it and fantastic for finishing lambs

 

[buttercup]

Glad some else was thinking what I as thinking.

But I was planning to put some young cattle on some. Pull up a few plants to give to them and they torn in those.

 

[deleted user 837354]

I've heard the glucosinolate angle before but doesn't seem to stop people. Never heard anyone had anything go wrong with it. I presume the glucosinolates are more of an issue on fully mature crops?

 

[spin cycle]

another hi jack....got a bitta fodder radish thats podded....was going to stick a few ewes on it.....but could seeds in pod cause problem?

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

Used OSR regrowth once from a neighbor, got on well with store lambs. Just seen the same neighbor disc a lovely crop in ready for winter wheat , wondered if I could have offered him enough money to drill the wheat later, after the osr volunteers had been grazed off. What would the difference in potential yield be from wheat drilled in October, compared to December ?

 

[It was already broken.]

I used volunteer rape one year. The only problem I found was it tended to get very yellow as it got to Christmas so in my experience it would be better to graze early rather than leave it.

 

[Al R]

There were trials done last year where someone grazed half a field, yield was higher come harvest and I think a lot less spraying was needed for aphids/disease etc. @deleted user 837354 @Brisel @Clive may know who did it - it was all over the internet at harvest about it.

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

There were trials done last year where someone grazed half a field, yield was higher come harvest and I think a lot less spraying was needed for aphids/disease etc. @deleted user 837354 @Brisel @Clive may know who did it - it was all over the internet at harvest about it.

Are you meaning an actual drilled crop of OSR drilled in the autumn ?

 

[Al R]

Are you meaning an actual drilled crop of OSR drilled in the autumn ?

Yes, purposely done, the benefits in crop health were much better than previously expected, yields increased and the crop looked far thicker pre harvest. I think yield increase was 300kg over ungraded? Even more of a benefit if it could be paid for by grazing sheep.

The main problem I can see is most arable farmers have no interest in livestock... moving them at the right stage would be critical.

 

[Just because]

Are you meaning an actual drilled crop of OSR drilled in the autumn ?

Worked ground behind combine

 

[unlacedgecko]

Yes, purposely done, the benefits in crop health were much better than previously expected, yields increased and the crop looked far thicker pre harvest. I think yield increase was 300kg over ungraded? Even more of a benefit if it could be paid for by grazing sheep.

The main problem I can see is most arable farmers have no interest in livestock... moving them at the right stage would be critical.

Just needs a keen shepherding type in an arable area. Preferably one with a mobile handling system, lots of electric fencing and experience of grazing sheep on short terms lets

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

Yes, purposely done, the benefits in crop health were much better than previously expected, yields increased and the crop looked far thicker pre harvest. I think yield increase was 300kg over ungraded? Even more of a benefit if it could be paid for by grazing sheep.

The main problem I can see is most arable farmers have no interest in livestock... moving them at the right stage would be critical.

I'm convinced, I bet it would be difficult to convince allot of arable farmers though.

 

[Al R]

Harvest 2019: Grower sees no yield loss when grazing OSR with sheep - Farmers Weekly

A Yorkshire grower who grazed sheep on part of his oilseed rape crop before Christmas has seen no yield loss after totting up the figures since combining.

www.fwi.co.uk

For those without FWI,
Block grazed being moved every 3 days to avoid overgrazing, grazed from November-mid December.