Grazing store lambs on volunteer oil seed rape

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 ?
 

Al R

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Wales
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. @ollie989898 @Brisel @Clive may know who did it - it was all over the internet at harvest about it.
 

Al R

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Wales
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.
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
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 ;)
 
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

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Wales

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

253D4A84-0E88-4350-AEBD-99FB45D6FE33.png
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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