Growing cattle on forage rape

[unlacedgecko]

Thinking about this for a summer cover crop. Any one with any experience?

 

[gwi1890]

Cheap crop so it’s not a big risk, haven’t grazed growing cattle on in the summer before but have out wintered with big bale on interval with young dariy x calves 6 months old and they came out of winter looking and weighing well despite numerous people telling me they wouldn’t “do” I’d go for it

 

[unlacedgecko]

Would they need bales through the summer?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

When do you want to graze the crop
Hybrid / Rape may be a better option . Be carefull with bloat with cattle on rape

 

[unlacedgecko]

March to October

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Would they need bales through the summer?

Give them some standing hay? Quite often people down here leave a "picture frame" around the outside when using summer crops, especially with cattle. Gives you somewhere to drive/put their trough and provides a bit of scratch/dry matter, by the time the crop has matured so has the grass

different in an arable situation of course

 

[unlacedgecko]

Give them some standing hay? Quite often people down here leave a "picture frame" around the outside when using summer crops, especially with cattle. Gives you somewhere to drive/put their trough and provides a bit of scratch/dry matter, by the time the crop has matured so has the grass

different in an arable situation of course

This would be arable

 

[Kiwi Pete]

This would be arable

In that case, stick with forage crop on its own, otherwise every cowshit will sprout clover and likely grass around the bale feeding areas will be problematic. I know roundup cures everything now... but that's temporary. Once you get RR ryegrass then incremental grass will be "it"

 

[gwi1890]

Would they need bales through the summer?

Don’t think they would need bales in the summer, how old what type of cattle are intending on grazing with? I introduced them gradually to it initially had them on grass then opened the gate to it for a couple of hours increasing the time they where in it daily then leaving them in after a week .

 

[Derrick Hughes]

March to October

If its over that time then you want a brasica with regrowth. You may also consider putting a bit of ryegrass in to help prevent bloat

 

[hendrebc]

@som farmer has I'm sure

 

[tinsheet]

Would they need bales through the summer?

They'd want a bit of fibre for sure!

 

[som farmer]

usually start sowing mid march, in small bits, to avoid weather risk, and happily feed cattle, from stirks to milkers, been the main stay for summer grazing, last 3 summers, grass refused to grow ! Pretty fool proof to grow, need to keep eye out for flea beetle, usually ok if growing well, if not spray quickly. Best variety we have found is redstart.
We are not growing so much this year, having rented more land, but, what we drilled early april, the cows have grazed, rape just poking through, and grass grew well ! Probably enough there to come on, but have spun more on.
Weed control is the biggest problem, there is a spray, cant remember name off hand, it's expensive ! Biggest weed problem we have is fat hen, which can grow up to 6ft high ! makes moving fences somewhat interesting. Introduce slowly, and away you go. We fed rape and kale from mid june to end march, and will be sowing more for autumn grazing. Bit of hay/straw, or standing hay, works well.

 

[exmoor dave]

Give them some standing hay? Quite often people down here leave a "picture frame" around the outside when using summer crops, especially with cattle. Gives you somewhere to drive/put their trough and provides a bit of scratch/dry matter, by the time the crop has matured so has the grass

different in an arable situation of course

What sort of width picture frame Pete?

This is exactly what I was planning with a first go at summer brassicas this year

Also need somewhere to ambush the rabbits.... lesson from last year was that 1m of grass doesn't give much time for a shot

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

Been growing it for summer grazing for dairy cows for 10 years or so
Never had a crop completely fail. Never had flea beetle but watch out for hairy black caterpillars when it gets going can't remember what they're called but contractor soon sorts them with the sprayer. Bloats never been a problem but they always have Grass run as well. 2 years ago had an exceptional crop and had to start mowing it as it got impossible to move electric fence without
Good crop to grow ordered seed today to go in shortly

 

[BRBX]

Was thinking about this where we need to break the permanent pasture cycle which needs to be done by 15th may , if you took an early silage cut could you dd the crop ? When would it be ready to graze?? In a normal year!!!!

 

[Nithsdale]

Also need somewhere to ambush the rabbits.... lesson from last year was that 1m of grass doesn't give much time for a shot

Take to the air, my son...

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Was thinking about this where we need to break the permanent pasture cycle which needs to be done by 15th may , if you took an early silage cut could you dd the crop ? When would it be ready to graze?? In a normal year!!!![emoji85]

Best way to direct drill us spray before you cut the silage then drill as soon as you cut . Will save around 2 weeks and give a cleaner seed bed

 

[Sid]

Best way to direct drill us spray before you cut the silage then drill as soon as you cut . Will save around 2 weeks and give a cleaner seed bed

Why will it save 2 weeks? I could be in mucked, ploughed broadcast and done in a day.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Why will it save 2 weeks? I could be in mucked, ploughed broadcast and done in a day.

The clue is in DD , if he wants to plough then fair enough . But then all the disadvantages kick in , it won't carry stock as well when he wants to graze and he's ploughing up an army of weed seeds