In lamb ewes onto forage rape in late gestation

[Keepers]

Unfortunately it looks like I don’t have any other option.
All the remaining grass which a group of ewes (190) were meant to go onto from this week up until just before lambing is still completely under water it’s flowing fast and although there’s the odd day when it’s gone down a bit it still has not cleared enough for me to put ewes down there just incase it washes them away in the night.
The whole group of fields run all the way along the river so none are further away from the water.

I have a group of ewes on a forage rape field, there is probably 2 weeks left and then they can start on another large rape field. It took them 7-10 days to get properly into eating it when first introduced and I wasn’t going to put the grass grazing group onto the 2nd field this late into pregnancy just incase they took time getting used to it.

They are due from 18th of April, most of them are solid fit, one or two leaner but literally less than 5.
Its looking like I don’t have much option but to put them on the rape, what can I give them on the rape to help transition or to make sure they have enough in their diets so they don’t go back whilst they get used to it?

I have lots of good quality hay which I could put out?
I have not yet provided protein/energy buckets as was going to start now after scanning but I can put plenty of these out?

Other groups of mine are on good quality Fodder beet and are doing very well on it. I could figure out a way to offer this as well, although access isn’t very good as fields are up steep tracks so tubs would be a better option

Any thoughts? Or I guess I start looking for little tubs of floating ewe flakes....

 

[Bury the Trash]

just imo,
Yeah put out plenty of easy to get at good Hay and give them a small fenced piece asap.

feed blocks /lick if you got the money to spend and to help them transition ... but not ones with urea in .

as you well know, watch for tld as fat ones can get that as well as thin ones . watch for Hypocalcemia as well owing to changes happening plus stormy weather shock

Happy days

 

[Al R]

So 8 weeks from lambing? I scan 8 weeks pre lambing and ewes get moved onto forage crops etc from then until 2-3 weeks pre lambing. I can’t see any issue at all ?‍ personally I would give them a bale of silage/haylage/hay and a mineral tub to transition them on, this year i put 400 ewes onto green crop that had never seen a bale or green crop before and their all looking fantastic.

 

[Tim W]

I'd just put them out there & wouldn't worry at all

 

[Bury the Trash]

That's unlike me then, I worry about everything

 

[Bury the Trash]

Dont forget iodine as well.
Not huge amounts in them but as emergency measure them iodised salt licks from mvf might be worth the little that they cost.


Another simple tip and maybe especially for purely arable outfits sowing forage crops for grazing for the first time,.
...... is, leave a large headland or strip/ piece of a corn field untouched(unsown) and even better if it's the higher or drier part of the field, this left as stubble or plus volunteers will be a good run back area...
..... as In my books at least, runback doesnt have to be grass .
Its Simple thing to do which is better for the stock and the grazier.

 

[Keepers]

Thanks all, the ewes are in one group now on the rape, walking around in a miserable angry mob, stupid things

Reason why I was a bit worried about doing it was due to the length of time the first group took to get on and bloody taste the stuff

also good tip, there is a nice thick grass boundary around much of the rape which I extended yesterday, but stubble also does do a good one

I put out some salt licks and a couple of mineral buckets from mole valley to keep the miserable things happy until they start eating it

Fingers crossed for some unflooded grass fields in 5 weeks time

 

[Bury the Trash]

If I waffle please forgive ....as if I think of something I'll forget it if I dont write it down....at the time


Anyway......If I could ask to choose for anytype of keep to be availiable to me through winter in the context of a catch crop sown on big arable acres .....it would be westerwolds , I mean the green leaf of 'agricultural ' ' type ' grasses are so balanced feed wise and so not anti nutritional ( if lacking maybe in certain minerals insert best choice of you're own area )

they are simply perfick as Pop larkin would say........

Edit, Well not then maybe as I forgot to add , .....that to increase protein and energy , alright then chuck in a small bit of f.rape seed but go steady ...infact not much at all ..........thanks ...

 

[Al R]

If I waffle please forgive ....as if I think of something I'll forget it if I dont write it down....at the time


Anyway......If I could ask to choose for anytype of keep to be availiable to me through winter in the context of a catch crop sown on big arable acres .....it would be westerwolds , I mean the green leaf of 'agricultural ' ' type ' grasses are so balanced feed wise and so not anti nutritional ( if lacking maybe in certain minerals insert best choice of you're own area )

they are simply perfick as Pop larkin would say........

Edit, Well not then maybe as I forgot to add , .....that to increase protein and energy , alright then chuck in a small bit of f.rape seed but go steady ...infact not much at all ..........thanks ...

how much is westerwold seed? When forage rape and stubble turnips are around £8/acre I’m not sure you can get much lower?

Just looked, £41/acre for westerwold seed.

 

[Bury the Trash]

how much is westerwold seed? When forage rape and stubble turnips are around £8/acre I’m not sure you can get much lower?

Just looked, £41/acre for westerwold seed.

Yeah That's a problem , seed cost.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

As already mentioned don't forget minerals with high Iodine and then no problem.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

As already mentioned don't forget minerals with high Iodine and then no problem.