Kale/ Turnips alternatives

I've been growing kale, turnips, hybrid rape here in a rotation for many years now. I've got one field, currently in fodder beet that's got a problem with charlock and I'm concerned that putting it in turnips/kale this spring will result in a mass of charlock. What would you recommend as a replacement that would provide forage for fattening lambs next winter? I must be able to control charlock. I have enough grass on the farm.
 

andybk

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Mendips Somerset
have been grazing vetch / oats this winter , lambs have done very well on it , and oats keeps shooting for another bite , would have been a mess if we had gone for first option of stubble turnips with all the rain , neighbour who measures it said we had the wettest winter last year for as long as hes recorded it , and this year we have had 11" more so far (oct on ) was a crap gappy crop in november after it was so cold after planting , but its been moving since december and kept them quiet till now , just giving it a rest and a chance to sort the carp out of the lambs before they go back over , after this next cold spell, (entire ram lambs )
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
have been grazing vetch / oats this winter , lambs have done very well on it , and oats keeps shooting for another bite , would have been a mess if we had gone for first option of stubble turnips with all the rain , neighbour who measures it said we had the wettest winter last year for as long as hes recorded it , and this year we have had 11" more so far (oct on ) was a crap gappy crop in november after it was so cold after planting , but its been moving since december and kept them quiet till now , just giving it a rest and a chance to sort the carp out of the lambs before they go back over , after this next cold spell, (entire ram lambs )
When was it sown and was it winter vetch
 

andybk

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Mendips Somerset
When was it sown and was it winter vetch
yes a winter vetch , sown in mid august , quite a sparse crop really not worth the extra cost , recon simple oats to form a mat and grow back some green for second bite , and stubble turnip be a better mix assuming can be planted early enough , Quite interested in banging red/ white clover in with fert just as grain crop leaf closes over in spring , plants should be there waiting to go after harvest for early bite
 

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