Maize cover crops suitable for grazing cattle?

[crashbox]

Hi TFF,

Looking to grow cover crops on my maize stubble this year. Aiming to improve soil health, prevent nutrient leaching and... graze cattle? E.g. outwintering youngstock Feb/March. Could supplement with silage bales.

Last two years I have used Italian Ryegrass and Westerwolds.

But what about other options, e.g. vetch, rye, brassicas (forage rape, fodder radish)? Or even mixes?

Thoughts appreciated.

CB

 

[Derrick Hughes]

When will the maize be off

 

[crashbox]

When will the maize be off

Mid Sept. South Coast, warm light soils.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Could you not overseed into the maize and get it going ready for when the maize comes off? It would avoid bare ground underneath as the maize grows too. It should be wet enough this year for it to take ok (doesn't have to be perfect, you can always top it up after harvest).

You might get a small maize yield penalty but would gain grazing in autumn.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

If hes going in in September in the South he should not get much of a problem getting stuff set , Rye seed is expensive so he needs to make the best of what he plants , a mix would be better as they all have a different role to play , I will post a few options later as Im sure others will

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

Dry sucklers and stores overwinter on millions of acres of "cornstalks" in the Midwest, using a rough guide of one acre per cow per month.

This is without any other crop involved, just with access to minerals.

However if it is left till Feb/March, there won't be much left worth eating.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Hi TFF,

Looking to grow cover crops on my maize stubble this year. Aiming to improve soil health, prevent nutrient leaching and... graze cattle? E.g. outwintering youngstock Feb/March. Could supplement with silage bales.

Last two years I have used Italian Ryegrass and Westerwolds.

But what about other options, e.g. vetch, rye, brassicas (forage rape, fodder radish)? Or even mixes?

Thoughts appreciated.

CB

Any green plant will hold the Nitrogen well, we can improve the soils by adding Nitrogen with a legume and assisting
Soil condition.
Animal manuring by grazing the cover crop definitely helps soil improvement.

This is a suggested mix we do that is relatively cheap


Grazeable cover

50% Rye

30% Winter Hairy vetch

3% Ballansa Clover

5% Oilseed Radish

3% Forage Rape

3.00% Stubble turnip

2.00% Phacelia


Italian Ryegrass and Westerwold’scan be done reasonably cheaply at say 10kg per acre but limited in terms of the shallow roots that won’t benefit the soil much

 

[Jonny B88]

Any green plant will hold the Nitrogen well, we can improve the soils by adding Nitrogen with a legume and assisting
Soil condition.
Animal manuring by grazing the cover crop definitely helps soil improvement.

This is a suggested mix we do that is relatively cheap


Grazeable cover

50% Rye

30% Winter Hairy vetch

3% Ballansa Clover

5% Oilseed Radish

3% Forage Rape

3.00% Stubble turnip

2.00% Phacelia


Italian Ryegrass and Westerwold’scan be done reasonably cheaply at say 10kg per acre but limited in terms of the shallow roots that won’t benefit the soil much

Planning on putting something similar to this mix after 2nd cut silage and after ww lifted for wholecrop.

 

[DRC]

Could you not overseed into the maize and get it going ready for when the maize comes off? It would avoid bare ground underneath as the maize grows too. It should be wet enough this year for it to take ok (doesn't have to be perfect, you can always top it up after harvest).

You might get a small maize yield penalty but would gain grazing in autumn.

You’d need a very tall tractor

 

[digger64]

Any green plant will hold the Nitrogen well, we can improve the soils by adding Nitrogen with a legume and assisting
Soil condition.
Animal manuring by grazing the cover crop definitely helps soil improvement.

This is a suggested mix we do that is relatively cheap


Grazeable cover

50% Rye

30% Winter Hairy vetch

3% Ballansa Clover

5% Oilseed Radish

3% Forage Rape

3.00% Stubble turnip

2.00% Phacelia


Italian Ryegrass and Westerwold’scan be done reasonably cheaply at say 10kg per acre but limited in terms of the shallow roots that won’t benefit the soil much

most maize spray means cereals or italian ryegrass is about all you can plant post harvest

 

[Boysground]

Maize herbicides often have a requirement to cultivate (or similar wording on the label) I have always been cautious when direct drilling after maize. Although not proper dd as I use a vaderstad and mix the soil around with the front discs. Mid September drilling is closer to spray application than my usual late October so there may be more issues. I’ve never seen any problems on my ground

Im not saying don’t give it a go but I would have a good read of the spray labels especially any SU.

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