Mob-grazing sheep

[The Gentleman Farmer]

Apologies if this has been covered before, but I am interested to know if anybody out there (in the UK that is, sorry not trying to alienate anybody else) is genuinely mob-grazing sheep on tall grass or other covers?

It seems that many people are trying it to some degree, but I cannot find anybody who is happy to really let the grass get ahead of the sheep and then let the sheep into it... Perhaps the wealth of knowledge and contacts on here might know differently....

 

[serf]

@unlacedgecko

 

[unlacedgecko]

@unlacedgecko

Thanks for the tag. But I'm not doing this.

I use cows to manicure the feed, so it's the right height and quality for the sheep.

Kingsclere estate in Hampshire used to mob graze sheep.

 

[serf]

Thanks for the tag. But I'm not doing this.

I use cows to manicure the feed, so it's the right height and quality for the sheep.

Kingsclere estate in Hampshire used to mob graze sheep.

Well I don't know what half these things are called but thought you might have some input on the subject

 

[unlacedgecko]

Well I don't know what half these things are called but thought you might have some input on the subject

I've no direct experience.

But my input would be that it doesn't work.

A sheep only system of mob stocking means you're always putting animals into standing hay. The ewe's smaller rumen means she can't intake enough to mitigate the poor quality. Growth rates will suffer.

You'll also have problems with lameness and blindness from the stemmy grass. Finally, height of forage makes it difficult to see animals. With corresponding welfare implications for checking stock.

All in all, my advice would be don't do it.

 

[debe]

The above is all correct, but it's fun anyhow. All mixed age, clipped and dry sheep

And the fences short well!

 

[Guleesh]

The above is all correct, but it's fun anyhow. All mixed age, clipped and dry sheep

And the fences short well!

You've only got one sheep in your mob though.

 

[unlacedgecko]

You've only got one sheep in your mob though.

Can see the rest as the cover is so high.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Can see the rest as the cover is so high.

either that or the others are much further away lol.

 

[debe]

They're just not as friendly

 

[Guleesh]

For me, mob grazing sheep on grass that's way past them is a tool for improving grazing rather than a system to follow for the long term. Grass grows grass, densely stocked sheep are just a tool to add a bit of extra biology and to reset the cycle, basically to clean the solar panel.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Apologies if this has been covered before, but I am interested to know if anybody out there (in the UK that is, sorry not trying to alienate anybody else) is genuinely mob-grazing sheep on tall grass or other covers?

It seems that many people are trying it to some degree, but I cannot find anybody who is happy to really let the grass get ahead of the sheep and then let the sheep into it... Perhaps the wealth of knowledge and contacts on here might know differently....

If its of interest I can get you added to a whatsapp group of sheep mob grazers. Some will be grazing long covers, others aiming for shorter covers. All part of the discussion on there.

 

[Woolless]

Apologies if this has been covered before, but I am interested to know if anybody out there (in the UK that is, sorry not trying to alienate anybody else) is genuinely mob-grazing sheep on tall grass or other covers?

It seems that many people are trying it to some degree, but I cannot find anybody who is happy to really let the grass get ahead of the sheep and then let the sheep into it... Perhaps the wealth of knowledge and contacts on here might know differently....

A better approach if you have the stock would be to do a leader-follower so the sheep pick out the sweeties with suckler cows behind. I've done this to an extent and it works but possibly not with properly mature sward. Dry, fit ewes would be the place to start if you wanted to try proper mob grazing. I have done it to clear up a field for a neighbour and it worked alright.

 

[DanM]

The above is all correct, but it's fun anyhow. All mixed age, clipped and dry sheep

And the fences short well!

Shorting fences can be overcome by topping the fence lines beforehand

 

[AngusLad]

Fairly sure Alex Brewster at Rotmell Farm is doing something similar to this. He is easily found online and I have found him very friendly and happy to give advice.

 

[Sierra Lama]

Sheep never do shut up on smalls blocks close to one another from my experience..they are flock animals but they don't like being shut up in blocks up against each other.

 

[AngusLad]

Sheep never do shut up on smalls blocks close to one another from my experience..they are flock animals but they don't like being shut up in blocks up against each other.

It's a tricky thing to get the balance right on. In my experience to get it to work really well you need a good mob of sucklers following on behind to tidy up otherwise you end up asking the sheep to graze too tight and they get punished for it

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Sheep never do shut up on smalls blocks close to one another from my experience..they are flock animals but they don't like being shut up in blocks up against each other.

Yes they do not behave like cattle, that's for sure.

We've an average field size of about 80 acres, if we put 3000 ewes in there they just 'bombshell', where cattle act as a force of nature.

Roles are reversed if we put them in a rough block with lots of browse; sheep mob up and devour matagouri, rosehips, whatever else there is. Cattle blaze a path through it, on the hunt for some nice grass to graze.

Really area allocation in either case comes down to getting the animals in and out before too much overgrazing happens

 

[The Gentleman Farmer]

If its of interest I can get you added to a whatsapp group of sheep mob grazers. Some will be grazing long covers, others aiming for shorter covers. All part of the discussion on there.

That would be lovely, thanks for your help. I have DM'ed you my number.

 

[The Gentleman Farmer]

Thanks all for your input, some really interesting and useful contributions there.
Cheers