Coximus
Member
hers some pics.
I'll post more as it goes on.
The Cover was 3ft, with an estimated 4000kg/dm/HA.
Ground is PP, very weedy with areas of thistle and willowherb infestation as a result of being used for horses by previous occupants.
Underlaying soil is compacted, but 60% sandy, over broken rock. Free draining and PH5.3, Land reputed to be a poor field that produces "belly fill" fodder and grass. Deep roots from letting the grass grow ahead, hopefully offsetting some of this.
100 sheep, comprising of 60 ewes, and 40 ewe lambs, Placed on 2HA, behind electric fence on the 1st July.
Measurements taken weekly, showing to date, 2 weeks in, cover is varying across plot, but now estimated at 2500kg/dm standing, with some areas, espeically the stemmy areas, trampled into the ground. Importantly, the high grazing pressure has caused the sheep to eat creeping thistle, Willowherb, and even some clumps of decampsia.
They are now looking hungry and starting to go back and eat seed heads, the grass left is trampled and manure soiled, so I may look to move them in the 7-10 day or too if the grazing rate drops. Max time on plot will be 21 days, to keep worm burden broken.
Overall this is looking good so far, based on the weed-eating, and the fact I have had 1400 grazing days, out of 2 Ha.. Given that this land has historically been stocked at 3-4/ac in summer and 0-1 in winter, that would give 2730/grazing days per hectare per year. I Hope this system could prove to increase that rate, and give better growth.
I'll post more as it goes on.
The Cover was 3ft, with an estimated 4000kg/dm/HA.
Ground is PP, very weedy with areas of thistle and willowherb infestation as a result of being used for horses by previous occupants.
Underlaying soil is compacted, but 60% sandy, over broken rock. Free draining and PH5.3, Land reputed to be a poor field that produces "belly fill" fodder and grass. Deep roots from letting the grass grow ahead, hopefully offsetting some of this.
100 sheep, comprising of 60 ewes, and 40 ewe lambs, Placed on 2HA, behind electric fence on the 1st July.
Measurements taken weekly, showing to date, 2 weeks in, cover is varying across plot, but now estimated at 2500kg/dm standing, with some areas, espeically the stemmy areas, trampled into the ground. Importantly, the high grazing pressure has caused the sheep to eat creeping thistle, Willowherb, and even some clumps of decampsia.
They are now looking hungry and starting to go back and eat seed heads, the grass left is trampled and manure soiled, so I may look to move them in the 7-10 day or too if the grazing rate drops. Max time on plot will be 21 days, to keep worm burden broken.
Overall this is looking good so far, based on the weed-eating, and the fact I have had 1400 grazing days, out of 2 Ha.. Given that this land has historically been stocked at 3-4/ac in summer and 0-1 in winter, that would give 2730/grazing days per hectare per year. I Hope this system could prove to increase that rate, and give better growth.
Attachments
Last edited: