Rye falling over on itself and grazing

Libbyjones

Member
Livestock Farmer
Hi
i have a small holding and I’m just starting out. Can’t seem to get a definitive answer from my smallholding groups so thought I’d ask here in hope of maintaining a decent budget and organising my land ...
if grass rye has goneto seed and fallen over on itself, and is then grazed by cattle, will it keep active, rot, or drown out new growth from fallen seeds or does the field need reseeding in the September. Thanks.
 

BeReyt

Member
Livestock Farmer
It will be fine, get the cattle on it. If it's gone to seed, you'd be wasting time and money reseeding it. Graze it hard enough so there's not a carpet on the ground but leave a good residual. Let the cattle trample the stems and seed into the soil and you'll have reseeded the land for free. The plants will regrow.

James
 

The Ruminant

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Hertfordshire
It will be fine, get the cattle on it. If it's gone to seed, you'd be wasting time and money reseeding it. Graze it hard enough so there's not a carpet on the ground but leave a good residual. Let the cattle trample the stems and seed into the soil and you'll have reseeded the land for free. The plants will regrow.

James
I’d agree with James, group the cattle up into high stocking density with some electric fence, get them to graze hard and trample hard. If there’s moisture in the ground you’ll see regrowth within two to three weeks and it should be ready for grazing in six to eight.
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
I’d agree with James, group the cattle up into high stocking density with some electric fence, get them to graze hard and trample hard. If there’s moisture in the ground you’ll see regrowth within two to three weeks and it should be ready for grazing in six to eight.
If you read the post carefully she is asking if ryegass grows for more than one season not if it will grow from seed , well that's how I read it
 

The Ruminant

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Hertfordshire
If you read the post carefully she is asking if ryegass grows for more than one season not if it will grow from seed , well that's how I read it
That’s a small part of her question, though if you read the post carefully :rolleyes: you will see @Libbyjones is asking how to manage her ryegrass sward that has gone past it’s best. That’s what I have answered and, by implication, the regrowth I’ve mentioned indicates no reseeding will be necessary.
 

Agrivator

Member
I’d agree with James, group the cattle up into high stocking density with some electric fence, get them to graze hard and trample hard. If there’s moisture in the ground you’ll see regrowth within two to three weeks and it should be ready for grazing in six to eight.

That's great advice. I expect the OP has a large number of cattle, and enough financial resources to waste both the cattle and the grass.
 

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