Sheep grazing AD sugar beet tops

[norfolk n sheep]

Apparently there is a potential problem of AD beet being overwintered running to seed. Also the overwintering of viruses and diseases is problematic.
I run large numbers of sheep in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. My question is: Does anyone graze the tops of growing AD beet over the winter with sheep to reduce disease/seeding pressures?
Just thinking outloud, looking for next expansion idea.
TIA

 

[Exfarmer]

How are sheep with growing tops, they can certainly be poisonous to cattle if they are not wilted?
Its due to the presence of oxalic acid

 

[norfolk n sheep]

I have grazed off fodder beet tops in October before with no problems. I think the timing of the AD beet grazing will be after Xmas, so am hoping that they loose some of the acid being so late.

 

[Will Wilson]

Sounds like a good idea. I would just say that the amount of beet we are seeing grown for AD is dropping off as its a pain to work with - most people are going towards pulp from the factory.

Stupid question - would sheep eat maize stalks left after the forager? There might still be some energy left in them and the timing would be good.

 

[Exfarmer]

you should remember most of the value in beet tops was actually in the pieces of crown that were removed during harvest. Although I believe defoliating the beet would be a very good idea for the reasons mentioned, if the beet stat erasing into the tops I am not sure about the rots that would be let in, and then into the clamp.
Grazing maize stalks? I think the sheep would need to be very hungry, but the feed value of corn stover is rated above wheat straw but this does include the husks and leaves, which I would think is the bulk of energy.