Short term crop for sheep

[CopperBeech]

I think I already know the answer .... but ....

If you had some arable ground available from now until around September/ October and we’re looking to get something in the ground now to provide some feed for ewes and lambs (April born) from about June onwards. .... is there anything cost effective you could try? Fodder rape ?

 

[neilo]

Is the arable farmer happy to have a brassica in, or does he grow OSR?

If so, what about a grazing turnip like Appin, rather than fodder rape? Lambs never seem to do that well on rape ime, but does make a good ‘holding’ crop.

 

[CopperBeech]

As far as I’m aware the farm is bring sold hence the opportunity. Turnips was my first thought but they aren’t my sheep and I think they are older mules so not sure on the teeth.

 

[neilo]

As far as I’m aware the farm is bring sold hence the opportunity. Turnips was my first thought but they aren’t my sheep and I think they are older mules so not sure on the teeth.

Appin is a leafy turnip, so it grows (& regrows) lots of top, as long as the bulb isn’t grazed out. Dearer seed than stubble turnips, but you could several grazings in that time with a bit of back fencing, then graze it out at the end.

Leafy turnips are quite popular for your scenario in NZ iirc.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

We do a Rape Kale Hybrid thats not much dearer than Rape if you want something that will grow back , approx 70 p Kg dearer than rape.
PM if you want more info.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Well There's a difference between being sold / been sold ??

Might look better with Westerwolds Sown and used if its ' being sold' ........that's more expensive seed but of a more varied/ versatile feeding / useand it wouldn't need as much 'added'fertility as brassicas .

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Well There's a difference between being sold / been sold ??

Might look better with Westerwolds Sown and used if its ' being sold' ........that's more expensive seed but of a more varied/ versatile feeding / useand it wouldn't need as much 'added'fertility as brassicas .

He could always ask the owner to chip in to the added value[emoji23]

 

[CopperBeech]

Well There's a difference between being sold / been sold ??

Might look better with Westerwolds Sown and used if its ' being sold' ........that's more expensive seed but of a more varied/ versatile feeding / useand it wouldn't need as much 'added'fertility as brassicas .

As in the owner has to sell it in a family dispute and so is happy to have whatever done with the field before it goes. Round here anything sells for top dollar whatever is in the ground

 

[Bury the Trash]

As in the owner has to sell it in a family dispute and so is happy to have whatever done with the field before it goes. Round here anything sells for top dollar whatever is in the ground

Brassicas of some sort with grass seed mixed in would be darn useful .

Its getting grass seed cheap enough is the challenge,

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Brassicas of some sort with grass seed mixed in would be darn useful .

Its getting grass seed cheap enough is the challenge,

Just over £20/ acre for Westerwolds so approx £30 acre with Hybryd Kale mixed in

 

[Tim W]

Brassicas of some sort with grass seed mixed in would be darn useful .

Its getting grass seed cheap enough is the challenge,

Getting value out of short term grass is always a challenge
I have a similar quandary---
Land coming out of arable in July '21 which i can have until Oct '22
Needs to be left with the minimum of weed cover which ideally means a grass cover

Current thinking is sow the cheapest grass possible after harvest along with kale/rape
Graze the kale off by next spring (don't make too much mess!) and then have a grass ley to wean lambs onto in July '22
If i were lucky i may get a cut of silage in early June?

Any better ideas?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Getting value out of short term grass is always a challenge
I have a similar quandary---
Land coming out of arable in July '21 which i can have until Oct '22
Needs to be left with the minimum of weed cover which ideally means a grass cover

Current thinking is sow the cheapest grass possible after harvest along with kale/rape
Graze the kale off by next spring (don't make too much mess!) and then have a grass ley to wean lambs onto in July '22
If i were lucky i may get a cut of silage in early June?

Any better ideas?

Italian Ryegrass. A little bit more that than Westerwolds but a better option, depends how long you want it down for , could add a little bit of bottom grass . Other than that go for maximum output from the kale and Redrill Ryegass in March .
All depends on the time yiu want it down for . But if you combine the two then you will have to reduce your seed rate

 

[Tim W]

Italian Ryegrass. A little bit more that than Westerwolds but a better option, depends how long you want it down for , could add a little bit of bottom grass . Other than that go for maximum output from the kale and Redrill Ryegass in March .
All depends on the time yiu want it down for . But if you combine the two then you will have to reduce your seed rate

I will have the grass from June to Oct maximum so hardly worth doing in some ways
But it's how the land has to be left
Reducing seed rates is not a problem

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I will have the grass from June to Oct maximum so hardly worth doing in some ways
But it's how the land has to be left
Reducing seed rates is not a problem

Just as well go with Westerwolds then .just keep on top of it as it runs to head quicker than Italian
Cost wise £4-50 kg Hybrid Kale
Westerwolds £2-10 kg
Italian Ryegrass £2.40 kg
Prices may vary with amounts

 

[digger64]

Getting value out of short term grass is always a challenge
I have a similar quandary---
Land coming out of arable in July '21 which i can have until Oct '22
Needs to be left with the minimum of weed cover which ideally means a grass cover

Current thinking is sow the cheapest grass possible after harvest along with kale/rape
Graze the kale off by next spring (don't make too much mess!) and then have a grass ley to wean lambs onto in July '22
If i were lucky i may get a cut of silage in early June?

Any better ideas?

2 crops of stubble turnips just hope the lamb price is good summer 22 , might be drought though so could still be handy to have .

 

[Bury the Trash]

Getting value out of short term grass is always a challenge
I have a similar quandary---
Land coming out of arable in July '21 which i can have until Oct '22
Needs to be left with the minimum of weed cover which ideally means a grass cover

Current thinking is sow the cheapest grass possible after harvest along with kale/rape
Graze the kale off by next spring (don't make too much mess!) and then have a grass ley to wean lambs onto in July '22
If i were lucky i may get a cut of silage in early June?

Any better ideas?

Nope, sounds like a productive plan .
But to add Imo, not kale or rapev
But A bit of some sort of turnip seed ( not much really ) in with the grass ( westerwolds / IR mix ) will add bit extra for autumn early winter but make them grasses your main focus.

 

[Tim W]

Nope, sounds like a productive plan .
But to add Imo, not kale or rapev
But A bit of some sort of turnip seed ( not much really ) in with the grass ( westerwolds / IR mix ) will add bit extra for autumn early winter but make them grasses your main focus.

I had thought turnips but it can be wet ground and has lots of walker presence so it needs to look good too
Prob put kale/rape/turnip/mustard in the mix (why not ) but as you say concentrate on the grass

 

[Derrick Hughes]

If its wet ground rape won't like it at all . But how wet

 

[Bury the Trash]

I had thought turnips but it can be wet ground and has lots of walker presence so it needs to look good too
Prob put kale/rape/turnip/mustard in the mix (why not ) but as you say concentrate on the grass

If you put too much kale rape turnip mustard in the mix it will smother out too much of the grass is whatbi meant.
A Traditional way we 'add a bit of substance ' to a newly grass seeded field is with a bit of that stuff but not over do it if the grass is the main event. If it isn't you can get a juxtaposition mix with brassicas plus some Italian in iyswim which does help utilisation of the kale put something in potential brassica bare spots and leave a bit of a green grass legacy but not so thick example here of that see late lamb at the bottom

Root Brassica Mixtures

Fast growing high energy forage crop, suitable for grazing by sheep or cattle.

www.forfarmers.co.uk

 

[beefandsleep]

How about a rape/kale hybrid and some oats instead of grass seed, should be a fair bit cheaper than grass, especially off someone’s heap.