Talking to my grandad earlier, he mentioned back in the day when he was short of land he would sow a cover crop with the grass (barley) so that he was getting as much silage as he could. At the time he was direct chopping and he said the cows loved it and did well on it. Wondering if anyone on here has experience of doing similar as I would like to try if it means I can up the amount of bales I can harvest and have a quality crop. That’s another question, can this been done when it’s baled not in a pit? Thanks in advance!
Sowing a cover crop
- Thread starter jacobl741
- Start date
- Location
- Welshpool Powys
Yes common to sow a cereal to help nurse a new ley
Baled barley and grass does seem to attract rats though.
Wholecrop with grass into the pit works well and a very good feed.
Baled barley and grass does seem to attract rats though.
Wholecrop with grass into the pit works well and a very good feed.
Cheers, Howcome it attracts rats? And also how’s it best baled, like wet silage or hayledge as we currently try to get it all like hayledge for the sucklers
- Location
- West Wales
Done at flag leaf stage is best if baling before any grain involved to stop any rats.
- Location
- Welshpool Powys
Normally cut when the barley grains are at the cheesey stage.
Rats go nuts for the grain in bales the barstewards
Rats go nuts for the grain in bales the barstewards