Stocking density - sheep

[Snowy]

I think a minimum of five ewes per acre for early lambing, depending on how hard you graze your grass over winter. My ewes come off the grass and go on to stubble turnips in the first week of november then come in for lambing in january, they're then housed until late feb (depending on the weather) then back on to turnips until end of march/early april. This gives the grass a good rest before the ewes and lambs go back on to it and the lambs start going to market last week of april onwards, if all goes to plan!

 

[Agriclegend]

I was wondering about a forage crop to follow maize? Plenty of maize ground which is left bare over winter which could carry sheep through to late March? I have put IRG in after maize but what other options might work?

 

[Snowy]

I would think that by the time the maize is off then the weather won't be well suited to growing anything of use, certainly not in yorkshire! My turnips follow winter barley and i like to have them in before august if possible I did put some forage rape in, in september once and it was ok but nowt flash. Due to my growing numbers i've rented some stubble turnips this year for the first time and at 50pence an animal per week i think it's viable, especially compared to keeping them on grass and feeding them fodderbeet and silage?

 

[neilo]

I would think that by the time the maize is off then the weather won't be well suited to growing anything of use, certainly not in yorkshire! My turnips follow winter barley and i like to have them in before august if possible I did put some forage rape in, in september once and it was ok but nowt flash. Due to my growing numbers i've rented some stubble turnips this year for the first time and at 50pence an animal per week i think it's viable, especially compared to keeping them on grass and feeding them fodderbeet and silage?

+1 I worked out 50p/hd/wk is not far off what it would cost to grow and half decent crop of stubble turnips (not factoring in the bonus the landowner gets in the following crop), so nearby tack turnips at that rate is nearly as good as growing your own (if you even have suitable ground) IMO.

I agree that nothing much will produce much winter feed after maize harvest. IRG, Westerwolds or Rye are about the only things that will grow at all, and they won't provide a lot of keep until Spring. They would just get going a bit before most PRG leys.