Stubble turnips

[Owen 7040]

Does anyone have a rough idea on how many stubble turnips to plant for 50 lambs to keep them in for 2-3 months

Thanks

 

[Owen 7040]

Actually in second thought probably more like 3-4 months

 

[David.]

12 acres always does 250 ewes through Dec, Jan and Feb here.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

If you are going to plant them now I think you will find you need more acres than 12 as it is getting late to get any bulb on them.

 

[neilo]

It will also depend on how wet the winter is, affecting the utilisation rate. Last year, I kept 250 store hoggets on 20ac of stubble turnips for about 6 weeks, drilled early, after Winter Barley.

 

[gwi1890]

Might be better sowing/drilling forage rape or a mix of both this late on? I did a crop of Stubble turnips on 6 acres in sept few years ago didn’t yield as well as June August crops but lasted about 8 weeks for 130 lambs mind it was on a free draining dry field. Have seen 20 acres being wiped out in no time as well if weather is bad, its very difficult to calculate how much you need so really you should do more than you need

 

[Jerry]

Might be better sowing/drilling forage rape or a mix of both this late on? I did a crop of Stubble turnips on 6 acres in sept few years ago didn’t yield as well as June August crops but lasted about 8 weeks for 130 lambs mind it was on a free draining dry field. Have seen 20 acres being wiped out in no time as well if weather is bad, its very difficult to calculate how much you need so really you should do more than you need

I’ve got best part if 60 acres to go in this week. It’s now a mix of forage rape and turnips planed. 50/50.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Plant as many as you can. Doesn't matter if they are eating them till late march. Lambs will do famous, FR/ST mix is a damn good call. Don't grow straight turnips anymore. Find the mix much more reliable

 

[Great In Grass]

 

[cotswoldcs]

12 acres always does 250 ewes through Dec, Jan and Feb here.

I can only dream of that kind of utilisation! We put in over 100 acres of turnips last year, with 60+ acres of that following wheat. With the wet winter we had they didn't last long! This year we're going to be planting into September which doesn't bode well.

 

[mghley]

Does anyone have a rough idea on how many stubble turnips to plant for 50 lambs to keep them in for 2-3 months

Thanks

How long is a piece of string ??
last year had 70 acres planted late on, they got wet feet and suffered in poor conditions to the point that they wouldn’t have kept 50 lambs for 1 week. A complete failure.
This year I have some planted early in ideal conditions , everything has gone in their favour and they will crop better than for years.
The truth is that there is a lot of luck and good fortune in growing catch crops such as turnips. My advice grow as much as you can because you can expect the weather, frost, flea beatle, weed competition, poor/ slow germination to all affect you in either a positive or negative way. Good luck !

 

[neilo]

As all my winter corn either wasn’t planted, or got drowned & redrilled, I chose to leave 23ac that would have been Spring corn and put maincrop turnips in instead so that at least I’d have something other than beet in.

Given how the Spring Barley still looks in the field, meaning that it will be very lucky to break even, and any turnips won’t go in until mid-September, perhaps I should have done more!

 

[cotswoldcs]

Hoping to drill stubble turnips tomorrow now we finally have spring barley harvested. Thinking about reducing seed rate a little (3.5kg/ha) and reducing fertiliser by half. I still think I'll get half a crop but can't see the sense in going full rate. Any opinions (baring in mind we are 850ft on Cotswold Brash)?

 

[neilo]

Hoping to drill stubble turnips tomorrow now we finally have spring barley harvested. Thinking about reducing seed rate a little (3.5kg/ha) and reducing fertiliser by half. I still think I'll get half a crop but can't see the sense in going full rate. Any opinions (baring in mind we are 850ft on Cotswold Brash)?

If I drill late I always go full rate (5kg/ha) with seed, as it’s not going to bulb much anyway. I usually halve fert rate to 125kg/ha of AN, as it’s not going to grow fast enough to use much more. I wouldn't bother spraying out volunteer cereals either.

Given a kind winter, it will make a useful bite by February/March.

 

[mghley]

Hoping to get some in this week after sp barley. Will hedge my bets and go 50/50 Interval and st turnips. Will take a view on fert once I’ve seen germination. Seed rate no more than 1.5kg / acre spun on after cultivator.