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Summer grazing cover/forage crop
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<blockquote data-quote="Derrick Hughes" data-source="post: 7571626" data-attributes="member: 473"><p>cover crop trial at Redhouse Farm involved three main areas:</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">• Un-grazed vetch oats and phacelia</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">• Grazed forage rape, rye and vetch</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">• Grazed stubble turnip, forage rye and turnip rape.</li> </ul><p></p><p></p><p>The grazed areas were both 2.5ha blocks, fenced off with electric fencing, and grazed by 100 ewes over the whole 5ha area. All cover crops were desiccated with glyphosate in early March.</p><p></p><p>Farmacy agronomist Rebecca Creasey said that while grazing effectively terminated the cover crops, poaching and shallow compaction around tracks and water troughs was an issue on the heavier soils last winter, exacerbated by the site’s high water table.</p><p></p><p>Careful timing to avoid grazing in very wet conditions and a more intensive, “short, sharp” grazing regime could have helped overcome the poaching issues, she suggested. More use of strip grazing, where sheep are restricted to certain parts of the field until cover is cleared before being moved on to a fresh area, was of particular interest.</p><p></p><p>“The ideal would be to have more sheep, say 500-600 ewes, per 5ha area for 5-7days maximum before being moved on to ensure even grazing without poaching.</p><p></p><p>“If that’s not possible, strip grazing fewer sheep on a smaller area, say 100 ewes on 1ha, could help get the same effect.”</p><p></p><p>Miss Cannon said grazing could occur at any time providing conditions allowed, although post-winter was most common, and after 15th January if cover was an Ecological Focus Area (EFA) mix.</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>Species selection</p><p></p><p>Careful consideration must be given to species and varietal selection for any cover crop mix, especially if planning to graze with sheep, Miss Cannon advised.</p><p></p><p>Buckwheat for example, was poisonous to sheep, while phacelia was undesirable to sheep although they would still eat it, she said.</p><p></p><p>“In the past stubble turnips have traditionally be used in grazing mixes, but that won’t necessarily work in a short, intensive grazing system, as there isn’t always enough time for sheep to eat the roots before they’re moved on.”</p><p></p><p>She preferred a three-way mix based on legumes and cereals. “Cereals are quick to establish, give good top growth for grazing and have fibrous roots that benefit the soil. Regrowth also provides extra grazing material.</p><p></p><p>“Legumes offer excellent root anchorage and nitrogen fixation for the soil, and are also a good source of protein for grazing animals.</p><p>[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.farmbusiness.co.uk/livestock/sheep/cover-crop-demo-shows-benefits-of-grazing.html[/URL]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Derrick Hughes, post: 7571626, member: 473"] cover crop trial at Redhouse Farm involved three main areas: [LIST] [*]• Un-grazed vetch oats and phacelia [*]• Grazed forage rape, rye and vetch [*]• Grazed stubble turnip, forage rye and turnip rape. [/LIST] The grazed areas were both 2.5ha blocks, fenced off with electric fencing, and grazed by 100 ewes over the whole 5ha area. All cover crops were desiccated with glyphosate in early March. Farmacy agronomist Rebecca Creasey said that while grazing effectively terminated the cover crops, poaching and shallow compaction around tracks and water troughs was an issue on the heavier soils last winter, exacerbated by the site’s high water table. Careful timing to avoid grazing in very wet conditions and a more intensive, “short, sharp” grazing regime could have helped overcome the poaching issues, she suggested. More use of strip grazing, where sheep are restricted to certain parts of the field until cover is cleared before being moved on to a fresh area, was of particular interest. “The ideal would be to have more sheep, say 500-600 ewes, per 5ha area for 5-7days maximum before being moved on to ensure even grazing without poaching. “If that’s not possible, strip grazing fewer sheep on a smaller area, say 100 ewes on 1ha, could help get the same effect.” Miss Cannon said grazing could occur at any time providing conditions allowed, although post-winter was most common, and after 15th January if cover was an Ecological Focus Area (EFA) mix. Species selection Careful consideration must be given to species and varietal selection for any cover crop mix, especially if planning to graze with sheep, Miss Cannon advised. Buckwheat for example, was poisonous to sheep, while phacelia was undesirable to sheep although they would still eat it, she said. “In the past stubble turnips have traditionally be used in grazing mixes, but that won’t necessarily work in a short, intensive grazing system, as there isn’t always enough time for sheep to eat the roots before they’re moved on.” She preferred a three-way mix based on legumes and cereals. “Cereals are quick to establish, give good top growth for grazing and have fibrous roots that benefit the soil. Regrowth also provides extra grazing material. “Legumes offer excellent root anchorage and nitrogen fixation for the soil, and are also a good source of protein for grazing animals. [URL unfurl="true"]https://www.farmbusiness.co.uk/livestock/sheep/cover-crop-demo-shows-benefits-of-grazing.html[/URL] [/QUOTE]
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