Too much grass and clover!

[Sid]

I have a field of festioliums and red clover that was planted in the spring and has been cut twice. It has been too wet to get near it again to move either bales or clamp off it without leaving hideous wheelings. It is now 18 inches high.

Options are,
Sheep, mob stock or fold
Cattle might poach too much and damage RC
Top it off, might leave it vulnerable to frost?
another option?

 

[davidroberts30]

sheep

 

[Northeastfarmer]

As above

 

[milkloss]

wet, sheeps feet and hard grazing are not compatible with red clover ime.

 

[multi power]

Graze it with cattle when it's dry enough
It will be dry some time

 

[davidroberts30]

wet, sheeps feet and hard grazing are not compatible with red clover ime.

light grazing is fine

 

[Sid]

Perhaps a top with cattle then sheep to tidy up?

 

[Devon James]

We have some the same and would like to strip graze cattle o it. Will see how wet it is after the tb test.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Perhaps a top with cattle then sheep to tidy up?

That would be my pick, take the top off it with younger lighter cattle, but don't hit the RC too hard with sheep.
Once they nail the crowns too hard it gets upset.

 

[Kevtherev]

Remember red clover and breeding ewes
(Oestrogen)

 

[DrDunc]

Store lambs and cast ewes.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Remember red clover and breeding ewes
(Oestrogen)

Yes that's a good point Kev.
Our NZ varieties are low oestrogen types, but that could be worthy of consideration @Sid .
Red clover phytoestrogen levels are lowest in summer but higher in spring and autumn - could cause issues with cycling etc in ewes.

 

[Kevtherev]

It can cause problems with breeding ewes at certain times of the year.

 

[andybk]

It can cause problems with breeding ewes at certain times of the year.

nooooo......... its cumulative , modern reds are fine short term

 

[kill]

Oh dear. Sid's losing the plot as his new rocket fuel crop is likely to be feed to







Field lice aka=
SHEEP!!!!

 

[Sid]

So heres whats happening. Grazing with bullers/in calf heifers in blocks. Leaving a fair residual. Sheep are waiting to come straight in behind tidy up and leave.

 

[Kevtherev]

Nice @Sid

 

[ollie989898]

Graze it with sheep, it will only get out of control else.

They don't like being trodden on much.

 

[DrWazzock]

We had a similar problem. A mass of tall clover smothering out the grass. We put the sheep on it and now it's fine. Grass back in charge but nice and short. Clover put back in its place, small and neat.

 

[ollie989898]

If you don't use much N the grass can often struggle, same as if you have a very dry spell- clover roots deeper than grass.