Turnips!!

[devonbrion1998]

Hi All, After my bumper first-time crop of Turnips, I can't get the little sh*ts anywhere near them?
There's no grass left in the field which is what I had planned to help get them on the crop
there scavenging around in the constant rain and not putting on any condition.
Now what? start feeding haylage and cake? Nightmare!

 

[DrDunc]

How many days have they been on them?

They usually start eating the leaves after 3 or 4 days once they realise it's not just a green wall beside the grass ?

Takes a bit longer for them to burst the bulbs, but they'll get there....

.... Usually in time for the first frost to turn the burst turnip flesh to sludge ?

 

[devonbrion1998]

Yes it's about 3/4 days today, guess worst case I could fetch the ewes in there,but lets hope for the best,did think they would have been a bit keener though with the lack of grass.

 

[pgk]

We find round bale of hay to start them off helps seem to cut over in 3 to 4 days as others say.

 

[neilo]

Yes it's about 3/4 days today, guess worst case I could fetch the ewes in there,but lets hope for the best,did think they would have been a bit keener though with the lack of grass.

I always fence ‘first timers’ on a fairly tight block and leave them on it until they have eaten it down tight. They’ll discover it after a few days, then there will be no stopping them. I would think giving them an alternative, whether that’s bales or a grass runback, would only slow the transition.

I assume you haven’t just turned them into the whole field?

 

[sherg]

As @neilo says fence them on a little bit of it and make them finish it they'll soon learn what its about

 

[devonbrion1998]

No, what I have done is half the field in turnips with a wire across stopping them on the crop and the other half grass, now I have moved the wire into the crop about 5 meters
so they still have the grass behind them and a strip of turnips to get started on, as I said the grass is all gone, give it another couple of days and then maybe fence them into the turnips so they won't have much option but eat!

 

[devonbrion1998]

Update.... They have eaten the tops off now, but just nipping bits out of the bulbs
should I hand in there? next to nothing else to eat now

 

[Jerry]

Update.... They have eaten the tops off now, but just nipping bits out of the bulbs
should I hand in there? next to nothing else to eat now

Can you drive around a bit in the field to smash up a few turnips?

They will probably start taking them then.

 

[devonbrion1998]

Can you drive around a bit in the field to smash up a few turnips?

They will probably start taking them then.

Well I could, or rake a load up and stick them in a trough would that work?

 

[Jerry]

Well I could, or rake a load up and stick them in a trough would that work?

I think smashing a few up and keeping them tight would get them to try them and get a taste.

 

[devonbrion1998]

I think smashing a few up and keeping them tight would get them to try them and get a taste.

Thanks, I will try that, they do need to get on as they have just stopped growing

 

[Jerry]

Thanks, I will try that, they do need to get on as they have just stopped growing

Once they get the taste they’ll do ok.

 

[spin cycle]

I think smashing a few up and keeping them tight would get them to try them and get a taste.

pasture topper?

 

[devonbrion1998]

pasture topper?

yes could try the topper over them,shame it's my first crop and they have done really well tonnes of the things, could do with more lambs on there really but I held back with current affairs the way they are...never mind its all fun.

 

[spin cycle]

yes could try the topper over them,shame it's my first crop and they have done really well tonnes of the things, could do with more lambs on there really but I held back with current affairs the way they are...never mind its all fun.

my lot wouldn't eat fodder beet first year i grew them so i bought a chopper...now it's redundant

 

[neilo]

Update.... They have eaten the tops off now, but just nipping bits out of the bulbs
should I hand in there? next to nothing else to eat now

Hang in there, they’ll be at the roots properly in the next day or so now they’ve started nibbling, then they’ll be away.?

I’ve never lifted bulbs, or broken any up by driving round in them/topping them. That just sounds like a way of complicating something simple to me.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Bit early for using proper turnips surely ......

 

[devonbrion1998]

Bit early for using proper turnips surely ......

They were sown in some old pasture end of June, sprayed off, cultivated and rolled in
Fine crop

 

[Bury the Trash]

well that's good then.

Got no grass ?