Undersowing rape/kale with grass

[JamesT]

Hoping to direct drill Interval(rape/kale hybrid) in the next few days. It will be strip grazed this winter with Spring born calves.

My drill man is suggesting mixing some westerwolds with it to add some bulk and put a bottom in the crop so there's less soil damage.

Anyone any experience or opinions on this? Will the WW just get shaded out?

 

[Grouse]

I have done this with stubble turnips under sown (similar to rape / kale in that its100% ground cover ) with a permanent lay through a broadcaster and it worked very well. Would definitely do it again.

 

[GTB]

I have under sown fodder rape and stubble turnips many times with IR. When the lambs finish grazing it in Nov/Dec you'd swear the IR was dead but by March it provides good grazing.

 

[SheepFarmer10]

Hoping to direct drill Interval(rape/kale hybrid) in the next few days. It will be strip grazed this winter with Spring born calves.

My drill man is suggesting mixing some westerwolds with it to add some bulk and put a bottom in the crop so there's less soil damage.

Anyone any experience or opinions on this? Will the WW just get shaded out?

It works well. But you don't want to over do the interval. 1kg/acre is plenty in my experience.

And don't leave it too late to start grazing it.

Pretty simple and very effective combination I think.

 

[GTB]

1kg/acre is plenty in my experience.

Yes and with new permanent ley seeds half a pound per acre is plenty.

 

[JamesT]

The Interval is the main crop here, it will be sowed at 2.5kg/acre - if I put the WW in it will be at half rate (7kg/acre) or less

 

[SheepFarmer10]

The Interval is the main crop here, it will be sowed at 2.5kg/acre - if I put the WW in it will be at half rate (7kg/acre) or less

I've had IRG fail underneath interval at 2kg/acre.

Your asking for trouble there imo.

I don't think it would be worth bothering with IRG under interval at 2.5kg/acre if it gets a good start it will be a very thick crop.

 

[Shep1]

I sometimes do the opposite, and throw a few handfuls of rape in with the grass seed. Gives an extra bit of bulk for the first 2 or 3 grazings. After that , you wouldn't notice any difference.
ETA... This is for a full reseed with PRG and WC.