What would cattle farmers pay for overwinter cover crop grazing?

[BenAdamsAgri]

We currently rent out cover crop grazing for sheep over winter and charge in the region of 40p/head/week.

What would be worthwhile charge for young stock at around 200-300kg. Have heard they would eat 2.5-4.2x as much as a sheep.

All management by grazier.

What would you be willing to pay?

 

[Chae1]

Cattle will wreck your fields. They will also probably require additional feeding and do even more damage hauling feed in and out. I speak from experience, we keep about 300 cows outside till end of January. Fields are in such a mess they won't plough now.

I'd stick to sheep, or just incorporate cover crop as green manure.

 

[BenAdamsAgri]

Cattle will wreck your fields. They will also probably require additional feeding and do even more damage hauling feed in and out. I speak from experience, we keep about 300 cows outside till end of January. Fields are in such a mess they won't plough now.

I'd stick to sheep, or just incorporate cover crop as green manure.

Thanks, but what if you moved them regularly? Im southish England so don't get as much rain as you guys

 

[Chae1]

Thanks, but what if you moved them regularly? Im southish England so don't get as much rain as you guys

There on forage rape/stubble turnips. The fence gets moved every day. Leave a couple acres of stubble as a run back too so they have a dry lye.

 

[Formatted]

Im southish England so don't get as much rain as you guys

How far south? If you're on the downs and have consistent weather plenty do it without making a mess. Cattle respect fences better than sheep

 

[BenAdamsAgri]

How far south? If you're on the downs and have consistent weather plenty do it without making a mess. Cattle respect fences better than sheep

oxfordshire

 

[Kiss]

12 (when wet) or 24 hour breaks and each time back fenced no mither! Preferably in squares no long fences, Have had yearlings out all winter

 

[ImLost]

oxfordshire

And how many acres are we talking?

 

[j6891]

I have a field next to my yard. Contemplating putting that into a forage crop then allowing cattle to wander as they wish between the 2. Is this a good idea or will they just make an almighty mess. Benefit being not having to take a tractor out to field to feed hay/silage and mess associated with that. Pretty wet here but the odd few I do outwinter handle it fine and stay very clean.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

It depends on the year and your soil type. Mob grazed is better. I'm sure they walk less and avoiding long paddocks is a good idea. What's wrong with the sheep job?

 

[Hilly]

oxfordshire

Depend on tb as well I’d have thought .