Will lambs eat the turnips in a stubble turnip crop?

[exmoor dave]

New to growing roots for lambs, but we had a chance to put a crop in a docky field that needs attention.

Crop is a stubble turnip, forage rape & kale mix.

Lambs have took to it after a slow start, they eat the leaf and stem no worries.....Although the waste seems horrific...... but they won't touch the actual turnip root.
I'm sure I read on here that you shouldn't push the lamb's to eat the turnips cause they'll stall.

So what do I do, keep letting the lamb's have a new section to eat the greenery then move fence again, then come back to the turnips at the end &see if they eat them?
Or follow through with other stock? Some ewes prehaps?

Centre of the photo was the last fence position til moved yesterday.
Is the waste either side normal??

 

[Selectamatic]

I had the same concern. although I was not that bothered as it was going to go under the plough in spring and I thought it was good for the ground...

This is how it looked like soon after they started....

I think that they 'learn' that the bulbs are edible, once they do, I saw yesterday that perhaps they favour the bulb to the leaf, and go rooting for them?

I spread some FYM on the same patch yesterday, next to nothing left...

 

[exmoor dave]

I see this evening that some turnips have been nibbled, so prehaps they'll get a taste for them

 

[It was already broken.]

They will get there. Don't worry. New food to them so takes a while. Don't move the feed fence too quick so they clean them up.

 

[Bury the Trash]

New to growing roots for lambs, but we had a chance to put a crop in a docky field that needs attention.

Crop is a stubble turnip, forage rape & kale mix.

Lambs have took to it after a slow start, they eat the leaf and stem no worries.....Although the waste seems horrific...... but they won't touch the actual turnip root.
I'm sure I read on here that you shouldn't push the lamb's to eat the turnips cause they'll stall.

So what do I do, keep letting the lamb's have a new section to eat the greenery then move fence again, then come back to the turnips at the end &see if they eat them?
Or follow through with other stock? Some ewes prehaps?

View attachment 612884

Centre of the photo was the last fence position til moved yesterday.
Is the waste either side normal??

even when they know what they are, the root got to be well anchored ...

 

[exmoor dave]

even when they know what they are, the root got to be well anchored ...

They defo aren't well anchor, most are already pulled out the ground

 

[Six Dogs]

Reckon you have to starve them onto the bulb if not you have wasted the majority of the crop,and most of the nutritional part
Takes I would say a month to get them fully adjusted

 

[Selectamatic]

even when they know what they are, the root got to be well anchored ...

I've not seen this, mine are not well anchored, are about the size of a golf ball, up to a tennis ball, they still eat them though, I am a bit worried that they might choke on them, should I be?

Not that I'm suggesting that I give the buggers a knife and fork...!

 

[It was already broken.]

I have never thought that its a problem if they are loose. Certainly my mules and mule crosses eat them in or out the ground once they get going on them. On the light land we have they just kick out the ground so not sure how we could get them tighter.

 

[beltextexel]

I personally would leave them on it until every last turnip had gone. The bulb is where the yield is. They'll learn quick if there's nothing left to eat.

 

[Breckland Boy]

In 30+ years our lambs have always started just eating the tops. Over time it will be the opposite to the point you will wish they spent a bit of time eating the top so not to waste them.

 

[Bury the Trash]

I've not seen this, mine are not well anchored, are about the size of a golf ball, up to a tennis ball, they still eat them though, I am a bit worried that they might choke on them, should I be?

Not that I'm suggesting that I give the buggers a knife and fork...!

probly not... but you never know ........
old boy i used to put sheep in his orchard to keep it tidy,for ...used to be most concerned about small apples as they grew and windfell ...but the only thing i saw a lamb choke on was on a ewe cob, he went funny ... but came round as i think the nut disolved a bit to swallow .............. off topic ....and im supposed to be skiing..... .

 

[It was already broken.]

probly not... but you never know ........
old boy i used to put sheep in his orchard to keep it tidy,for ...used to be most concerned about small apples as they grew and windfell ...but the only thing i saw a lamb choke on was on a ewe cob, he went funny ... but came round as i think the nut disolved a bit to swallow .............. off topic ....and im supposed to be skiing..... .

You got plenty of snow down your way then

 

[hendrebc]

Mine ate a gorse hedge this year before they started eating the bulbs
They are into them now though they prefer the bulbs to the tops. I wasnt sure how to feed them either so i just closed them in and forced them to eat. Some started strsight away the rest took a liking to the gorse and went backwards for a while

 

[Kevtherev]

They do take a while to get used to them especially if the turnips have gone old and a bit woody.

 

[GTB]

Reckon you have to starve them onto the bulb if not you have wasted the majority of the crop,and most of the nutritional part
Takes I would say a month to get them fully adjusted

By which time they'll be as thin as rakes?

 

[Jerry]

Its the opposite here, ewes rush in to a new block and eat the bulbs before the leaf. But Im happy enough with that.

 

[Happy]

Grown a stubble turnip/rape/kale mix for the first time this year.
Lambs been on it 8 weeks now and really dissapointed at how they have done. Resorted to ordering in finishing pellets to feed as well.

Usually have them on kale pre-Christmas with any tail enders onto swedes after that. Will be returning to that system next year.

 

[neilo]

By which time they'll be as thin as rakes?

I’ve always started them by fencing them on a fairly small block, and leaving them on it until they’ve cleaned it up. Then i’ll Move them in four day (or so) blocks.
Mine have never taken a month to get going on them, once they’ve been held to eat them the seem to realise that they’re quite tasty after all.

Ewes going in the second year are never hesitant to hit the roots.

 

[exmoor dave]

Thanks chaps, I won't move the fence so quickly and see how it goes.