Winter Sheep Grazing

[Anymulewilldo]

Two points
I think location is the main driver
And the final point , I've had dairy farmers offer me more than the tack price not to have them if they could have the summer keep as well
I only have them because I think they do the pastures good , I could probs cover £1.50 head if I did not have them as said above

This has happened on 1/2 of one of our good farms. Fella has retired from dairy and let half too dairy next door for summer. He pays more than my keep rate not too have sheep on his half. What I don’t understand is come the end of March the sheep half is nice and fresh green while the ungrazed half has a good cover but half of it is that dirty yellowing green from frost kill? That can’t be any use in the first cut can it?

 

[Jackov Altraids]

This has happened on 1/2 of one of our good farms. Fella has retired from dairy and let half too dairy next door for summer. He pays more than my keep rate not too have sheep on his half. What I don’t understand is come the end of March the sheep half is nice and fresh green while the ungrazed half has a good cover but half of it is that dirty yellowing green from frost kill? That can’t be any use in the first cut can it?

I would say that around here, there would be probably 1 year in 7 when there would be an advantage to having not had sheep graze in the new year.
The weather is always the deciding factor and I'm always prepared to adjust my removal date according to the prevailing conditions which is a huge help to the owner.
There aren't many years when winter growth isn't better for being grazed off. Fresh spring grass is so much better than old languid stuff which grows from the bottom without adding value.

 

[ffukedfarmer]

How about 250 acres in one block in the south-east of which 40 acres is rough HLS, 50 acres autumn reseed so only light grazing, rest is a mixture of leys and permanent, but plenty of grass there.
Central, permanent handling area available for use plus a rappa if required. Available now until at least end of March, maybe into April. Artic access. Happy to look.
Mostly fenced, but not very well in places where it might need a run of electric. Maybe better suited to lambs or less likely to escape breeds like romneys!

 

[Derrick Hughes]

This has happened on 1/2 of one of our good farms. Fella has retired from dairy and let half too dairy next door for summer. He pays more than my keep rate not too have sheep on his half. What I don’t understand is come the end of March the sheep half is nice and fresh green while the ungrazed half has a good cover but half of it is that dirty yellowing green from frost kill? That can’t be any use in the first cut can it?

If we get cold March winds it will shave it off annyway . Thing is the Sheep man that we call him works like a dog hes a good friend of mine , i like to see the sheep , im sure they do the land good ,and he has to live as well , no point being to greedy

 

[Plopper]

Whilst we’re on the topic does anybody have any grazing available in North Yorkshire ?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

May be worth opening a topic grazing available and wanted if anyone has any that is

 

[Anymulewilldo]

If we get cold March winds it will shave it off annyway . Thing is the Sheep man that we call him works like a dog hes a good friend of mine , i like to see the sheep , im sure they do the land good ,and he has to live as well , no point being to greedy

Old John always said it was better eaten by sheep than mown but the March wind. When he was milking he always wanted us off the 3rd week of Feb. As you say, it helps too be friends with graziers. Luckily over the years I’ve become good friends with pretty much every wintering spot we go too. “It’s their farm, got too do what they say.” One of grandads sayings. It’s amazing how many sheep men forget this and wonder why they don’t get invited back a second winter!

 

[Mixedupfarmer]

This has happened on 1/2 of one of our good farms. Fella has retired from dairy and let half too dairy next door for summer. He pays more than my keep rate not too have sheep on his half. What I don’t understand is come the end of March the sheep half is nice and fresh green while the ungrazed half has a good cover but half of it is that dirty yellowing green from frost kill? That can’t be any use in the first cut can it?

He might think there is a Johne’s risk to his herd from the sheep grazing his grass?

 

[Woolless]

This has happened on 1/2 of one of our good farms. Fella has retired from dairy and let half too dairy next door for summer. He pays more than my keep rate not too have sheep on his half. What I don’t understand is come the end of March the sheep half is nice and fresh green while the ungrazed half has a good cover but half of it is that dirty yellowing green from frost kill? That can’t be any use in the first cut can it?

That older grass might be good to graze the cows on first rotation? The fresh green growth will just fly through them. Maybe less of a problem in milk cows but you certainly wouldn't want it in your silage. The best dairy men now have such a good handle on their grazing management that they just don't need sheep, I suppose.

 

[Skintagain]

That older grass might be good to graze the cows on first rotation? The fresh green growth will just fly through them. Maybe less of a problem in milk cows but you certainly wouldn't want it in your silage. The best dairy men now have such a good handle on their grazing management that they just don't need sheep, I suppose.

Aye and plenty are that obsessed with silage they can’t see past it. Saw one putting some black horrible shite in bales other day and had to stack them in corner of field as his stacking area is bursting at the seams. He would have been better with some white lice on.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

That older grass might be good to graze the cows on first rotation? The fresh green growth will just fly through them. Maybe less of a problem in milk cows but you certainly wouldn't want it in your silage. The best dairy men now have such a good handle on their grazing management that they just don't need sheep, I suppose.

It all gets silaged before he turns out. But he’s one of them, if first cut isn’t done 3rd week of April then the silage for the rest of the year will be crap. John still does his first cut the end of the first week in May for feeding his beef cattle on and it looks a much cleaner better sample of grass. I suppose some dairy men just hate sheep that much they won’t have them at any price. Then they moan like mad about money and wonder why I’m not the slightest bit sympathetic?

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Aye and plenty are that obsessed with silage they can’t see past it. Saw one putting some black horrible shite in bales other day and had to stack them in corner of field as his stacking area is bursting at the seams. He would have been better with some white lice on.

Thankfully another of our men rang up last week “bring me a great ruck of sheep, I’m not doing any third cut. The pits are nearly vertical and we’ve 1000 bales stacked up. Make more profit from this next cut letting you graze it off.”
Needless too say I agreed wholeheartedly with his logic and I’ve sent a packet of feeding ewes down too him!

 

[marsh89]

How about 250 acres in one block in the south-east of which 40 acres is rough HLS, 50 acres autumn reseed so only light grazing, rest is a mixture of leys and permanent, but plenty of grass there.
Central, permanent handling area available for use plus a rappa if required. Available now until at least end of March, maybe into April. Artic access. Happy to look.
Mostly fenced, but not very well in places where it might need a run of electric. Maybe better suited to lambs or less likely to escape breeds like romneys!

Is this still available?

 

[Coximus]

Whilst we’re on the topic does anybody have any grazing available in North Yorkshire ?

Yes PM me

 

[teslacoils]

Wooly buggers turned up a couple of days ago. Will be something like 3p per day. I supply nothing but the grass, in this case big flat blocks of first year ryegrass. Sheep tidy it up and tred it down. Also keeps folk off the fields, and dog walkers keep their mangy mutts on leads. I get to say when I want them off, but they will probably be here until mid December.

 

[Coximus]

varies i have small 10 to 20 acre blocks from free, to a crate of beer and a token £20 and wine, all fenced in yorkshire, I pay upto 80p this year for a 1 year grass ley on arable, that I have to fence thats only in for black grass control - its virgin ground not seen sheep in 2 decades and will be great for finishing lambs on with a low worm challenge -
other bits all 30-60p biggest factor is fencing - Ill pay more for a walled upland field than dairy ley that needs electric - Ill save man hours not dealing with escapes, stolen fencing and the setting up and moving .

 

[Jonp]

Pay 20p/head/week 3 months winter tack dec-feb. Old farmer who just takes 1 cut of haulage off his 50 acres. Since I've been putting sheep on his ground, the last 3 years, he has got much cleaner crop with greatly improved yield. All fenced and watered. All next to my cattle winter field so can check on them with no extra travelling. If he sees a problem with either cattle or sheep he rings me and I go sort. He's happy and I'm very happy. Gives my home farm a good rest.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Pay 20p/head/week 3 months winter tack dec-feb. Old farmer who just takes 1 cut of haulage off his 50 acres. Since I've been putting sheep on his ground, the last 3 years, he has got much cleaner crop with greatly improved yield. All fenced and watered. All next to my cattle winter field so can check on them with no extra travelling. If he sees a problem with either cattle or sheep he rings me and I go sort. He's happy and I'm very happy. Gives my home farm a good rest.

Don't tell everyone else in Wales or they will want to get the prices down to that level as well!

 

[Skintagain]

Pay 20p/head/week 3 months winter tack dec-feb. Old farmer who just takes 1 cut of haulage off his 50 acres. Since I've been putting sheep on his ground, the last 3 years, he has got much cleaner crop with greatly improved yield. All fenced and watered. All next to my cattle winter field so can check on them with no extra travelling. If he sees a problem with either cattle or sheep he rings me and I go sort. He's happy and I'm very happy. Gives my home farm a good rest.

I’d give give him a bit more if I was you

 

[Will 1594]

So what is 90 acre clean ex hay meadows cut once , 150 acre stubble turnips ,and 100 acre of raddish and mix of other bits ,
can stay till april on stubble turnips , and grass , rest cleared mid feb , light land ,no water in any fields