The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: howard spivey on May 10, 2014, 02:42:34 pm

Title: Grazing sheep
Post by: howard spivey on May 10, 2014, 02:42:34 pm

I have heard that one must not graze sheep on the same land that pigs have been on. Or is it the other way round? I have a small orchard where I keep pigs from July to November. I'd like to put some Shetlands on there until the pigs arrive. The grass is long...too long but I will cut it first. Any comments?

Title: Re: Grazing sheep
Post by: clydesdaleclopper on May 24, 2014, 09:37:20 pm

I believe (but may be wrong) that it is due to the high level of copper in pig poo that might cause problems for some breeds of sheep.

Title: Re: Grazing sheep
Post by: Possum on May 25, 2014, 12:19:42 pm

But pigs just poo in one place, so if you keep you sheep away from that, it should be OK. I have grazed sheep in last year's pig field with no problems. Mind you, the stocking density was pretty low. Don't know if that makes any difference. :pig:

Title: Re: Grazing sheep
Post by: Young Ed on May 25, 2014, 08:09:30 pm

if we were to put sheep where our pigs our they would die! simply because it is a war zone in the pig enclosure with not a spot of green and would take a good 2 or 3 years until any grass started properly growing in their naturally maybe in a year with grass seed
Cheers Ed

Title: Re: Grazing sheep
Post by: Young Ed on May 25, 2014, 08:47:22 pm

if we were to put sheep where our pigs our they would die! simply because it is a war zone in the pig enclosure with not a spot of green and would take a good 2 or 3 years until any grass started properly growing in their naturally maybe in a year with grass seed! :p
Cheers Ed

Title: Re: Grazing sheep
Post by: healthguy on May 25, 2014, 08:54:22 pm

these shetland sheep will be fine on the same ground . but be careful putting breeds such as blue face liecters or texels and other continentals on there , zwartbles are highly succeptible to copper poisoning