The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: plt102 on February 13, 2015, 08:16:11 pm
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Hi there,
We purchased a field which was recently laid to wheat last year. It was seeded (badly) by the farmer in the autumn but hasn't really come on as well as we would have hoped as we are hoping to put the ewes and lambs in there in around a months time. It will probably do them for a little while and we will supplement with hard feed, tubs and hay to keep them full up.
So we need to overseed ASAP and we need something that will take quickly (we can strip graze to keep the sheep off the new patches for a few weeks at a time), but I was recommended not to go for just Rye grass.
Do you think a mixture of rye grass, timothy and a herbal ley mix would give a good mix of species that can take over time?
cotswold seeds have a nice herbal ley mix but it looks really pricey. Any suggestions on slightly cheaper suppliers as we are on a bit of a tight budget?
Thanks a lot
Pip
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When you say "seeded badly" does this mean germination was patchy, lots of weeds germinated or it just hasn't grown much? Putting sheep on it before cover is established will make it much harder to get a good sward. Whatever else you put in front of them most sheep will favour fresh grass above all else.
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Agree with Marches Farmer ----
Why didn't the ley take? Have you done any soil analysis?
It's good to know your problem before you try to fix it
I graze new leys (some under sown ) every year and it can take a while for them to bloom in the first spring
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It looks like he did good coverage on the way up the field then did bad coverage on the way down the field, hence we have some good patches which are well grown and some really bare patches. So I think it was his technique that was bad rather than the soil.
What we are planning to do is fence off one acre and put the sheep in it, with regular hard feed and hay and overseed the other 3 acres and leave as long as possible, probably until lambs are weaning, then just let them have one of the new acres, overseed the first, and carry on growing the other 2 acres
Will take time to get it sorted but I spose we'll get there.
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Clover - if you're looking for production, a ryegrass / white clover mix (not red clover) is probably best. You could always sow a herbal ley round the margins. Chicory is supposed to be good.
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Thanks guys - I'll get googling
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These might be worth speaking to http://www.thegrassseedstore.co.uk/ (http://www.thegrassseedstore.co.uk/) Ive found them helpfull in the past.
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I've been eyeing up the options at http://www.grasslandseeds.co.uk (http://www.grasslandseeds.co.uk) -- would be interested to know how the prices compare to what you've been seeing.
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Or you could look up "Meadowmax"
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Our neighbour always uses St Catherine's Seeds, we have bought from Meadowmania
:thumbsup:
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We went to Meadowmania in the end and bought a mixture of traditional grass seed and grass seed sheep grazing SP1 - We'll let you know how we get on. Thanks for the advice. Fingers crossed for the next few months.