The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Penninehillbilly on November 17, 2016, 06:15:21 pm

Title: WF.Woodland sheep
Post by: Penninehillbilly on November 17, 2016, 06:15:21 pm
Thinking about next year.
are white faced Woodland sheep really safe to put in woodland?
I have about 4 acres of young woodland, occasionally I've had to put my few sheep in while I'm doing things in their field, I've noticed they will chew at branches, twigs etc.  It seems such a waste all that grass not doing anything but choking young trees, people in charge don't seem to come up and do anything with them. Would love to see something grazing in there.
Title: Re: Woodland sheep
Post by: YorkshireLass on November 17, 2016, 06:51:34 pm
Shropshires are famed for leaving *most* trees alone, I wouldn't have them in with unprotected tasty saplings though :)
http://www.shropshire-sheep.co.uk/publications/SSBA%20P16%20Two%20Crops%20Booklet.pdf (http://www.shropshire-sheep.co.uk/publications/SSBA%20P16%20Two%20Crops%20Booklet.pdf)
Title: Re: Woodland sheep
Post by: Marches Farmer on November 18, 2016, 08:54:28 am
As I understand it (and I've had a long conversation with a chap who bought Shropshires based on their reputation, to graze the grass on his Christmas tree business) they will indeed graze the tips of trees.  That's why this particular gentleman fenced off the trees and switched to Southdowns, which was the breed he really wanted in the first place.

I've had a visit this year from someone who wanted Southdowns for grazing the grass in his vineyard, rather than having to strim it.  When I said I couldn't possibly guarantee they wouldn't nibble the shoots he said he wanted them to, as they'd have to be pruned out anyway - the Southdowns short legs meant they couldn't graze any higher than he'd want to prune anyway.  Horses for courses but, to return to your original question, all sheep will graze young tree growth within reach.
Title: Re: Woodland sheep
Post by: farmershort on November 18, 2016, 10:27:13 am
Thinking about next year.
are Woodland sheep really safe to put in woodland?
I have about 4 acres of young woodland, occasionally I've had to put my few sheep in while I'm doing things in their field, I've noticed they will chew at branches, twigs etc.  It seems such a waste all that grass not doing anything but choking young trees, people in charge don't seem to come up and do anything with them. Would love to see something grazing in there.

Do you mean whitefaced woodlands? We've got some of these! :)

I can confirm that they certainly prefer hedge-growth to grass... If they can get to the growing tips of young trees, I'm confident they'll try and eat them. I've not yet seen them trying to ring-bark a tree, which is good, but they have been known to nibble at bark from fresh-cut hedge material.
Title: Re: Woodland sheep
Post by: Penninehillbilly on November 18, 2016, 10:57:15 am
Thanks, not sure if anyone keeps southdowns or Shropshire round here, or whether they would  be hardy enough ? I have seen a WF Woodland tup though, only a 'pet' but they wouldn't let me borrow him  :(. (A 'friend')
Woodland is 'native' woodland, about 5/6 years old.
Title: Re: Woodland sheep
Post by: Marches Farmer on November 18, 2016, 12:56:05 pm
The Southdowns can cope with pretty well anything, although I'd make sure they didn't have any French or NZ bloodlines but were traditional type with a pedigree as long as your arm.  Definitely wouldn't recommend Badger Face around trees - they spend much of their lives trying to be goats.
Title: Re: Woodland sheep
Post by: Anke on November 18, 2016, 01:33:58 pm
Until much more established I wouldn't risk ANY (theoretically) grazing animal in there... Can you strim/scythe some of the grass and either feed fresh to goats during the summer (which is what we do on wet days) and/or dry as hay?
Title: Re: Woodland sheep
Post by: YorkshireLass on November 18, 2016, 01:39:41 pm
Would geese be any good?
Title: Re: Woodland sheep
Post by: Anke on November 18, 2016, 02:07:17 pm
Would geese be any good?

No - they are really good at ring barking trees.
Title: Re: Woodland sheep
Post by: Penninehillbilly on November 18, 2016, 02:34:03 pm
It's a rough area a fair distance from the house, while most trees have tree guards on, mostly the shortest type, only rabbit proof,  i wouldn't like to leave geese down there, would need a few more to make a dent in 4 acre :-).
Title: Re: Woodland sheep
Post by: Penninehillbilly on November 18, 2016, 02:38:42 pm
Until much more established I wouldn't risk ANY (theoretically) grazing animal in there... Can you strim/scythe some of the grass and either feed fresh to goats during the summer (which is what we do on wet days) and/or dry as hay?
I could cut the 'ride', which I will do next year, but a lot of the trees are planted quite close together, bit risky swishing a blade about.
Title: Re: WF.Woodland sheep
Post by: Hevxxx99 on November 20, 2016, 05:57:08 pm
Ouesants are supposed to be good in woods.

Maybe it's just because they can't reach the branches...
Title: Re: WF.Woodland sheep
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on November 20, 2016, 09:31:44 pm
what about pigs? Kune kune for example? they are indeed a grazing pig so would they be ok? if of course you had rings around the trees in case?
Title: Re: WF.Woodland sheep
Post by: YorkshireLass on November 20, 2016, 10:27:15 pm
Mmmm they still root, albeit a bit less than other pigs.
Title: Re: WF.Woodland sheep
Post by: Penninehillbilly on November 20, 2016, 10:36:10 pm
Gosh I do like the idea of pigs, dad always had pigs. Sadly not fully  fenced at the bottom , donr suppose the river wood stop them.
Actually ....... :thinking:
Title: Re: WF.Woodland sheep
Post by: farmershort on November 21, 2016, 11:12:47 am
pigs respond VERY well to an electric fence... just 2 strands.
Title: Re: WF.Woodland sheep
Post by: Penninehillbilly on November 21, 2016, 11:54:42 am
pigs respond VERY well to an electric fence... just 2 strands.

I've just been thinking that this morning, trouble is, in theory there is a footpath going through (fairly impassible and dispute to where it actually exits the land),.
OH, as usual didn't look happy at the suggestion. But he also hates sheep, i feel a bit alone against the odds at times,  :(.
Title: Re: WF.Woodland sheep
Post by: Marches Farmer on November 21, 2016, 12:10:41 pm
Pigs would disturb the ground too much for the root systems of young trees to survive.  We had a healthy 200 year old oak come down last Winter - forester blamed the pigs our predecessor kept in that field for destroying the root system.
Title: Re: WF.Woodland sheep
Post by: Penninehillbilly on November 21, 2016, 12:27:32 pm
Pigs would disturb the ground too much for the root systems of young trees to survive.  We had a healthy 200 year old oak come down last Winter - forester blamed the pigs our predecessor kept in that field for destroying the root system.
Gosh that sounds surprising MF, is it very shallow soil then ? I thought (and from trees I've moved) they have some deeper roots for stability? 
I've also just remembered sheep have a fly problem in the field just above this woodland, so probably could only use it spring / early summer anyway, then maybe a couple of weaners following that ?
I really want to use this land, without damaging the trees, pity there isn't a way of making it fox proof and breeding free range rabbits  :-J  ;D
Title: Re: WF.Woodland sheep
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on November 21, 2016, 01:37:41 pm
Well you could always do this? ;)  :roflanim:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuFOcWQ_fks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuFOcWQ_fks)
Title: Re: WF.Woodland sheep
Post by: YorkshireLass on November 21, 2016, 03:12:58 pm
...do alpacas eat trees?
 :innocent:
Title: Re: WF.Woodland sheep
Post by: sheeponthebrain on November 21, 2016, 04:25:56 pm
I have ewe's grazing a field with a young hawthorn hedge along the border. In 2010 when we had a lot of snow I thought they had grazed the young trees beyond the point of recovery. however since then we've had very little snow and I'm glad to report the trees are now healthy 9 foot hawthorns (with no lower branches).  The sheep have been in this field summer and winter since then.  its amazing what trees will live through.
Title: Re: WF.Woodland sheep
Post by: wayfarer on November 21, 2016, 04:52:56 pm
Alpacas will browse the leaves given a chance.