The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Land Management => Topic started by: gwynrew on May 09, 2018, 09:54:16 pm

Title: Thatchy field: graze or hay?
Post by: gwynrew on May 09, 2018, 09:54:16 pm

Hello. One of our fields is quite thatchy. We strip grazed it over the winter with sheep and then had it harrowed, which pulled out a lot but there is still some dead matter and stalky grass. What would benefit the field more: keeping the sheep grazing on it over the summer, or shutting it up for a hay cut and then grazing the aftermath?

Title: Re: Thatchy field: graze or hay?
Post by: bj_cardiff on May 10, 2018, 06:54:10 am

I would definitely graze it, if it has thatch that will end up being baled up it might mean the whole bale will smell earthy and not be palatable.

Title: Re: Thatchy field: graze or hay?
Post by: Foobar on May 10, 2018, 09:44:25 am

+1 for grazing it.

Title: Re: Thatchy field: graze or hay?
Post by: Rupert the bear on May 10, 2018, 07:43:57 pm

Wot they say , graze it , gets fertilised at the same time

Title: Re: Thatchy field: graze or hay?
Post by: gwynrew on May 10, 2018, 10:32:06 pm

Thanks, all, for your quick responses and solid advice, as usual in this forum. As you all suggest, we'll keep grazing this one over the summer and haytime another field this year.