Author Topic: Thatchy field: graze or hay?  (Read 2970 times)

gwynrew

  • Joined Sep 2017
Thatchy field: graze or hay?
« 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?


bj_cardiff

  • Joined Feb 2017
  • Carmarthenshire
Re: Thatchy field: graze or hay?
« Reply #1 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.

Foobar

  • Joined Mar 2012
  • South Wales
Re: Thatchy field: graze or hay?
« Reply #2 on: May 10, 2018, 09:44:25 am »
+1 for grazing it.

Rupert the bear

  • Joined Jun 2015
Re: Thatchy field: graze or hay?
« Reply #3 on: May 10, 2018, 07:43:57 pm »
Wot they say , graze it , gets fertilised at the same time

gwynrew

  • Joined Sep 2017
Re: Thatchy field: graze or hay?
« Reply #4 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.

 

© The Accidental Smallholder Ltd 2003-2025. All rights reserved.

Design by Furness Internet

Site developed by Champion IS