Hi
We have 11 sheep on 2.5 acres - 7 Suffolk/Mule crosses (2 wethers, 5 ewes), 1 Texel and 3 coloured Ryleland wethers. Lately I've noticed the grass is very short, mossy and soggy - the first time I've noticed this in the three years we have kept the sheep. The coloured Ryelands were new arrivals last summer and I'm wondering if we have overtipped the balance and are putting too much pressure on the pasture. Today when pruning the apple trees I lifted up the large circular tree guards and they pretty much head butted each other to get at the grass there.
The land isn't very fertile, on a slope, previously commercial apple orchard. We've been giving them hay since around mid December. The field is undivided but I'm wondering if it would improve its condition if we split it so half could rest for a month at a time. We have some electric sheep fencing - would more experienced smallholders recommend that we divide it in half with this once the grass starts to grow again? Or should we just 'offload' a couple of the larger sheep? Would really appreciate any advice, thank you.