[Buffy the eggs layer]

I am struggling to be able to offer next years lambs clean pasture rested for 6 months and I'm doing a great job of beating myself up about it.


Despite fencing the holding off into mini paddocks this year, aquiring summer grazing and bringing a section of wooded area into use, my plans to give a section of the pasture 6 months rest have gone to pot thanks to another chaffer infestation this year.


The destruction caused by the chaffer is bad enough but the period of rest after the pasture has been sprayed  meant that I had to move my sheep around. As a result I am only going to have rested it for 4 months at the max. I can put the pigs on some of it short term to limit the copper deposit and hope that they graze off some of the worm eggs.


I do a periparturiant worm in Feb / March and the ewes do go onto clean pasture from there but that grass runs out before the next area of pasture has been fully rested. My Autumn FECs have always come back with a commendation not to worm.


Any pearls of wisdom to let me off the hook please......?

[Melmarsh]

Hi !! To be honest I have limited land so can not rest anything for any length of time. I have had sheep here for 6 yrs  and fingers crossed, no problems. I do however ,have regular FEC S done to be sure I keep on top of any worm problems. !! Don't know if that's a help and I hope I don't have any problems now in 2016.

[Me]

Wow. Wish I had enough land to rest for six months! Six minutes is more like it!

[Buffy the eggs layer]

So....not everyone aims for the clean pasture

[Womble]

I don't see how you can.  Also, unless you can make hay with it, the growth is then wasted.

[Buffy the eggs layer]

My spring lamb pasture is rested through autumn and winter (ideally) so there isnt much in the way of growth. But I' kind of feeling like its not as bad as I think it is......

[Hellybee]

http://eap.mcgill.ca/agrobio/ab370-04e.htm




Found this fascinating, as you will see it goes on about all sorts but there's some sections about pasture, interesting reading

[Backinwellies]

Fascinating article ..... But wondering where I graze my animals if I can't put them on wet pasture........  Think I would be housing all year round!
Oh and SIX months...... I doubt there is anyone who manages that!

[Buffy the eggs layer]

That is interesting.


      Also a little contradictory in places and impractical in others. I think the salient point were,


sheep have worms,


Sheep need worms,


sheep need to develop tolerance / resistance to worms without the use of wormer.


Last year the lambs were left to develop their own resistance and only wormed after I spotted tapeworm sections and did a FEC. Perhaps that the best I can do..?


This wet warm weather is going to lead to a population explosion and the fact that the sheep will be grazing autumn grass down to the bone. 

I will speak to them about the essential oils .....[size=78%] [/size]

[devonlady]

I was always told that sheep shouldn't hear the church bells ring more than three times in the same field. Also that diversity of species kept the worm count down. Cattle first, followed by sheep, followed by horses, each eating grass containing the previous species worm larvae but taking no harm from them.

[Womble]

My spring lamb pasture is rested through autumn and winter (ideally)

Are you using the same pasture for turnout each year then?  I'd have thought that could pose a risk in itself, from buildup of nematodirus. It has a 12 month lifecycle, with the emergence of the infective stage synchronised to rising spring temperatures, i.e. just when your new lambs are starting to eat grass.


I'll be honest, this year it's been difficult to rest pasture for three weeks for footrot prevention, let alone 6 months - there have just been too many different small groups of animals who needed to be kept separate for one reason or another.

[Buffy the eggs layer]

yes I use the same area as it is closest to the laming shed. So I have a system of  moving them closer to the shed as they get closer to lambing then turn them out post lambing to a field with a shelter.


Buying horses and cows in just to clean the pasture is a lovely idea but not really practical.

[Marches Farmer]

I switch turnout pasture between two different fields - wish it could be three but the farm layout doesn't permit this.

[clydesdaleclopper]

yes I use the same area as it is closest to the laming shed. So I have a system of  moving them closer to the shed as they get closer to lambing then turn them out post lambing to a field with a shelter.


Buying horses and cows in just to clean the pasture is a lovely idea but not really practical.

But you could use a flock of geese to do the same thing

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Do you think Geese are better than my pigs, turkeys and chickens at cleaning pasture?


 I can vary the post lambing turn out slightly but only have 4 fields to turn out to.




Just a quick reminder guys.....you are supposed to be making me feel better about this not adding to my concerns.......