[Susannah]

Our neighbours sheep keep coming through the fence onto our land and I was wondering if we could still make haylage from the grass. It's only a few lambs and their mums in a very large field but I am worried about their poo if it gets baled and wrapped or does the grass get cut higher than the poos? Thank in advance for any advice.

[landroverroy]

I would not make haylage where there is any potential contamination of the grass, eg by droppings or soil (from molehills). As it is a fermentation product it is not good to have potentially harmful bacteria introduced, particularly at the initial stage where the contaminants are likely to be distributed throughout the crop. 

[Susannah]

Thank you. That confirms my worry.

[stufe35]

You need to address the fencing issue.

In England this would be 100% your neighbours problem and they would be liable for your loss of crop too.

In Scotland I'm not so sure..fencing laws are different...I'm sure someone on here will know as there are many Scottish contributors.

[Buttermilk]

I would not have thought a few lambs would condemn a field, it is not like they are dropping large piles of horse poo.  If they are doing pebbles then there is no problem at all and I doubt that doing lumps would be a worry either.  Go ahead and make your haylage.

[Susannah]

It's the same farmer who's sheep are on the land that was going to make the haylage for us! I have told him my concerns and he has said he will sort the fencing....finally. We have been asking for a couple of months.
Thanks again for advice.

[harmony]

Is the field fence really bad or could you block up the holes as a temporary measure to give time for the poo to wash in before you cut? We have had very heavy down pours this week.

[shep53]

Since it is  a boundry fence  I would have suggested   ( depending on what it needed ) that  if I supplied the labour to repair then he could supply posts etc in part or whole or share all labour and costs ,  if only a small repair then I would have fixed it and told him ,so that next time he might do it .    While not perfect I would still be making haylage