Graze new grass?

Qprmeath

Laid down a field at the end of May. Great covering of grass now on it. would it be too early to let sheep graze it? Its a good dry level piece of ground which has grown barley for the last good few years.

Username John

Qprmeath wrote: »

Laid down a field at the end of May. Great covering of grass now on it. would it be too early to let sheep graze it? Its a good dry level piece of ground which has grown barley for the last good few years.

If you grab a handful can you pull the root?

I'd always give it about 7 weeks before I'd let in the sheep, and it's 7 weeks since end o may now, so I'd say it should be ok.

Qprmeath

You probably could pull the root. Plenty of weeds in it too. Was thinking of maybe leaving it another 2/3 weeks to be on the safe side.

49801

We just started grazing ground set on the 21st may.
So long as you have sprayed it for weeds by now it should be fine.

As username John said so long as it passes the pull test graze away.

Qprmeath

49801 wrote: »

We just started grazing ground set on the 21st may.
So long as you have sprayed it for weeds by now it should be fine.

As username John said so long as it passes the pull test graze away.

Have been advised not to spray it for weeds as it will affect the clover.

49801

Qprmeath wrote: »

Have been advised not to spray it for weeds as it will affect the clover.

Can you clarify what you mean by above...

1. "Do not post emergent spray as will kill clover"
.... use a clover safe spray like clover, DB legumex, Etc

2. "Clover not established (2 true leaves) enough to spray yet"
.... It's a hard call. I had extremely uneven emergence and was afraid to spray as some of the grass/clover was still too juvenile IMO but the weeds were terrible and the post emergent spray opportunity is the best value for money.
I went for it and it is lovely and clean.

If you feel €15 acre is too expensive for clover safe spray use a none clover safe which is much cheaper.

delaval

Qprmeath wrote: »

Laid down a field at the end of May. Great covering of grass now on it. would it be too early to let sheep graze it? Its a good dry level piece of ground which has grown barley for the last good few years.

Sown 25/5 grazed by cows yesterday no problems. It was sprayed with under sown at 3 leaf stage

Qprmeath

Im a tillage farmer with limited experience of grass. Fella in place where I buy sprays and stuff said no need to spray it as weeds not too bad and could harm the clover and I would be better to put sheep on it now who will clean it up.

delaval

Qprmeath wrote: »

Im a tillage farmer with limited experience of grass. Fella in place where I buy sprays and stuff said no need to spray it as weeds not too bad and could harm the clover and I would be better to put sheep on it now who will clean it up.

That was the old view. Sheep will really thicken it and are ideal for first few grazings but as a dairy farmer the only place I'd have a sheep is on the freezer.

If you want to control docks early spraying will take care of them. Clover will recover next year it's a hoor of a weed to kill!!!!

Qprmeath

Ah grand don't think docks are an issue. Weeds in it are annual weeds which shouldn't cause too much bother once the sheep graze it down a bit. Will be letting the land to a sheep farmer in the next few weeks.

49801

Qprmeath wrote: »

Im a tillage farmer with limited experience of grass. Fella in place where I buy sprays and stuff said no need to spray it as weeds not too bad and could harm the clover and I would be better to put sheep on it now who will clean it up.

Qprmeath wrote: »

Ah grand don't think docks are an issue. Weeds in it are annual weeds which shouldn't cause too much bother once the sheep graze it down a bit. Will be letting the land to a sheep farmer in the next few weeks.

Ah I see.
ground coming out of tillage can be very clean alright!

Qprmeath

Would have been sprayed for weeds every year for last 30/40 years! How much would I expect to get for letting 8 acres of new grass?

milkprofit

graze it very tight as quick as possible 2-3 days then rest
let tiller and keep repeating dont let covers go over900
u will then have a very thick reseed