Fertiliser advice

mitsubishi1

Hi,
Just looking for a bit of advice. I have a field of about 6 acres with 2 horses on it for grazing. I have it fenced off into two equal parts. The grass growth isn't great on it and I'm thinking that a bit of fertiliser would do it no harm. Would anybody be able to offer some advice as to what type of fertiliser I should spread and also at what application rate I should get it spread. Finally, roughly what cost would I be looking at to get it spread if I was to supply the fertiliser.

Sorry for all the questions.

Any help appreciated.

_Brian

Without tests etc the best advice is to spread something balanced..
18-6-12 or 10-10-20 is what I'd be thinking of..

I'd say 2 bags to the acre and then the same later in the year when it slows.

mitsubishi1

Thanks off that. As regards the tests you talk about, would there be any point in me testing the soil or is there not much point as it is only grazing for horses. Also any idea of fertiliser costs or contractor costs to spread it. Thanks again.

epfff

mitsubishi1 wrote: »

Thanks off that. As regards the tests you talk about, would there be any point in me testing the soil or is there not much point as it is only grazing for horses. Also any idea of fertiliser costs or contractor costs to spread it. Thanks again.

15 per tonne here
But for a job that size he would be longer traveling than doing it
So you could be struggling to get someone other than a favour

jimmy G M

Ask a local farmer who has a spreader to spread it for you. 6 acres, less than an hours work, €30 - €40 should cover it. Something balanced like what Brian suggests.

Dont know much about horses, but too isnt too much rich grass and over feeding them bad for them?

_Brian

Expect to pay about €425/tonne collected for those fertilisers.

mitsubishi1

So if i was doing 2 bags per acre i would want about 600 kg of fertiliser

_Brian

I was thinking about that after.
I've no idea on the grass consumed by horses.
2 bags to the acre "should" give you a decent covering for grazing.

Yep. That would be 600kg.

jimmy G M

Jez, six acres for just 2 horses sounds a leery good run of ground to me. If you put out 2 bags to the acre on that you'll have grass growing out over the walls. I'd say go with 1 bag to acre for now (300 kg) and see how you get on. You can always spread more later.
What sort of land is it? What size of horses are they? Where do you keep them for the winter?

Muckit

Lads these are horses.
There are two of them.
There are 6 acres.

The ground must be very bad op if it can't support 2 horses on that ground. Too much lush grass can lead to laminitis l think. We had a few ponies years ago but not horsey people by any account.

I think what you need to do is divide up that field further so you have 4 sections. Then you can rotate around.

Were the horses out on the ground all winter or how come you've no grass in May?

Muckit

jimmy G M wrote: »

Jez, six acres for just 2 horses sounds a leery good run of ground to me. If you put out 2 bags to the acre on that you'll have grass growing out over the walls. I'd say go with 1 bag to acre for now (300 kg) and see how you get on. You can always spread more later.
What sort of land is it? What size of horses are they? Where do you keep them for the winter?

A man talking sense.

_Brian

Muckit wrote: »

Lads these are horses.
There are two of them.
There are 6 acres.

The ground must be very bad op if it can't support 2 horses on that ground. Too much lush grass can lead to laminitis l think. We had a few ponies years ago but not horsey people by any account.

I think what you need to do is divide up that field further so you have 4 sections. Then you can rotate around.

Were the horses out on the ground all winter or how come you've no grass in May?

I know nothin about horses !
So they can't have proper lush grass ??
There was me thinking all te nags on poor grass were just being neglected.

jimmy G M

_Brian wrote: »

I know nothin about horses !
So they can't have proper lush grass ??
There was me thinking all te nags on poor grass were just being neglected.

Right lads I have the solution for all us suckler farmers not making money - switch to horses.

jimmy G M

Muckit wrote: »

A man talking sense.

You might mention that to the wife:)

Muckit

_Brian wrote: »

I know nothin about horses !
So they can't have proper lush grass ??
There was me thinking all te nags on poor grass were just being neglected.

No a horse can't be thrown into a field of lush grass. It effects their hooves. Laminitis is the name for it. Horses drink very little water also. I remember as it was my job to draw the water. ..in a bucket. I wouldn't know any of this stuff either only for the oul lad liked horses and kept mare and foal.

Isn't there something about removing their dung aswell from fields to cut down on parasite burden? My neighbour does this but we never did it.

Kovu will no doubt be able to confirm or rule out everything l have said!