Redstart harvesting

oldsmokey

Hi, we,ve set 5 ac of redstart for the first time, theres conflicting accounts of whether it can successfully be cut and baled, rather than fed in the field..anyone have experience of mowinb and baling it?
Tia

GrasstoMilk

oldsmokey wrote: »

Hi, we,ve set 5 ac of redstart for the first time, theres conflicting accounts of whether it can successfully be cut and baled, rather than fed in the field..anyone have experience of mowinb and baling it?
Tia

Neighbour did some last week. Seemed to have got on okay. Haven't seen the bales in the stack though

Timmaay

Defo don't stack them 3high anyways ha. I'd be leaving them singles.

mahoney_j

There was a Tegasc/ifa/Aib fodder crisis meeting in Nenagh earlier in week and advice was not to bale as dm would be too low(13%) and nitrates high ,bales would be like pancakes and wastage high

148multi

oldsmokey wrote: »

Hi, we,ve set 5 ac of redstart for the first time, theres conflicting accounts of whether it can successfully be cut and baled, rather than fed in the field..anyone have experience of mowinb and baling it?
Tia

Neighbour baled last year, spread straw before baling to soak effluent. They were still like pan cakes, can't imagine what it would be like on its own. But he was happy, fed it to cattle for fatting. Said he got a great killout.

oldsmokey

148multi wrote: »

Neighbour baled last year, spread straw before baling to soak effluent. They were still like pan cakes, can't imagine what it would be like on its own. But he was happy, fed it to cattle for fatting. Said he got a great killout.

Thanks all, i reckon im inclined to go with grazing it...

Jimbo789

What would be the going rate for leasing Redstart crop for either grazing or zero grazing? Crop would have around 4.5 tDM/HA

Bass Reeves

Jimbo789 wrote: »

What would be the going rate for leasing Redstart crop for either grazing or zero grazing? Crop would have around 4.5 tDM/HA

Hard to give an exact value. With rations at 300/ ton of DM and silage at 150/ton of DM approx would it be in at around silage prices or a bit better. It is 18%P approx.

150-180/ton of DM or 7-800/HA

Jimbo789

Bass Reeves wrote: »

Hard to give an exact value. With rations at 300/ ton of DM and silage at 150/ton of DM approx would it be in at around silage prices or a bit better. It is 18%P approx.

150-180/ton of DM or 7-800/HA

Would I be correct to expect no regrowth from zero grazing because the stem would be cut too short?

148multi

Jimbo789 wrote: »

Would I be correct to expect no regrowth from zero grazing because the stem would be cut too short?

Me thinks it's too late for regrowth, neighbour cut in September and got regrowth similar to grazing.

Bass Reeves

Jimbo789 wrote: »

Would I be correct to expect no regrowth from zero grazing because the stem would be cut too short?

Any regrowths will be short and it will be February before being available to graze. Yellow flower will be an issue then as well but you might get a weeks grazing for an animal/acre for 4-7 days next February at a guess.

alps

Does Redstart go backwards or shrivel to some extent as the winter goes on? Ours really looks as if it is. Difficult to know if seed rate, fert rate or field conditions play a part but in the past week the new break is lower in height and less dense as before and the stalks no longer reach straight up. There isn't much discoloration but the leaves look wrinkley..We havnt had any frost, so I wonder how hardy is this crop?

newholland mad

alps wrote: »

Does Redstart go backwards or shrivel to some extent as the winter goes on? Ours really looks as if it is. Difficult to know if seed rate, fert rate or field conditions play a part but in the past week the new break is lower in height and less dense as before and the stalks no longer reach straight up. There isn't much discoloration but the leaves look wrinkley..We havnt had any frost, so I wonder how hardy is this crop?

Have ordinary fodder rape and leafy turnip here and exactly what you describe has been happening for the last 6 weeks just melted away. To me it looks to have ran out of steam.

Dakota Dan

newholland mad wrote: »

Have ordinary fodder rape and leafy turnip here and exactly what you describe has been happening for the last 6 weeks just melted away. To me it looks to have ran out of steam.

It will start growing again in early feb if mild.