Overgrown ground.

tellmeabit · 21-09-2021 2:24pm #1

Hey all.

I've been allowed let animals into a field to graze and try help clean up. Only had a few yearlings on it all year. There was silage cut from it once the year before. It has a thick carpet of dead grass. Tried to strip it, but they weren't happy. So have let them loose over it now. See how they go.

Anything i can do to help clear it up?

Was thinking of feeding a few bales rolled out later on of I'm still in there. And let them trample the dead grass in more.

Hard Knocks · 21-09-2021 2:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058209799/overgrown-ground

Generally dry cows are better for this

Base price · 21-09-2021 3:30pm

Keep any eye out for red water. Old pasture like what you describe can be a harbour for ticks.

tellmeabit · 21-09-2021 6:58pm

Oh, there is always something. Ha

Years ago had a field similar to this but a good grazing or 2 really helped. But this is too much. Cows won't stand for it, they have been getting good grass all year. And are now only picking the green and demanding fresh.

hopeso · 21-09-2021 8:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117920969#Comment_117920969

You might be as well to go in and cut it bare with a mower. If the crop isn't overly heavy, it would rot away on the ground over the winter. A mulcher would chop the grass into a dust if you could get someone to do it....

I wonder if sheep or donkeys would be another option...

tellmeabit · 21-09-2021 9:42pm

I think when he cut it last year he said there was still a Matt of dead grass under it. Will see how it goes over the next week. Would sheep clear it, thought they only ate fresh smaller grass

crackcrack30 · 22-09-2021 12:28am

Horses..

tellmeabit · 02-10-2021 12:53pm

I'd say I won't be on there next year. Said he will buy some calves again in spring. So slow to do much other that graze it. They have grazed the most of it now, and started to green up, alot if waste on the floor, will take them out and see if much comes from it, maybe put some few of them back on in few weeks to pick away at it

endainoz · 04-10-2021 1:48pm

You could give a bit of mob grazing a go for a week or so on it. You split the field up into different sections and move the animals to a new patch each day. The idea is that whatever grass they won't eat, they'll trample down with their hooves and create more organic matter for the soil.

Alternatively a good mow/mulch would do the trick. I have a bit of experience with it as I'm still understocked and sometimes have to deal with fields going a bit wild.

RobinBanks · 20-10-2021 10:44am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117920076#Comment_117920076

Is there any product you can use to prevent red water in cows? I have access to rough ground for the winter. There was horses in it last winter but its gone over grown again. I was going to put in a few cows that are not calving until next March.

tanko · 20-10-2021 11:22am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118046774#Comment_118046774

Bayticol pour on, put it on them a week or two before moving them and every month after that. It’s a big help but no treatment is 100 % effective at preventing red water. Some people use Imizol as a preventative but i don’t know if that works, it’s the cure if a cow gets redwater if given in time. It has a seven month withdrawal period also.

RobinBanks · 20-10-2021 1:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118046963#Comment_118046963

Cheers Tanko. I was wondering about withdrawals alright. I have a batch of dry cows that are for the road that i was thinking would be suited better to this land but it would mean i would have to hold onto them for a long time.

tanko · 20-10-2021 1:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118047532#Comment_118047532

The withdrawal for Bayticol is only 5 days for meat and 10 days for milk i think. I’d use Bayticol if i was you, it’s not cheap but gives some peace of mind.

Overgrown ground.

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