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Sheep grazing rotation

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Comments

  • #32
    Green farmer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,004 ✭✭✭Green farmer


    I had 3 x 6 acre paddocks closed off for silage, but got enough to keep me going over the winter out of 2 of the paddocks, so instead of making surplus silage, I put the lambs back into it at weekend in the uncut paddock. Not textbook stuff, but was very leafy so hopefully the lambs will thrive ahead on it. They haven't come up for air since going in. Might have added bonus that the land isn't being drained of the p&k's that the silage would have taken off it. A few weeks ago would have been the time to buy stores alright, especially when their making near same money as slaughter fit ones at the moment.


    On a different note, anyone got plans in place to try and extend winter grazing ? Resting or fertilising paddocks for autumn grazing ?


  • #33
    sea12
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,244 ✭✭✭sea12


    Grass very tight here at minute as allot of meadows to cut. Although just keeping ahead of them and grass is good and leafy for lambs and ewes are following to tidy up.


  • #34
    Username John
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,237 ✭✭✭Username John


    I think having as many paddocks as you can is prob good, but what is the optimum size?
    Let's say 50 ewes - what would lads say is the right paddock size?

    Most of mine are 2 acres or so, and with 35ewes+lambs ewes this year, I found they were in the field too long (over a week) I'd like to move them every few days if I could...

    Will hope to go to 50ewes this coming lambing (I know numbers are v small, and some lads might wonder why bother, but anyways)
    So wondering if 2acre is a good size or not?

    What ye think?


  • #35
    rangler1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,497 ✭✭✭rangler1


    Username John wrote: »
    I think having as many paddocks as you can is prob good, but what is the optimum size?
    Let's say 50 ewes - what would lads say is the right paddock size?

    Most of mine are 2 acres or so, and with 35ewes+lambs ewes this year, I found they were in the field too long (over a week) I'd like to move them every few days if I could...

    Will hope to go to 50ewes this coming lambing (I know numbers are v small, and some lads might wonder why bother, but anyways)
    So wondering if 2acre is a good size or not?

    What ye think?

    The journal recommended 5 acre for every 100 ewes. so your 2 acres for 50 should be about right.
    My problem is not taking out paddocks for silage when there's too much grass and those paddocks really slowing up the rotation and then every paddock goes out of control. At peak of growth, 16 or 17 days is long enough before you get back to a paddock


  • #36
    Green farmer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,004 ✭✭✭Green farmer


    rangler1 wrote: »
    The journal recommended 5 acre for every 100 ewes. so your 2 acres for 50 should be about right.
    My problem is not taking out paddocks for silage when there's too much grass and those paddocks really slowing up the rotation and then every paddock goes out of control. At peak of growth, 16 or 17 days is long enough before you get back to a paddock

    I reckon not taking silage can only be a good thing. A quick run around with the topper should see them right. I've two adjacent fields recently split into paddocks here. One gets used for hay / silage every year in addition to grazing, the other is grazing only. Got them both tested recently. Both are low in p&ks but the silage field is run out of lime whereas the grazing only field is ph perfect.

    UJ, moving them every few days might get a pain after a while, with work commitments etc. I try and move mine every 10 days, depending on how grass is


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  • #37
    orm0nd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,318 ✭✭✭orm0nd


    Green farmer wrote: »
    I reckon not taking silage can only be a good thing. A quick run around with the topper should see them right. I've two adjacent fields recently split into paddocks here. One gets used for hay / silage every year in addition to grazing, the other is grazing only. Got them both tested recently. Both are low in p&ks but the silage field is run out of lime whereas the grazing only field is ph perfect.

    UJ, moving them every few days might get a pain after a while, with work commitments etc. I try and move mine every 10 days, depending on how grass is

    topping won't improve grass quality anything as good as taking a light cut of silage, have found that from the dairy side of the business here

    in an ideal world paddocks should be grazed for 48 hours & then closed
    re growth would be a lot faster 'cos after 2 days you are actually eating regrowth

    however for most of us ideal & reality are 2 different kettles of fish

    saw the 4 strand electric fence at athenry & again at Brian's last tuesday
    might look in that for sub dividing some larger plots next year...but my sheep grazing terrain is a lot different from athenry & kilkenny :rolleyes:


  • #38
    Green farmer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,004 ✭✭✭Green farmer


    orm0nd wrote: »
    topping won't improve grass quality anything as good as taking a light cut of silage, s:


    In fairness, there's always a lovely clean regrowth after the contractors have mowed the field. In an ideal world I'd love to mow instead of top, but at the cost of a mower, I'll have to make do with my humble little 15 year old topper for the forseeable future:pac:


  • #39
    Username John
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,237 ✭✭✭Username John


    rangler1 wrote: »
    The journal recommended 5 acre for every 100 ewes. so your 2 acres for 50 should be about right.
    My problem is not taking out paddocks for silage when there's too much grass and those paddocks really slowing up the rotation and then every paddock goes out of control. At peak of growth, 16 or 17 days is long enough before you get back to a paddock

    Thanks rangler. We'll stick with the 2 acres so :)

    As for silage / mowing / topping - not really an option for me...

    Might try to increase stocking rate, not sure how it'd work out in autumn, think I'd be ok in the Springtime. We'll see how we do this autumn I guess... ;)


  • #40
    Green farmer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,004 ✭✭✭Green farmer


    You going to introduce some of your llyen x ewe lambs into the flock john ?


  • #41
    Username John
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,237 ✭✭✭Username John


    Green farmer wrote: »
    You going to introduce some of your llyen x ewe lambs into the flock john ?

    That's the plan yeah Green... If they make the grade, they're lighter than I'd like at the minute. But there is still some time between here and next October.

    Wouldn't mind getting another few ewe lambs if I could, as I woulsnt have enough of me own to keep I think... Will see...


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