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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 45
The fertilizer that more often than not is the most cost effective is some kind of calcium supplement with lime being the most familiar
Fertilizers in high rainfall areas:
Needless to say, soil in areas that experience high rainfall suffer from leaching, or movement of nutrients down through the soil to such depths that plants are unable to benefit from, and calcium will leach quickly. When in doubt ask your vet about the deficiencies in your area.
CONTROLLING OVERGROWTH & REPLENISHING PASTURES
Perhaps you have purchased pasture that is overgrown with brush and excess weeds, or there are large bare spots and signs of soil erosion, if this is the case then your pasture is in need of replenishing.
Dealing with Overgrowth:
You have several options:
You can purchase a breed of sheep known to be an excellent forager, or consider investing in some goats as they do an excellent job; by continuation to strip the growth of the brush, the brush will eventually be killed. If your choice of breed is other than an excellent forager then you may need to do some mechanical clipping or mowing right away. Remember, if you are going to mechanically clip brush or weeds optimize the time of your clipping, this will save a tremendous amount of labor. The best time to clip weeds is just before they begin to flower and certainly before they go to seed and their seed head opens. The best time to clip brush is in the early days of spring, that is, when the sap starts to run.
Dealing with Bare Spots:
Should you have bare spots on your pasture, then make sure before you leave home to fill your pockets with pasture seed and simply toss handfuls of seeds on the bare places. Another approach is to feed bales of hay right on top of the bare spots during winter, the hay gets trampled into the ground and protects the soil surface thereby allowing seeds to germinate and grow.
Frost seeding:
Another way to rejuvenate your pasture or increase the variety of plants is frost seeding. Frost seeding is done early in spring when the nights are cold and frosty, but the days are warm enough to thaw the soil surface. This freeze-thaw action allows the seeds to be planted at a shallow level where they germinate more easily.
To frost seed, scatter the seed thinly over the pasture if it is small – otherwise use a tractor! Initially, the growth of the plant is somewhat slow, but as the leaves reach above the growth point, they sprout with more vigor. Once the plant reaches maturity, its growth slows down again. This is because the energy used for growth now switches to flower and seed production.
Fertilizers in high rainfall areas:
Needless to say, soil in areas that experience high rainfall suffer from leaching, or movement of nutrients down through the soil to such depths that plants are unable to benefit from, and calcium will leach quickly. When in doubt ask your vet about the deficiencies in your area.
CONTROLLING OVERGROWTH & REPLENISHING PASTURES
Perhaps you have purchased pasture that is overgrown with brush and excess weeds, or there are large bare spots and signs of soil erosion, if this is the case then your pasture is in need of replenishing.
Dealing with Overgrowth:
You have several options:
You can purchase a breed of sheep known to be an excellent forager, or consider investing in some goats as they do an excellent job; by continuation to strip the growth of the brush, the brush will eventually be killed. If your choice of breed is other than an excellent forager then you may need to do some mechanical clipping or mowing right away. Remember, if you are going to mechanically clip brush or weeds optimize the time of your clipping, this will save a tremendous amount of labor. The best time to clip weeds is just before they begin to flower and certainly before they go to seed and their seed head opens. The best time to clip brush is in the early days of spring, that is, when the sap starts to run.
Dealing with Bare Spots:
Should you have bare spots on your pasture, then make sure before you leave home to fill your pockets with pasture seed and simply toss handfuls of seeds on the bare places. Another approach is to feed bales of hay right on top of the bare spots during winter, the hay gets trampled into the ground and protects the soil surface thereby allowing seeds to germinate and grow.
Frost seeding:
Another way to rejuvenate your pasture or increase the variety of plants is frost seeding. Frost seeding is done early in spring when the nights are cold and frosty, but the days are warm enough to thaw the soil surface. This freeze-thaw action allows the seeds to be planted at a shallow level where they germinate more easily.
To frost seed, scatter the seed thinly over the pasture if it is small – otherwise use a tractor! Initially, the growth of the plant is somewhat slow, but as the leaves reach above the growth point, they sprout with more vigor. Once the plant reaches maturity, its growth slows down again. This is because the energy used for growth now switches to flower and seed production.