| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| jenn |
meadow fieldprob a contradition in terms but this is our field which is turning into a beautiful wild flower meadow, we have hopefully eradicated all the ragwort by the simple expedient of digin it up with a ragwort fork. have only found one piece just now, prob is we were intending to graze sheep on this, been told by our local farm shop who we were planning to get lambs from its too high for sheep the grass) and also for any cattle which we were thinking of. its too small for anyone to want to cut for hay apparently, even though we could do with the hay ourselves, the suggestion is thatwe have it topped and start all over again. any thoughts please (I even thought of goats)jenn |
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| TheGrange |
How about a scythe and a long walk, you could cut it yourselves, then you’d have to ted it and turn it and fetch it in and store it 
Horses can go on long grass, and do fine. The problem with putting livestock of any kind in long grass would be that most of it would be trampled and wasted then uneven grazing would occur and you’d end up with more problems. Topping is a quick and simple solution, if you can drive the machinery yourself someone might lend you it but most farmers are a bit picky as to who they let borrow equipment. Failing that a local farmer would be able to top it for you its not very expensive, its basically reducing the height a quick whizz round with the cutter/mower and jobs done. Then you can put what you like on. Not sure on the olde goat front, but i'd assume they are a bit like sheep and prefer shorter grazing? |
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| jenn |
thanks for reply, the g. we cant put the ponies out on it for more than 20 mins, we have had to make a starvation paddock in the back of the garden, thats how its got so high, due to tessie and her laminitus and the shetland having to take care with them both. its finding a local bod who will do such a small field. last time of asking they wanted £200 which seemed an awful lot for a 2.1/2 acre field. Im either very mean or living in a distant past.
jenn |
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| TheGrange |
Goodness that is a lot, do you have any local equines that you could offer free grazing too.. or grazing in general and charge £10 per week per horse is the goign rate here .. i understand the pony point.
How about a local riding school, they sometimes have a few who they put out to rest, or broodmares etc. ? maybe a card in the stables local to you could encourage some happy munchers? 2.5 acres is enough to get someone interested in cutting it i am sure, ask around equine places they are more interested that farmers usually. Also certain equine groups have hay share schemes where they organise/hire/provide hay cutting for smaller fields and share the overall cost. I'd happily supply you with a few munchers if you weren't so far away 
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| jenn |
thaks TG I think everyone is in the same boat here too much grass and in a few weeks if this scorching weather continues they will all be screaming cause the grass is too dry. The price has now shot up to 250 - 300 Ive just had somebody down and they dont pick it up so that means we would have to rake the field Oh well
jenn |
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| SheepShed |
Am I understanding you correctly Jenn - someone wants to charge £300 to top a 2.5 acre field 
With a big rotary topper that's about an hours work ! (You wouldn't need to rake it afterwards, the topper should leave it finely enough shredded that it will just be a mulch) |
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| jenn |
yes sheepshed thats what they want, I have enquired around and been told that is about right, It seems crazy to me but this is the south east
jenn |
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| SheepShed |
For that price I'd expect the tractor to be driven by a premier league footballer 
It might be worth trying your nearest machinery ring. There doesn't seem to be one in the Oxford area but you could try the nearest at http://tkmr.co.uk/component/option,com_contact/Itemid,3/ just in case they have any members round your way. |
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| gil |
I was going to suggest a machinery ring too. Or is there a smallholders association in your area, where someone might be able to top the field for you ? If you are only topping and not actually mowing, I'd also suggest a scythe as a last resort, even for 2.5 acres, as it shouldn't be too difficult [as opposed to mowing right down to where the grass meets the soil, and trying to get an even finish] |
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| Cathryn |
There is a British Association of Contractors who might be able to help. Big fields can be as little as £5 per acre to do but a small one will cost you but not that much.
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| Rob R |
Strip graze. Save the contractor fees and spend it on some electric fencing. | ||
| Cathryn |
I find that the longer grass isn't a problem with my laminitic horse. I keep a close eye on her and take her off if she shows any signs or if she gets too fat. |
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| resistance is fertile |
We pay 1/4 a pig for 12 acres to be topped
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| ninat |
our lambs coped very well with the long grass- they just ate it from the top down.
we did section it off a bit with electric fence to start with but found that they created their own areas of grazing within the field which they would keep going back to. We have quite a lot of that long tussocky grass which seems tough to me but they seem to really enjoy it (but then they-ve had a good go at the hedge too!) |
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| jenn |
thanks all, no there isnt a smallholder assoc here and I think the machinery ring isnt here either although I will ask around, this is not smallholder/share country. WE are partitioning the field but as it isnt cut we have been told by both the vet and the farrier that they cant stay in the field, we have made a small starvation paddock for them, they go in the field for about half an hour or so in the morning and the rest of the day is hay in the paddock. we would have thought that lambs would have been ok on it but we have been told no. by the person we were going to get them from anyway thanks all for your advice and comments
jenn |
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| dpack |
yep ,it works |
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| jenn |
thats what we planned to do Rob R but as the ponies are only allowed out at the max l hour a day the grass has simply grown and we have to have it topped before they can go out on it. We nearly lost our 19 year old last year with sudden laminitus at the age of 18 and we just have to be careful
jenn |
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| Rob R |
Sorry, I meant for the sheep, or cattle, if you can get some, they tend to paddle it & only eat the short re-growth but if you can keep a good number of them tight & moving then they'll be just as efficient (and cheaper) as a topper. | ||
| jenn |
thats also what we wanted but we have been told that its too high for both sheep and cattle and the prob still is getting it topped, when we have done that we can put all on it, but at 250 - 300 thats far too much for a small 2.1/2 acre field, but un fortunatewly we are living in the south east and that is apparently the going rate, we have tried to hire a flail mower or similar to do it ourselves but by the time you have hired it and had it transported and paid the deposit which in my experience you never get the whole lot back, its cost you nearly as much. I dont know if I am just mean or living in the past with prices.
jenn |
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| Rob R |
You've been told wrong then, or you've been getting advice from set-stocked grazers, rather than strip grazers. High intensity/low frequency grazing will top anything, in my experience, it's just a case of not giving the animal the choice to browse the best bits and leave the less desirable bits. We also have a topper but avoid using it for grazeable-sized areas because of the cost (financial & environmental) of the fuel. |