[Jacob-list] ryegrass

[Grose]

Ryegrass [not rye]...
I strongly suspect that ya'll "down here" have reseeding annual ryegrass and
not perennial ryegrass which is adapted to cool, damp climates [Washington
state, New Zealand, Ireland]. Annual ryegrass is a weed that is common to
small grain fields.

Turnips...
All work fairly well. There are special forage turnip varieties that will
produce more pounds of TDN than just about anything. The variety that I
tried was developed in Louisiana, and produced turnips in the summer, which
is different from the standard varieties. They are not considered tasty for
people, but sheep and cattle seem to like them. They will crowd out other
stuff in a mixed stand of forage, so are considered a temporary pasture
crop. Are generally planted Sept. down here for fall/winter grazing. Forage
turnips produce both top rampant top growth and bulb/roots. The sheep eat
the greens and then dig up the bulbs. I don't know if the sheep wind up
tasting like turnips!ek


Lespedeza...
Is palatable for sheep and cattle and was often a mainstay of forage
programs some years ago. It is relatively productive on poor soils but is
not as productive as alfalfa and clovers on good soils. Forage quality drops
quickly on lespedeza as it matures. The worst hay I have ever seen was some
leafless lespedeza that a fellow was trying to feed to some beef cows and he
asked me why they looked so thin. Was sure that it was the fault of somebody
else. Lose more friends that way.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mary Hansson" <mhansson1 at triad.rr.com>
To: "'Jacoblist'" <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2002 8:16 AM
Subject: RE: [Jacob-list] ryegrass


> Linda,
>
> I saw mention of the turnip on the premier1 site along with other seed
> they sell.  I have thrown out turnip seed here and fed it to the
> sheep.....they have loved it.  You see mention of it in English books
> quite often, but that climate is significantly different than ours!
>
> Interesting that Neal sees the perennial rye grass won't survive in our
> climate.  My neighbor was very adamant that I not seed with the
> perennial rye grass because the roots go down so far and the stuff is
> impossible to get out once it gets just a small start.  She had an area
> where she evidently kept a cow many years ago, and the greenery in there
> is definitely hearty.  Makes me wonder if it truly is rye or a different
> grass.  I have personally lusted after that little plot of ground.....
> :o)
>
> Some of the first hay I got back in the summer of 1994 was lespedeza.
> Sheep ate it with gusto---left the broom straw that was in it, but sure
> ate the other goodie.
>
> Sue-=--you have sure come up with some good topics lately!
>
> Mary Ellen Hansson
> ISeeSpots Farm
> Jacob Sheep:  Those horny, fuzzy critters
> Shop:  Knitting, crochet, spinning supplies
> www.iseespots.com
>
>
>
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