Grazing

The fall ewe flock with rams and Anneika are working on the last of the ryegrass in the front field.   It's May 14, middle of May,  ryegrass has gone to seed and is mostly stems and seeds.   Bahiagrass is starting to grow underneath the ryegrass, but not strongly yet.  What does grow will be cropped by the sheep as they finish the ryegrass.  1

I just moved the spring ewe flock, with Kratos, to the south field.  This is mostly ryegrass stubble and spring weeds.  They will work here as long as possible, then move on to the lone pine field.  The south field is set up as an annual crop field with no bahiagrass sod.  In the fall ryegrass is planted, in the spring forage soybeans are planted.  The beans should be planted, but we are in the spring drought, prior to summer thunderstorms.  It's too dry to plant.  So, we have this break in available forage.   The ryegrass is pretty much gone, it's before any late spring planting could be ready, and while the bahiagrass pastures are starting to grow, they are not up enough to provide forage, especially since the bahiagrass pastures were used as wintering grounds for the sheep. 

The ryegrass did not fill in particularly well this year.  Germination seemed good; growth not so good.  Soil test indicated pH was okay.  Phosphorus (P) levels are a little low as are potassium (K) levels.  While I added some K to the fertilizer that was applied, I did not add any P.  I also tend to believe not that I did not fertilize with near enough nitrogen.

In comparison, with similar amounts of fertilizer applied, ryegrass in some parts of the southeast blueberry field look like this, after being grazed pretty much to the ground just about a week and a half ago.

Other parts of the southeast blueberry field look like this, not near as strong a regrowth, and overall not a very extensive filling in of the plants between the planted rows.

In contrast, in holding pen 2, where there has been little grazing and no fertilizer application, there is strong ryegrass growth.  At this time of year, there a some leaves, lots of stems and developing seeds.

The ewe with lamb seem to think this is just fine, except when she sees me feeding the lambs across the alleyway.  Then she stands at the fence and baas.