Too late to slash a paddock prior to resting for hay?

5 posts

Member for

11 years 2 months
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 01/29/2013 - 15:40

Too late to slash a paddock prior to resting for hay?

I've one 3.5 acre paddock on our property in West Gippsland which we've recently locked up with the intention to cut it for hay. Prior to this it had horses grazing on it. The paddock has been neglected a little, it has a bit of capeweed which has just started to flower, last year we had bit of dock but we've managed to get on top of that. It also has areas where the grass is thicker and coarser - which the horses didnt like, the areas they grazed most are still quite low and thin and doesnt appear to be taking off as well as the 'less palatable' areas.

I am not sure what grass species we have in this paddock, most of the property is a perennial rye grass but this paddock appears to have some other grass species as well. (Is there an online reference where I can ID grass species?)

Unfortunately we havent had the option to cross graze with sheep or cows. I am wondering if it is too late now to slash this paddock to knock back the coarse longer areas and the capeweed and try encourage more even growth for haying or will it be best to leave it as is and just cut for hay later with whatever we end up with?

Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/22/2012 - 11:13

Considering the expense and effort needed to produce hay I would not use a paddock  in the condition you describe. You want really good pasture to make paddock/meadow hay or a good stand of oats or lucerne , etc.

I would concentrate on fixing this paddock and getting it back into production (see my rant in the Fireweed thread). Once its back in production then it may be suitable but still small, for hay production.

Cheers
Rob.

Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 01/29/2013 - 15:40

Thanks Rob. I understrand what your saying and partly agree. I do plan to get this paddock back into condition over the next 12months. Normally I wouldnt bother with this small a paddock in this state, but I have another 7 acre paddock which I've worked up, limed and planted out with an annual rye mix and am planning to put lucerne into it in autumn. I own small square baling equipment myself so dont need to pay contractors to cut and bale. I will be cutting the rye paddock for hay in december so doing the extra 3.5acres of pasture isnt really a problem. The horses are currently having a spell on another property so they're out of the picture for now.

I've had a chat to my seed guy and have decided to just spread a little fertiliser on it whilst I'm doing the rye paddock and cut whatever's there when its time.

Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/22/2012 - 11:13

Just take care you don't end up spreading weed seed in the hay then Laughing

Last seen: 12/26/2018 - 09:21
Joined: 05/31/2011 - 09:44

Hi Farmer J,

Something that you may want to consider in the future is to run a set of harrows over the areas in the paddock which have been left tall and rank. These areas are often where the horses regularly drop manure, by running the harrows over them will help to spread the manure out and speed up its breakdown reducing the patchy grazing.

Charlie

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