Forage Mixtures

• High percentage of forage rape ensures rapid establishment

• Stubble turnip will provide a good energy source

• Potentially ready to graze within 12 weeks

• Not as winter hardy as other options and best utilised pre-Christmas

• Inclusion of main crop turnip provides a winter hardy aspect to the mixture

• Offers the potential to be grazed later in the season when the rape might have been adversely affected by frost

• Main crop turnips will provide a greater yield than stubble turnips

• Should be sown in June/early July to provide the main crop turnips the opportunity to bulk

• Ideal for sowing later in the season or after winter cereals

• Extremely fast to establish

• Higher inclusion of stubble turnips provides better winter hardiness to graze post-Christmas

• A mixture of stubble turnips with the winter hardy green globe Rondo and purple tankard Samson

• Careful combination of full season forage crops to provide a large yield potential and excellent winter hardiness

• Should be sown from May until early June to ensure potential dry matter yield is achieved

• Provides an ideal feed for fattening lambs

*Mixture last updated February 2024*

• Combination of kale and swedes provides an extremely winter hardy option

• Kale provides a high protein source where swedes provide excellent energy

• High cold tolerance and frost resistant

• Inclusion of the shorter stemmed highly palatable Maris Kestrel makes it an excellent option for finishing lambs

*Mixture last updated February 2024*

• Maris Kestel with its shorter growth habit and high leaf to stem ratio combines well with the taller more marrow stemmed Caledonian

• Variation in rooting depth and growth height helps with the nutrient uptake and utilisation of the crop.

• The inclusion of swedes provides an excellent energy source and helps to further spread the risk of relying on a monoculture

• A rape/kale hybrid, rape and main crop turnip mix. Similar to Kale 1 but can be sown later

• Can be sown in July

• Utilisation pre and post Christmas

• Should be sown in July

• Strong vigour leads to fast establishment and fewer problems in the crop

• Inclusion of hybrids instead of rape gives greater winter hardiness

• Highly palatable

• Large dry matter yield for outwintering sheep and cattle

• Fast and vigorous growth

• Winter hardiness

• Potential for good late season growth

• Inclusion of highly digestible stubble turnip Samson

• Produces a large root system that will improve soil structure and mine trace elements

• Chicory has anthelmintic properties making it an excellent option to reduce worm burden

• To protect the crown on the chicory it should be rotationally grazed leaving around a month’s gaps between grazing’s

• If properly managed the mixture should last at least 3 years

• Excellent option for finishing lambs

• A nitrogen source is provided by red clover

• Deep rooting improves soil structure and trace element uptake

• Chicory helps reduce worm burden; rotational grazing protects crowns

• White clover provides nitrogen for the mix

• Well managed, lasts 3+ years and suits finishing lambs

• Deep roots improve soil structure and trace element uptake

• Chicory reduces worm burden with natural anthelmintic properties

• To protect the crown on the chicory it should be rotationally grazed leaving around a month’s gaps between grazing’s

• Red and white clover supply nitrogen to the mix

• Long-lasting (3+ years if well managed) and ideal for finishing lambs