winter pasture

[HerseyMI]

I just put 50 pounds of wheat seed down on 1/2 an acre for the pigs. They are walking it and munching some of the seed but scuffing it in pretty well too. I'm fencing them out this evening.

I plan to do another 1/2 acre next week. Rye, wheat, alfalfa, trefoil, and clover.

[Pig in a poke]

I'm not familiar with sewing wheat. Is that the typical rate of application? How much did 50 pounds cost you? What if anything did you do to prep the soil?

[HerseyMI]

100 pounds per acre with a graindrill. Wheat and rye both put out a spur that hooks into the soil so they are pretty easy to plant by broadcasting only. I let the pigs work it in figuring they might have eaten a third of what was put down. It cost $9.98 per 50 pound bag of seed.

[HerseyMI]

Just looked this up...

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/custom/900675/2

[gerold]

Originally Posted by Pig in a poke

I'm not familiar with sewing wheat. Is that the typical rate of application? How much did 50 pounds cost you? What if anything did you do to prep the soil?

I to plant about twice the amount so the pigs can have a bit of a fun before i shut them into another pasture.
I plow the ground up and disc it good. Takes care of any weed that may have grown in the summer.
I just broadcast, about the fastest way to get done. Then i drag it with a fresh cut ceder tree that spans about 5-6ft across. It doesn't have to be covered very deep.

I get top of the line pioneer seed. 17.50/per 50 lbs. I have used different pastures in the past 2 years and found that my pigs do best on wheat grass.
Also plant Ky 31 Fescue, and Rape. These are the pastures that do the best and that the pigs gain the best on in my area. Cuts my feed bill down quite a bit.

[Pig in a poke]

17.50 is still cheap! I've been working on my horse pastures, overseeding with orchard grass and timothy seed, spending hundreds! Wonder if horses like wheat grass. Is it perennial?

[gerold]

Originally Posted by Pig in a poke

17.50 is still cheap! I've been working on my horse pastures, overseeding with orchard grass and timothy seed, spending hundreds! Wonder if horses like wheat grass. Is it perennial?

I got a good deal on the Wheat seed at my local seed company. You have to replant Wheat each year.

[HerseyMI]

I've got sprouts already. I also put a few pounds of turnip seed in the lowest areas particularly around any scrub brush I want removed. One area I seeded with local pasturemix, rape seed and wheat. The rape is up first in that paddock.

[gerold]

Originally Posted by HerseyMI

I've got sprouts already. I also put a few pounds of turnip seed in the lowest areas particularly around any scrub brush I want removed. One area I seeded with local pasturemix, rape seed and wheat. The rape is up first in that paddock.

Rape is just about the best feed i have ever seen for pigs. The pigs eat it like candy.

[HerseyMI]

I'm putting rape seed in again this spring. Its getting too late now isn't it?

[gerold]

Originally Posted by HerseyMI

I'm putting rape seed in again this spring. Its getting too late now isn't it?

Yes in your area it is a bit to late to plant it this year. I prefer planting it in the Spring anyway as it does a lot better in the Spring.

[HerseyMI]

Wheat coming up.

[HerseyMI]

Just thought I'd share...

gerold, paul98604 and Appalachia like this.

[HerseyMI]

The herefords are 7 months old... slow growers eh?

[paul98604]

Thanks for the info on this thread. I just moved my pigs to a pasture grazed by cows but it's somewhat compacted and they're doing a great job by lightly rooting up the top couple of inches of soil. I was thinking I had to disc the whole field but after reading this I may just go out and throw oats wheat and barley all over the field. Maybe some ryegrass and clover too!

[HerseyMI]

I only leave them on that small spot for a week then rotate them out. I am putting them back in next week.