Confusion over topping and grazing fields

[MrsMurs]

Hi all, I've been reading up about topping fields and the issues with grazing horses on it etc, and feel even more confused. A friend of mine who is a farmer offered to top my field (which he has been renting temporarily for his cows) as it had long stems of grass, grass laying down on its side, huge thistles, and generally looked a mess (I have been de-ragworting). The cows are also being moved soon I believe. So I agreed, but the field now has patches of cut grass left all over it in the areas which haven't been grazed down. Farmer friend hasn't mentioned about collecting it up, so I was just wondering what I'm now to do as I want to graze the field with horses in about a months time? It's too big a field to rake it up by hand as some information I read suggested. Someone else suggested I tow a chain Harrow being my car to collect it? Any advice would be great.
Thank you

 

[Dry Rot]

I top my fields occasionally and do not hesitate to put the ponies back in when the toppings have wilted. I wouldn't do that if the toppings were rotting down, though. I've been led to believe that rotting grass (so lawn mower clippings) are not a good idea. Maybe because they ferment or because stuff 'going bad' is not a good idea for anyone to eat?

But that's what I do and what I do is not necessarily a recommendation! Clean dry toppings are just hay after all, aren't they?

 

[Deltic Blue]

I had this issue at a previous yard. Fields were topped, including ragwort which we didn't have time to pull as it was very short notice, which then rendered the fields unusable unless we raked up the grass clippings and dried ragwort. As the horses are more likely to eat the ragwort when it's dry!

 

[StarcatcherWilliam]

I've been led to believe that rotting grass (so lawn mower clippings) are not a good idea. Maybe because they ferment or because stuff 'going bad' is not a good idea for anyone to eat?

I think it's because they are cut very fine and can lead to impaction in the gut and are therefore a colic risk.

As for OP's question, in a month's time the grass will be pretty well rotted and your horses would prefer the new grass coming through rather than the rank old stuff lying about. Chain harrowing won't collect it all up, but is a good idea as it spreads it around and helps it rot down and will also break up the cow pats!

 

[Red-1]

I do top and turn out, but our fields are ragwort free (and we do an extra check before topping) plus we top every 1-2 weeks so there is not much to top (we use it to stop buttercups flowering). When we first moved in (before the ragwort was eradicated) we would collect more or less every scrap before turning the horses out.

When we do the first top of the year we don't graze until there are no patches of cut grass. Once it is wilted we may harrow to speed up the drying. If there is a lot of grass then we collect before they go out.

It is easier for us as we only have a couple of acres, and use a very hard working lawn tractor!

 

[FfionWinnie]

Doubt it will be much of an issue in a month. You wouldn't expect the "toppings" to be collected. Recently topped one of my fields and never moved the horse out of it. It didn't occur to me to do so as I cannot see the issue with chopping off the long stems she wasn't eating anyway and them then lying around to turn into hay at which point if she wants to eat them that's all well and good but also somewhat unlikely.

Lawn mower clippings are another thing entirely compared to flail mowers or toppers, I assume your farmer didn't use a lawnmower!

 

[JillA]

It all depends on how much was cut and left - if there is a thick layer it will exclude the light and kill any grass underneath it, which is why rain ruined hay can't be left to rot. If it is just a thin layer it will biodegrade fairly quickly, or horses will make short work of what is decent. It isn't usually chopped fine enough to heat up or cause impaction, unlike grass cuttings.

 

[pippixox]

my horses are still in the field when it is topped! had it done a few weeks ago, and the grass in places was very long. it has dried and just looks like hay in places, which the horses are happily eating. I would rather put them on it straight away, rather than waiting a month, so they eat it, rather than it possibly starting to rot. unless, like JillA said, it is only a thin layer.

 

[ycbm]

I don't top. They eat it during the winter and I feed less haylage than if it had been topped. I remove weeds, the rest stays and gets more varied and less sugary every year.

 

[BSL]

I don't top. They eat it during the winter and I feed less haylage than if it had been topped. I remove weeds, the rest stays and gets more varied and less sugary every year.

That's what we are doing this year. My daughter and I for the first time ever, have loads of grazing. Ten acres for 4 good doers, plus 30 - 40 sheep. I am a complete novice to managing land. I have a very helpful land owner, so I will watch and learn. But for now, I am letting the land show me the way. Hopefully it will be stripped back ready for regrowth in the spring.

 

[ycbm]

That's what we are doing this year. My daughter and I for the first time ever, have loads of grazing. Ten acres for 4 good doers, plus 30 - 40 sheep. I am a complete novice to managing land. I have a very helpful land owner, so I will watch and learn. But for now, I am letting the land show me the way. Hopefully it will be stripped back ready for regrowth in the spring.

I took the sheep off about eight years ago because they cropped it too short and made it too sweet. I have one normal, one good doer and one mini on 11/12 acres and they are currently literally knee deep in a wildflower meadow with no foot problems in sight. They will have cropped it totally flat by March and it will grow thick and varied in grass and flower species next spring. This year I have cowslip for the first time