Harrowing v mucking out?

kerrieberry2

kerrieberry2

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I have just been given access to another field, behind mine, which means that I have just shy of 6 acres. so my question is MUCKING OUT?

The only problem is, its a mission away from the muck heap!!

so I'm wondering if with 2 horse and 1 mini, I might be able to get away without having to do a full muck out every day, maybe just clear a barrow a day, then ask the farmer if he'd mind harrowing it for me every so often?

Do you think 6 acres (3 for the summer, 3 for the winter) is big enough to be able to pull off not mucking out??

If so how, often would you suggest the farmer harrows? (he's the type that needs nagging, or is that all farmers???)

He's going to do my current field in april, when the field hopefully dried up and bit, which I've tried to muck out over the winter but with the last few months rain its gone a bit to pot!

Not mucking out will save me soooo much time!! And will give me more time to ride my rising 4yr old, who is currently away being backed.
 
I only ever harrow my fields. With 5 on 4 acres and a busy life I do not have the time.

The 4 acres is divided into 3 fields and I do keep to a good worming program. The fields are rotated throughout the year. Although I do try and Poo pick the smaller of the 3 fields.
 
Do you mean poo picking , lol ? Doesn't harrowing just spread worm eggs (that can live for six months or so in the soil) around ?

Can you get some sheep onto the land to help with a worm burden ? We poo pick and have sheep on to keep our massive field under control. x
 
How often do you harrow? And how have you managed that this winter with it being so wet? Do you worm count or just have a worming plan?

I've always followed a plan but recently scats have put me off worming and recommended worm counts which doing this month.

Agreed that with a busy life mucking out is a pain. It's been ok for almost 2 yrs as none of mine have been rideable but now the younger is I could do with the extra time each day
 
Shysmum said:
Do you mean poo picking , lol ? Doesn't harrowing just spread worm eggs (that can live for six months or so in the soil) around ?

Can you get some sheep onto the land to help with a worm burden ? We poo pick and have sheep on to keep our massive field under control. x
Click to expand...

I do mean poo picking haha.
There is someone who grazes the sheep in other fields do I could ask them out that
 
We have a farmer next door with loads of sheep, and they come into our field quite often. They stop the life cycle of certain worms, and it's brilliant !
 
Information about pasture management for worm control seems to come under the Official Secrets Act! There are lots of opinions but I don't think I have ever seen one single reference to a scientific study! I suspect that too many are making money out of maintaining the myths….

If you take poo samples and get faecal worm egg counts done, you are warned to treat the samples with care or the eggs will hatch and the count will be invalid. But if you harrow, the worms will apparently survive and contaminate a larger area. Now, I am not a statistician, but can they have it both ways?

I have eleven on 16 acres, a tractor, and set of chain harrows. I do harrow quite regularly, then rest the field until I judge it to be "clean" again which is usually after a few weeks and the fragmented poo has washed in. But I do also vacuum pastures occasionally and worm twice a year. I haven't seen a worm in the poo for months. I gather that adult horses also acquire an immunity, and they can't do that if they never pick up a worm!

Scientific references, anyone?

To answer the questions, when to harrow and how often, I think that depends on conditions. It is pointless harrowing when the poo is in hard lumps. I wait until the lumps are crumbly so they are broken up by the harrows. I also have a railway sleeper dragging behind the harrows which does a great job of smashing up the lumps and spreading any mole hills.
 
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I harrow, rather than poo picking. I just pick up the ones near the gate and down the fence line so that the place looks tidy. I have a small chain harrow which I tow behind my car - and do each field as the horses move off it (15 acres, split into 4 fields)
I don't worry too much about spreading eggs around and contaminating the pasture, because my horses are regularly tested and wormed, and are an established herd, with no comings and goings. Spikes recent spa break at Liphook was a useful indicator of how successful my regime is, because he was comprehensively tested to ensure he didn't have a worm burden, and all came back clear.
 
If you harrow in very very hot weather or freezing conditions the worm eggs are killed.
Otherwise, yes, the eggs are spread all over the field.
 
But surely if they have a low count it's not a problem. My boy was tested at his breaking yard and was under 50? I'm on my own. I worm regularly no other horses anywhere near, literally over a mile away. This new field hasn't been grazed on my horses for at least 5 yrs maybe longer
 
We live in a temperate climate, harrowing only kills eggs and worms in dry arid conditions.

Harrowing also spreads the nitrogen in the poo which over-fertilises areas of grass leading to sour tasting long grass, nettles, docks... and reducing the area willingly grazed.

You can get paddock sweepers which are very good, and vacuum cleaners for fields which may be a consideration.

Or pay someone to poo pick the field for you. I'm sure there's a young girl or boy who's looking for pocket money?
 
I try and poo pick but the 4.5 acres they were on over winter which is slopey and was very muddy to the poo pit meant it just wasnt possible. This will get harrowed in once the fields are dry (which at this rate could ne next week!). We did this last year and it worked well - we also have some sheep on there to clean up!

We have a samller paddock in front of the house and im currently poo picking that and longing for a poo hoover!
 
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