To top it or not to top it - that is the question

[Foxy girl]

I have been resting my 2 acre field since June/July, initially with the hope that we might get a late cut of hay off it but it hadn't grown enough by the time the farmer could cut it for me so I've just let it carry on growing - now the grass is about 2 ft high but brown and a bit sad looking.

This is my winter grazing, so my dilemma now is do I pay the farmer £50 to top it for me, or leave it as it is and hope that the horses will graze it down even though it doesn't look particularly appetising?

Any advice gratefully received! Thank you

 

[Dancing Queen]

mine are eating it down, so i have decided not to top.

 

[horseaddict]

I would be inclined to leave it and strip graze it to ensure they eat it evenly. I did this last year as we were growing it for hay and due to the weather it never came on enough for a good cut. If you top it it will probably lie and rot and spoil your grazing.

 

[Dolcé]

Don't top it, leave it and when they go on they will eat it as foggage, many people now do this as standard as it is basically just hay on the stalk. It may not have as much goodness in it but it will provide 'belly fill' through winter. It also helps to prevent poaching.

 

[Archangel]

I would leave it. My horses are eating off a field like this now, they didn't think they could manage to eat the grass at first but they are now I told them there was a recession on and to try harder.

 

[scarymare]

I left mine (same reason) last year and grazed it. Dreadful - ended up looking brown and really unproductive. New grass just didn't grow under the old stuff. I ended up having to top in May this year anyway. Got a cracking hay amount off it in July. I would defo top it - your horses will thank you as will your bank manager. Still at least 6 weeks decent growth left depending on where you are!

 

[idx]

I would leave it. My horses are eating off a field like this now, they didn't think they could manage to eat the grass at first but they are now I told them there was a recession on and to try harder.

This made me laugh!

 

[appylass]

I too would leave it and strip graze.If it is topped you run the riskof the cut grass lying in soggy heaps and killing any new growth. I strip-grazed a field like this last year and it saved me money on hay!

 

[Dancing Queen]

vertical hay as someone on here once said!

 

[meesha]

dont know the right answer but only other option would be to ask farmer if he wants to have it for hay (so costs you nothing he bales and takes away to use) or get him to bale it so it is off the ground (one farmer told me off for throwing away manky hay as he would have used it as bedding)

I have just had mine sprayed and am now trying to find out how long to leave it before I can top it and overseed it ! anyone ?

Good luck

 

[cob&onion]

I have a 1 acre section of field like this - grass is probably around 2 feet, i am saving it for when it gets colder and the other stuff stops growing then will probably strip graze it and when thats all gone then i will start feeding hay - am hoping it will last through till end of October.

 

[Foxy girl]

Thanks all - really useful replies. I will have another good look at it this weekend and may well decide to leave it. My local farmer doesn't think I can graze it like it is but I think if they are hungry enough, they'll try!

thanks again

 

[thatsmygirl]

I leave my winter grazing like this on purpose, I find like somebody has already said it's a fiber source for them and I have found the field don't poach up so much as it has a bed off grass so iv done it this year again.