Sheep: A golden hoof for disease control – Farmers Guardian

Grazing arable crops with sheep can provide a good option for growers to control forward plant populations, while removing diseases and saving fungicide costs, says Ed Brown, head of agroecology at Hutchinsons.

Grazing arable crops before the Christmas period has proved most successful for Mr Brown.

However, Jerry Alford, arable adviser for the Soil Association, believes growers can get further grazing opportunities into the new year, depending on conditions.

Mr Alford says: “The most damaging time to graze is when the crops reach stem extension.

“I would be looking to remove sheep before the crops get too close to growth stage 31, but we have known growers grazing into February. Beyond that, you are pushing it a little bit, but it does depend on where the crop is in terms of growth, rather than putting a solid date on it.”

However, grazing in the correct conditions can provide growers with an opportunity to remove old, diseased leaves to take forward a crop with limited disease carry-over or burden in the bottom of the crop.

“I find you get a much cleaner crop going into spring and I would say the only negatives around grazing arable crops is just getting it wrong in terms of grazing management,” says Mr Brown.

Grazing timings are led by the biomass available to the sheep when the crops are old and tall enough.

“It is generally the early adult crops that can provide enough biomass for decent sheep grazing, then the sheep can graze it down to a point that the grower is happy with,” says Mr Brown.

“Stocking numbers are variable and come down to the crop that you have got in front of you.”