Winter pasture advise

[carolinagirl]

I live in South Carolina and need some winter pasture advise. The pastures will not be productive for much longer and I wish to plant some annual pasture in with the Coastal Bermuda that is already there. Alfalfa won't grow here. Should I plant wheat? Rye? turnips? Or what? Thanks so much for the help. I am new to sheep.

 

[ksalvagno]

I would contact your local county extension office. They should be able to tell you what will grow well.

 

[elevan]

I would contact your local county extension office. They should be able to tell you what will grow well.

I agree. Ksalvagno and I both attended a seminar put on by our county extension and were both given great advice on pasturing and what to plant based not only on our climate but how each of our herds are ran and how many acres vs how many head. Both of us got different feed back and we only live a couple of counties away from each other.

 

[RustyDHart]

I think I would plant a mixture of some of the plants you have listed.....My sheep like a salad bar of various goodies....mixed grasses.....different clovers.....trefoil and alfalfa....these all do great here in the North.... I do think a mix would be best....

 

[aggieterpkatie]

All those you've mentioned would be good choices. SC is warmer than it is here, so I can't give specifics. If I were going to plant, I'd do wheat or rye probably. You'll be able to get a decent fall grazing (once it's established) plus early grazing in the spring.

 

[carolinagirl]

After a long dry summer, Tropical Storm Lee is getting ready to give us some rain. It's a holiday so the county offices are closed. I think I'll plant rye today in the one pasture and check with the county guy on tuesday for advise on the rest of the pastures. at least I can take advantage of the rain and get the rye going. I may overseed it with wheat on tuesday when the regular feed store is open. Tractor Supply is open but they don't sell wheat seed.

 

[Beekissed]

I've heard that it's best to only reseed what grows well already as trying something that doesn't do well in your area is like throwing money and time at your fields and hoping it sticks. A lot of folks pull their livestock off the pasture in the winter and keep them in a sacrifice area on hay so that the grass isn't damaged during that vulnerable dormant time.

 

[rittert3]

I'd try rye with turnips. I used to know a guy that had good results and got a bonus after he was done grazing it with a "dig your own turnips" arangment with a hispanic produce stand.