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Sheep day panel
- 1. Sheep Day GBFW15 Pasture Management Panel Participants: Mike Swidersky Gerald te Velde, Twin Creeks Farm Bill McCutcheon, Mulmur Vista Farm Facilitated by Jason Emke
- 2. A Year at Swidersky Farms: Pasture Management Jan9, 2015 Grey Bruce Farmers Week Mike Swidersky
- 3. Introduction My twokids, my wife and I manage 1000 acres of pasture land in Simcoe, Grey and Dufferin Counties We have been on the home farm in Melancthon since 2004 We intensively graze 900 head of backgrounding cattle, pasture a small flock of ewes and feed lambs My first introduction to sheep production was during employment at a neighbours and through 4-H in the early 90’s
- 4. A Year onSwidersky Farms January Winter feeding Our goal is to feed hay for 120 days <1round bale per ewe/year No bedding Breeding
- 5. A Year onSwidersky Farms February our goal is to maintain body condition with average quality hay Utilization is determined by quality of feed and body condition Benefits of pasture feeding includes no competition for feeders space and allows old and young to compete for feed Feed waste=3x increase in pasture production for several years
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- 7. A Year onSwidersky Farms March Lambing of old ewes that are going to be culled and ewe lambs
- 8. A Year onSwidersky Farms April Spring break-up Sheep are confined to a small section of netting on high ground to prevent mud and to stop sheep from loosing body condition while hunting for grass
- 9. A Year onSwidersky Farms May Sheering Ewes out to grass Checking fences Cattle out to grass
- 10. Pasture Fundamentals Pasture Setup Gear Portablereels Netting Props
- 11. A Year onSwidersky Farms June Moving, checking , training stock Lambing-includes tagging, needling and leaving them alone When lambing sheep get a field large enough for at least a week Sheep move themselves to new field and are allowed to return to get their lambs if needed
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- 13. A Year onSwidersky Farms July Increase stock densities Move cattle every 24 to 48 hours Densities of 100 head per acre Sheep are moved every few days I aim for rest periods of +-50 days Cattle clean graze for sheep If grass is on the mature side I only allow the stock to the top portion and tramp the remainder of the plant
- 14. A Year onSwidersky Farms August Lambs are weaned mid August onto the best grass Rams and cull ewes run with lambs as chaperones Ewes do renovation grazing in the roadside ditches
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- 16. A Year onSwidersky Farms September Stocking rate decreased Some cattle are shipped Qurbani lambs, sheep and goats start to arrive
- 17. A Year onSwidersky Farms October Ship the remainder of the cattle Receive and ship Qurbani sheep and lambs Start “snacking” lambs Prepare for winter Ewes start to get better feed
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- 19. A Year onSwidersky Farms November Ewes are getting fat on grass As conditions decrease lambs are brought in to be fed
- 20. A Year onSwidersky Farms December If there is a lot of snow or grass conditions are poor I will supplement ewes with a little grain
- 21. Pasture Fundamentals -Water If they don’t drink they won’t eat Clean Proximity of water to grazing area Water system options
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- 24. Gerald te Velde,Twin Creeks Farm
- 25. Gerald te Velde,Twin Creeks Farm Farm is located in the Municipality of Meaford – 10 minutes east of Owen Sound Gerald was raised on a dairy farm Started in 1998 on current farm and started with milking sheep. Milked sheep for 3 years.
- 26. Gerald te Velde,Twin Creeks Farm Mainly commercial flock of 100 cross bred ewes (dorset/rideau/suffolk). Also shorthorn and black angus cows and calves. As well as pasture raised tamworth and berkshire pigs.
- 27. Gerald te Velde,Twin Creeks Farm Home farm is 111 acres – 95-100 acres pasture & hay, 5-10 acres vegetables, 6 acres buildings/trees/wetland. Approx. 200 rented acres of hay (100 acres, pasture, & barley (50 acres). Approx. 150 acres used for pasture and about 50 of those acres are hayed as well.
- 30. Gerald te Velde,Twin Creeks Farm Past few years grazing cows and sheep separately. Started grazing stocker calves with sheep late summer 2014. Move sheep to new grass every 24-48 hours and 50-60 day rest for pasture. Managed to graze until mid-November when we were buried in 2 feet of snow. Prefer to leave 6”, but at least 4” of growth on pasture. Roots and soil life need to stay covered with adequate plant residual.
- 31. Gerald te Velde,Twin Creeks Farm Looking to graze sheep and cows together this year (2015) and move every 12-24 hours with a minimum 60 rest period. Also will attempt more winter grazing including feeding hay on the snow – need more perimeter fencing. Will be moving toward May lambing.
- 32. Gerald te Velde,Twin Creeks Farm Last 10 years using ElectroNet portable fence netting for electric fencing. Primarily use plug in fencer unit, but also use 12V battery powered fencer when no plug in power is available. Some high tensile perimeter page fence has been installed. Looking to erect more page fence and temporary/permanent high tensile electric fencing as well.
- 39. Gerald te Velde,Twin Creeks Farm For water the home farm pastures are fed by ¾” & ½” poly pipe from drilled well. Water wagons are used for pastures on rented land.
- 41. Gerald te Velde,Twin Creeks Farm Prefer a pasture with diverse grasses and legumes. There also needs to be evidence of worms and life in the soil.
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Editor's Notes
- #4 Mention that the community pasture is 600acres of the 1000 acres that you manage