> ....Second, I'm searching for
> scientific information (papers)
> about lambs grazing soybean pasture.
> Here in Uruguay (South America) we
> have many farmers fattening lambs in
> different types of pasture like
> white clover, ryegrass, etc. But we
> need a good pasture for rearing
> lambs, mainly in summer....
Hi,
I have no knowledge of any scientific papers regarding
grazing soybean pasture.
But I do have some of the "common" knowledge of the farmers
in this area that used soybean pasture long ago.
In the culture in which I grew up, this sort of knowledge
was transferred as a matter of course. I grant that this
sort of stuff is pretty useless knowledge but I have lots
of it (grin).
When I was young there were plenty of people alive who had
actually done it. Here is what I can remember having heard
long ago:
*Soybeans aren't desireable as pasture because they stop
growing as soon as the tops are eaten off. The idea that a
light grazing, leaving some leaves would result in regrowth
is incorrect. Once you are in the field, it's best to
graze it completely.
*To get maximum yield, soybeans shouldn't be grazed until
they are full grown. (because there won't be much regrowth)
*It was thought, at the time of which I speak, 1900-1950,
that sheep wasted less soybeans from trampling if the beans
were seeded densely and in rows like corn.
*It was commonly thought that soybeans planted with corn
made much better pasture than straight soybeans.
*Soybeans were better hog pasture than sheep pasture. About
the only way sheep got into soybeans was if the farmer
planted the beans for his hogs and happened to need grazing
for sheep.
Everything considered, I would look for something else
rather than soybeans. When lambs were fattened on pasture
here in the far distant past, the best success was from
ladino or rape.
--
Kindest regards,
=======================
F. W. Owen
Owenlea Holsteins
9430 Spencer Road
Homerville, Ohio 44235
e-mail fwo@bright.net
home page http://www.bright.net/~fwo
voice & fax 330.625.2369
=======================
