Overseeding One Year Leys Sainfoin Lucerne Red Clover Leys White Clover Leys Long Term Leys Herbal Leys Root Crops Green Manures OELS Game Cover Parkland Horse & Pony Conventional: Wild Flowers Lawn Order Online
or Call 0800 252211 |
|
|
Organic Herbal LeysDiverse, nutritious and mineral rich grass and herbal seed mixtures |
From a farmers perspective we can do no better than to quote from Newman Turner one of the great advocates of herbal leys. He said the herbal ley is my fertiliser merchant, my food manufacturer and my vet all in one. This description sums up the advantages of the Herbal Ley. Due to a wide range of species included these herbal leys are very different to the rest.
A herbal ley contains a diverse range of grasses, herbs and clovers. It produces a well balanced forage and not just large volumes of grass. Many of the species used are deep rooting and have the ability to unlock resources deeper in the soil profile. The herbs mixture does not demand high fertiliser inputs and should provide increased levels of minerals and vitamins to livestock. Also, if herbal leys are grown for about four years they will substantially improve soil fertility and structure with as they are deep rooting. Why use a Herbal Ley? Herbal leys are an excellent source of forage providing very good animal performance in terms of liveweight gain and milk production as well as providing a nutritionally balanced natural feed. Of equal importance is the ability of the herbal ley to simultaneously build and restore soil fertility. Herbal v. Conventional Leys Leys have long been regarded as the most economical and natural source of food for livestock production. The trend in recent decades for simplistic mixtures perhaps with just two or three grasses and often without clover is being challenged by the increasing use of more diverse mixtures. Herbal leys are deliberately complex and this increases the initial cost of the ley. However, this is offset by improved animal performance as well as a reduced fertiliser and supplementary feed input. Sowing and Establishment Ideally these leys should be sown after an application of manure. This can be in the form of FYM or a green manure. Manures increase microbial activity in the soil leading to greater quantities of plant nutrients being made available to the new seedlings. These leys contain many small seeded species and are best shallow sown into a very well worked seedbed. Broadcasting is preferable to drilling as this leads to more even plant distribution. Sowings should be made from March until mid September. Later sowings should be postponed. Chicory Ley We have heard from some of you that a mixture of chicory and clover can be effectively used to fatten lambs. Live weight gains are in the region of 250 grams per day and chicory is a valuable natural anthelmintic (anti worm). This chicory ley can be expected to last for three or four years. Given the high cost of concentrates we have decided to offer this new ley for use this year. Please let us know your experience. |
'HERBAL' Grazing Ley
Four Year Ley Ref. MIXHDORG 65% Organic Based on Newman Turner’s original recommendations this all round mixture provides wholesome and substantial forage for grazing and occasional cutting. It can provide grazing for early turnout and will continue to produce forage right through the summer and autumn. Containing deep rooting ingredients this ley not only improves soil structure but also draws essential vitamins and minerals for the ruminant animal.
1.50 kg certified CALIBRA ORGANIC tet. per. ryegrass
1.50 kg certified RASTRO ORGANIC per. ryegrass 1.50 kg certified NIVA ORGANIC cocksfoot 1.60 kg certified CLIMAX ORGANIC timothy 1.40 kg certified LAURA ORGANIC meadow fescue 0.20 kg certified STARLETT tall fescue 0.70 kg certified ALTASWEDE red clover 0.70 kg certified ABERCONCORD white clover 0.30 kg certified DAWN alsike clover 0.40 kg certified LEO birdsfoot trefoil 2.00 kg certified AMBRA ORGANIC sainfoin 1.00 kg commercial ORGANIC sweet clover 1.00 kg certified PUNA chicory 1.25 kg BURNET 0.25 kg YARROW 0.50 kg SHEEPS PARSLEY 0.20 kg RIBGRASS 16.00 kg per acre (40 kg/ha)
Lamb Finisher Chicory Grazing Ley
Ref. MIXLFORG 66% Organic This high protein, mineral rich and drought resistant mixture combines chicory, clover and a small quantity of ryegrass. The ley can be sown from April through until early September and needs a fine and firm seedbed. The seed should be sown at a depth of no more than 1cm.
Grazing should be light when the crop is establishing. Once growing well the crop should be rotationally grazed allowing a period of about 4 weeks to allow recovery and regrowth. Over grazing should be avoided or the chicory crowns will be damaged.
2.00 kg certified PUNA chicory
1.50 kg certified RAJAH ORGANIC red clover 0.60 kg certified SONJA ORGANIC white clover 2.20 kg certified CALIBRA ORGANIC perennial ryegrass 0.20 kg RIBGRASS (ribwort plantain) 6.5 kg per acre (16.25 kg/ha)
|
| Need advice? Please call 0800 252211 |