Sheep day panel

Sheep Day GBFW 15

Pasture Management Panel

Participants:

Mike Swidersky

Gerald te Velde, Twin Creeks Farm

Bill McCutcheon, Mulmur Vista Farm

Facilitated by Jason Emke

A Year at

Swidersky

Farms:

Pasture

Management

Jan 9, 2015

Grey Bruce Farmers Week

Mike Swidersky

Introduction

My two kids, 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

A Year on Swidersky FarmsJanuary

Winter feeding

Our goal is to feed hay for 120

days

<1round bale per ewe/year

No bedding

Breeding

A Year on Swidersky 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

Winter Feeding

A Year on Swidersky Farms

March

Lambing of old ewes that

are going to be culled and

ewe lambs

A Year on Swidersky 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

A Year on Swidersky Farms

May

Sheering

Ewes out to grass

Checking fences

Cattle out to grass

Pasture Fundamentals

Pasture Setup

Gear

Portable reels

Netting

Props

A Year on Swidersky 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

Pasture Lambing

A Year on Swidersky 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

A Year on Swidersky 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

Grazing Ditches

A Year on Swidersky Farms

September

Stocking rate decreased

Some cattle are shipped

Qurbani lambs, sheep and

goats start to arrive

A Year on Swidersky 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

Qurbani Sheep

A Year on Swidersky Farms

November

Ewes are getting fat on grass

As conditions decrease lambs are

brought in to be fed

A Year on Swidersky Farms

December

If there is a lot of snow or grass

conditions are poor I will supplement

ewes with a little grain

Pasture Fundamentals - Water

If they don’t drink they won’t eat

Clean

Proximity of water to grazing area

Water system options

Thank you

Questions???????

Gerald te Velde, Twin Creeks Farm

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Questions???????

Bill McCutcheon

Mulmur Vista Farm