winter grazing

AnFeirmeoir

Why do Cattlemen let grass out to sheep for winter?

I understand grass needs a good pair down for regrowth and that sheep won't damage the ground.
But isn't it the recommendation now to let land rest for approx 3 months ? This seems to contradict the common practice of letting in sheep from Dec to Mar.

razor8

most dairy or beef farmers need to get slurry out in Jan/Feb on their silage ground so they don't want splashing it out on top of good grass. Sheep eat close to the butt and encourage a thicker base sward and improve grass management. It also improves silage quality as the sole of the silage is much cleaner resulting in less waste

farmernewbie

Hi, if you let sheep on land over the winter do you have to inform department?

razor8

yes and no, its complex see below

Temporary Movement for Short Term Grazing
Documentation for Temporary Movements of Sheep for short-term Grazing on a holding which is not registered to the flock-owner.
The movement notification requirements in relation to the temporary movement of sheep for short-term grazing on a holding not owned by the flock owner can differ depending on the circumstances as follows:

Temporary Movement to Tillage Land on a holding where there are no livestock.
In this instance the sheep can be moved to and from the temporary grazing without dispatch/movement documents and without notifying DAFM of the movements.

Temporary Movement to Mixed Farm on which there are livestock.
If there are any livestock on the temporary holding (even if housed separately) then the movement to and from the temporary holding must be notified to DAFM. However, as there is no change of ownership the responsibility for notifying these movements is with the owner of the sheep. Notification of the movement to the temporary holding is made by completing a dispatch/movement document and sending the pink copy to the local District Veterinary Office for recording. Notification of the movement back to the holding of origin can be made by the owner sending the white copy of the same dispatch/movement document set to the local office but the document must be clearly marked ‘Return Movement from Temporary Grazing’. In the event that the number of sheep being returned to the original holding is less than the number sent in the first instance then this should also be indicated.

Temporary Movement to Fragment of Mixed Farm on which there are no livestock.
Some holdings consist of different fragments of land which are separated but which are all registered under the one holding/flock number. For example, the main fragment may consist of the homestead, farm buildings and adjacent fields but there may also be another fragment either leased or owned which is separate to the main fragment but is under the same holding/flock number e.g. could be a kilometre distance between both fragments. In this instance sheep can be temporarily moved to one fragment without the need for dispatch/movement documents and movement notifications provided there are no livestock on any part of the fragment that the sheep are being moved to.
Movement from Temporary Grazing Land direct to Mart/ Factory/ Abattoir
The initial movement to the temporary grazing land is covered by the previous explanations and a dispatch/movement document and movement notification must be made where required. However in all cases where sheep are moved from the temporary holding directly to a mart/factory/abattoir (and not back to the holding of origin) then the normal National Sheep Identification System (NSIS) requirements apply. In this case, the owner of the sheep must complete a new dispatch/movement document to accompany the sheep and must also record this movement in the flock register. It is not necessary to notify DAFM of a movement to a mart/factory/abattoir as the movement will be notified to DAFM by those locations.

Tagging & Record Keeping in respect of Temporary Movements
In general, all sheep must be tagged in accordance with the National Sheep Identification System (NSIS) by either nine months of age (six months if intensively reared) or on leaving the holding of origin whichever is soonest. Accordingly, all sheep being moved to a temporary holding must be fully tagged in accordance with NSIS prior to being moved off the holding of origin regardless of the destination. In the case of any temporary movements that need to be notified to DAFM then the flock owner is required to keep a copy of the relevant dispatch/movement document used to notify the movement in their records for a period of at least three years.

Application for credit under the Nitrates Regulations for the organic fertiliser produced by sheep being temporarily moved to a different holding for grazing.
To request a Nitrates adjustment for sheep moved to a holding without livestock a farmer should submit a completed Record 4 (Notification Of Temporary Movement of Cattle or Sheep) to Nitrates Section, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Johnstown Castle, Wexford prior to movement. Adjustments will apply to both holdings. If sheep are moved to a holding where there are sheep or other livestock then the normal identification and movement notification rules apply, i.e. completion of dispatch/movement documents and forward to local DAFM office. Dispatch/movement documents can be produced as documentary evidence in response to notifications of exceeding the Nitrate limits. (170kgs or 250kgs if a derogation is applicable). Adjustments will apply to both holdings.

AnFeirmeoir

Jesus it is complex !! What a farce.