Turnips have been popular as livestock fodder for over 600 years and were grown extensively in England since the 1600s for winter feeding of sheep and cattle (Undersander et al., 1991; Smith, 1913; Prothero, 1888). Turnips were used as a pasture crop for pigs and winter fod- der for sows (Smith, 1913; Wilcox, 1915).
What animal eats turnips?
Many animals like cattle, pigs, humans, and rabbits eat turnips.
Are turnips good for cattle?
Turnips will range from 70 to 80% TDN and 14 to 22% CP. Thus oats and turnips make a great feed source for growing or lactating cattle such as fall calving cows.
Can humans eat stubble turnips?
A fairly deep rooted plant, stubble turnip is mainly grown as a feed for farm animals though it is also suitable for human consumption, especially if eaten when small[87, K].
What does turnips do for the soil?
Cover crops help prevent soil compaction that can occur in particular types of soils. In particular, this is why the root vegetables like turnips and radishes are useful; they naturally dig in and create soil channels where moisture and nutrients can then penetrate.
Will deer eat turnips?
Turnips are a cool-season annual that are extremely high in protein and highly digestible to deer. Protein content can range from 15 to 20 percent in both the leaves and the roots. A well-managed food plot of turnips can yield more than 8 tons of forage per acre.
Do goats eat turnips?
In late fall we turn our goats into the garden to forage. They love turnips. First, they eat the greens down, then they nibble the tops of the turnip roots as close to the ground as possible. Next, we dig the turnips up and allow the goats to finish them off.
Can cows eat raw turnips?
Sometimes non-traditional crops for livestock can augment forage supplies or stretch the production on a piece of land. Turnips are a good example. Cattle readily eat them, and do very well on turnips.
What is the best winter forage for cattle?
Brassicas like kale, forage rape, turnips, and swedes can help extend the grazing season. To a limited extent, chicory can, also. They are high-quality, high-yielding, and fast-growing forage crops that are suitable for livestock grazing during the early winter and spring.
How do you plant turnips for grazing?
Turnips can be seeded either in spring or fall for grazing. Turnips should not be planted in the spring until soil temperatures is at least 50°F. Maximum production occurs during a 70 – 75 day growing period. Turnips require good soil drainage and a soil pH should be in the range of 5.5 – 6.8.
Do farmers feed sheep turnips?
“Turnips offer a great source of nutrition for sheep and lambs can gain 200-250 grams per head per day from a well-managed turnip crop,” said Ms Williams. “There a number of factors to consider when planning to make the most of a turnip crop for sheep next winter.
Can you feed turnips to pigs?
You can feed your pigs pretty much anything that you grow, and the list of things you can’t feed your pigs is shockingly short. We purposely grow turnips, leafy greens, squash, and corn for our pigs. They also willingly gorge themselves on veggies at the end of the season that we don’t have time to harvest.
What do farmers feed sheep in winter?
Ruminants must have long fibre i.e. grass, hay, haylage, silage in their diets to keep them healthy. They cannot thrive on cereals alone. During the winter, when the grass is not growing, the sheep’s diet will have to be supplemented with hay, silage or haylage.
Are turnips a good green manure?
The relatively inexpensive crop can survive the winter, allowing cattle to eat the turnips throughout the cold months. Benefits of turnips include: Nutrient increase: Turnips grow very fast, which helps them scavenge high amounts of nitrogen. Weed suppressor: The decomposing residue suppresses weeds until the spring.
When should I harvest turnips?
In general, turnips mature anywhere from 30-60 days after planting, depending on the variety and growing conditions. Quick-growing varieties can be harvested in 4-5 weeks, while longer-maturing varieties may take up to 8-10 weeks.
What crops put nutrients back into the soil?
Cover crops are “green manures” when a gardener turns them into the soil to provide organic matter and nutrients. Green manures include legumes such as vetch, clover, beans and peas; grasses such as annual ryegrass, oats, rapeseed, winter wheat and winter rye; and buckwheat.
Why won’t deer eat my turnips?
Deer wont eat turnips if you plant too much seed. The plants end up crowding each other out and they stop growing. Deer crave plants that are growing, and stemmy plants go to the bottom of the desired list. Gauge the size of your plots accurately, and err on the low side for seed planted if you are unsure.
Do deer like radishes or turnips better?
The deer will eventually eat the turnip greens but the radishes are preferred. This has been my observation from the years we’ve been doing this.
Do turnips grow back every year?
Now Answered. Dill, radishes, arugula, cilantro, broccoli raab, turnips, and any form of mustard will yield mature seeds in time for fall reseeding in most regions if allowed to flower and set seed.
Can chickens eat turnips?
Turnips – YES! Turnips and turnips tops are a great healthy treat, although the chickens have an easier time with them if the turnips are grated or cooked and mashed.
Are turnips poisonous?
TURNIPS. Turnips are a common ingredient in soups and stews. Due to their high amount of nitrates, reheating the vegetable is not advisable, as it can become toxic.