Peas to meet you

We have direct drilled a crop of winter peas into one of the paddocks. The peas, unlike other plants, fix nitrogen. As a result, a leguminous pea crop in pasture rotation increases social organic matter. Rebuilding organic matter promotes moisture retention, soil structure, plant health…the list goes on. There is also something to be said for the aesthetic beauty of a pea crop. They are like proud dancers, springing out of the ground trying to attract attention to themselves.

The new mums and their lambs are now in the paddock, eating it down. The high protein level in the peas is beneficial for growth rates and valuable roughage component of a diet for lactating ewes. Growing lambs have a higher protein requirement than dry adult sheep.