i run a flock of about 100 ewes and i have just been offered some oilseed rape in the winter for them to eat off will this be ok for them? can i fatten lambs on this and put ewes in lamb on it? would i have to feed them anything else?

 any replies would be appreciated

I've done this many times without any problem,and I've never heard of anyone else having problems.I dont think sheep did as well on OSR stubble as they did on forage rape.Maybe intake is reduced due to unpalatibility?

I seem to remember that all the brassica family contains substances that interfere with iodine uptake by the thyroid gland, and so over feeding may cause anaemia and goitre. Fattening lambs may go temporararily blind.

By the time you see the symptons of overfeeding on any brassica, the sheep will have yellow in the eyes, have diarrhoea, possibly blood in the urine and be breathing rapidly.

Best to avoid all this and make sure that you restrict them for a few hours each day on the rape and give them access to other pasture.

The Brassica families will produce a variety of toxic substances.. some of the modern forage rapes/ kales etc have been bred specifically because they have low amounts of such substances.. With oilseed rape there would be no guarantees, but potentially dangerous in my opinion.

 Brassicas can contain goitrogens, which effectively cause iodine deficiency (which can be supplimented for)

More importantly they can contain various toxins which can for instance cause haemolytic anaemia (as mentioned by previous poster).. especially later in the season I believe.

Brassicas should always be introduced gradually into a diet.

I'd avoid completely for in lamb ewes.. perhaps try a few lambs in the field first and see how they get on etc (don't risk the whole lot!)..  most importantly ask you local sheep vet's advice first!!!!

I would expect oil seed rape to be less palatable than fodder rape. I would recommend feeding hay or balage as well. Particularly in the first couple of weeks, ideally high quality hay ad lib. I think (but don't know) that pregnant ewes would be OK, just don't put them on too early in pregnancy or leave them on to long. Supplementing in lamb ewes with iodine is probably a good idea.

Thanks for all your feedback -some things to think about!

i have now been told by a good friend of mine that its much less toxic if you graze stubble rape off when its 6-8 inches tall rather thatn when it is nearly in flower. can anyone confirm this as its still being offered to me and so i would still like to graze it if possible this coming autumn n winter.

I presume you are going to graze regrowth after it has been harvested.

I have finished lambs on it, it is less palatable than fodder rape and it needs to be grazed when it is young and not stalky. You will need a run back or some other form of forage initially. Once the  lambs get a taste for it they eat it well, however they smell a little rank and they tend to scour so I am not sure if it would taint the meat.

I personally would be very careful about grazing ewes on it without a large run back or plenty of other good hay or silage.