barley hay

[lakeviewwalker]

I am going to plant barley with my new hayfield I am doing it on my neighbors recommendation he wet raps it and feeds it to his dairy heifer s and gets a good feed value from it my question is has any one dried it and baled it and how is the feed value from that. I only have three acres so it won't be many bales and would be a lot easier to not have to wrap it thanks

 

[dun]

I am going to plant barley with my new hayfield I am doing it on my neighbors recommendation he wet raps it and feeds it to his dairy heifer s and gets a good feed value from it my question is has any one dried it and baled it and how is the feed value from that. I only have three acres so it won't be many bales and would be a lot easier to not have to wrap it thanks

Barley is even worse then ryegrass or wheat for awns causing mouth problems.

 

[Dave]

Use beardless barley. Or the awns could be the reason your neighbor is making haylage. Wrapping while still wet can help soften hard plant tissue like awns. But beardless barley would be your best option if you plan to put it up as dry hay.