Clover Hay

[MountainFarmChar]

Looking for some comments about clover hay (approximately 80%), how would you rate its quality characteristics?

MFC

 

[cfpinz]

On certain years when the clover thrives we've put up a bunch like what you're talking about. The cows love it and they look good on it. Ideally it should be stored inside as it doesn't weather too well in rolls outside.

cfpinz

 

[TexLonghornRanch]

I would like to buy some small bales of clover hay.

 

[bigbull338]

clover makes good hay.high protine if its baled right.an the cows will eat it good.

 

[Jogeephus]

If baled right, I would rank it just below alfalfa. Its good stuff.

 

[dun]

Even with a mower conditioner it seems that clover is harder to cure then alfalfa.

 

[msscamp]

Looking for some comments about clover hay (approximately 80%), how would you rate its quality characteristics?

MFC

I would rate clover hay right up there with alfalfa (providing it had been harvested correctly). As a side note, I would also make absolutely certain it wasn't moldy before I fed it to late gestation pregnant cows - I'm not sure if all clovers produce dicumeral when they mold, or if it just sweet clover.

 

[novatech]

We tried it one year. Seemed to have a high leaf loss. Could be some trick to that that we did not know at the time.

 

[cowtrek]

We tried it one year. Seemed to have a high leaf loss. Could be some trick to that that we did not know at the time.

It's all in how you handle it. Just about mandatory to crimp it so the stems dry down with the leaves, otherwise the leaves will shatter REAL bad when you rake/bale. Only rake it in EARLY morning or LATE evening (night) when the dew has fallen and the leaves are damp so they 'toughen up' enough to hold on to the stems as you rake, and don't flip it any more than you ABSOLUTELY have to (smallest windrow your baler can get away with basically) Start raking basically as soon as it's wilted flat; don't wait til it's nearly dry enough to bale or the leaves will fall off. Let it finish drying in the windrow, and if it's thick possibly have to flip the windrow the next morning to let the underside dry a bit (rake it early when it's still damp though). Bale it as soon as you think it's dry enough to store well.

You're gonna lose some leaves when haying clover but the trick is to minimize it, which is basically to move it no more than absolutely necessary to get it dry and in the bale, and only move it when it's damp and toughened up a bit.

Hope this helps! OL JR

 

[novatech]

We tried it one year. Seemed to have a high leaf loss. Could be some trick to that that we did not know at the time.

It's all in how you handle it. Just about mandatory to crimp it so the stems dry down with the leaves, otherwise the leaves will shatter REAL bad when you rake/bale. Only rake it in EARLY morning or LATE evening (night) when the dew has fallen and the leaves are damp so they 'toughen up' enough to hold on to the stems as you rake, and don't flip it any more than you ABSOLUTELY have to (smallest windrow your baler can get away with basically) Start raking basically as soon as it's wilted flat; don't wait til it's nearly dry enough to bale or the leaves will fall off. Let it finish drying in the windrow, and if it's thick possibly have to flip the windrow the next morning to let the underside dry a bit (rake it early when it's still damp though). Bale it as soon as you think it's dry enough to store well.

You're gonna lose some leaves when haying clover but the trick is to minimize it, which is basically to move it no more than absolutely necessary to get it dry and in the bale, and only move it when it's damp and toughened up a bit.

Hope this helps! OL JR

Thanks. May try it again, weather permiting. Seems we either get a flood or in drought.

 

[Bluestem]

We tried it one year. Seemed to have a high leaf loss. Could be some trick to that that we did not know at the time.

It's all in how you handle it. Just about mandatory to crimp it so the stems dry down with the leaves, otherwise the leaves will shatter REAL bad when you rake/bale. Only rake it in EARLY morning or LATE evening (night) when the dew has fallen and the leaves are damp so they 'toughen up' enough to hold on to the stems as you rake, and don't flip it any more than you ABSOLUTELY have to (smallest windrow your baler can get away with basically) Start raking basically as soon as it's wilted flat; don't wait til it's nearly dry enough to bale or the leaves will fall off. Let it finish drying in the windrow, and if it's thick possibly have to flip the windrow the next morning to let the underside dry a bit (rake it early when it's still damp though). Bale it as soon as you think it's dry enough to store well.

You're gonna lose some leaves when haying clover but the trick is to minimize it, which is basically to move it no more than absolutely necessary to get it dry and in the bale, and only move it when it's damp and toughened up a bit.

Hope this helps! OL JR

Thanks. May try it again, weather permiting. Seems we either get a flood or in drought.

I've planted crimson red clover for the past 15 years. I decided to pass this year. The price nearly doubled. I switched to winter peas.

 

[shorty]

Clover can be hard to dry sometimes, we bale it wet most of time and wrap it , it makes real good feed.