Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New media
New media comments
New profile posts
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Forums
Cattle Boards
Grasses, Pastures & Hay
Fescue Hay Question
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Help Support CattleToday:
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Lucky_P" data-source="post: 850551" data-attributes="member: 12607"><p>Iso,</p><p>hillrancher hit it pretty well. </p><p>Fescue - even high-endophyte fescue - is/can be a very good forage and hay, IF harvested at the proper time for peak TDN. </p><p> But, when folks here in KY wait until the 4th of July or Labor Day to cut it (we call it 'Holiday Hay'), TDN and protein levels will be in the toilet. I have seen heavy pregnants and fall-calving cows tough it through the winter on sorry hay of that sort(and nothing else) - with TDN<30 and CP in the 3-4% range - and just 'run out of gas', with green grass right around the corner.</p><p>Old-timers will say of that 'holiday hay', "It's better than a snowball!" - and it may be - but not much better. They can literally starve to death with a belly full of crappy, lignified 'residue'. </p><p>Performance on fescue hay has got nothing to do with 'being adjusted to it', and everything to do with forage quality at the time of harvest.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lucky_P, post: 850551, member: 12607"] Iso, hillrancher hit it pretty well. Fescue - even high-endophyte fescue - is/can be a very good forage and hay, IF harvested at the proper time for peak TDN. But, when folks here in KY wait until the 4th of July or Labor Day to cut it (we call it 'Holiday Hay'), TDN and protein levels will be in the toilet. I have seen heavy pregnants and fall-calving cows tough it through the winter on sorry hay of that sort(and nothing else) - with TDN<30 and CP in the 3-4% range - and just 'run out of gas', with green grass right around the corner. Old-timers will say of that 'holiday hay', "It's better than a snowball!" - and it may be - but not much better. They can literally starve to death with a belly full of crappy, lignified 'residue'. Performance on fescue hay has got nothing to do with 'being adjusted to it', and everything to do with forage quality at the time of harvest. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Cattle Boards
Grasses, Pastures & Hay
Fescue Hay Question
Top