Forage test

[kenny thomas]

I took some forage samples 3 weeks ago and I have a different problem than usual. The forage is stockpiled fescue. I cut the hay from these fields in August and followed within a few days by no till drilling wheat and fertilizing with 19-19-19 at 250lb per acre. I had intended this to be winter grazing for cows. The test came back with the protein being 21.6%. This is way too high for cows. I need ideas of how to use it without wasting it.
I have them on some other areas now that was not fertilized or well taken care of and it came back at 12.6%. I will do better next year on that one also.
IDEAS?

 

[Hook]

Can you hay it again, and chop it with lower quality hay for a blend?

 

[kenny thomas]

Can you hay it again, and chop it with lower quality hay for a blend?

Darn hook, it has snowed several times here already. No hay cutting here. :lol2: But thanks for the idea.

 

[Hook]

Just put some of those calves on it then.

 

[kenny thomas]

Just put some of those calves on it then.

That is an option but I have sold down to 5 calves. I have a 2 acre field I have already turned them in. Gonna try to buy more before Christmas.

 

[M5farm]

Apparently I know nothing about fescue but can you do what we do on oats sometimes is only graze a few hours at a time a day. And give them free choice hay. ???? I don't know just throwing things against the wall.

 

[pricefarm]

It would be a lot of work but could but up temporary fencing and fence off a small part of it only allowing the cows to eat so much per day then move the fence? I guess you would still have to feed some hay to full them up

 

[kenny thomas]

Apparently I know nothing about fescue but can you do what we do on oats sometimes is only graze a few hours at a time a day. And give them free choice hay. ???? I don't know just throwing things against the wall.

Thats wha I am thinking. Where I feed hay is .3 of a mile from the fescue. Dont like them walking that much.
pricefarms, again good thoughts.
Another issue, I work 10 hour days and nobody is there to let them in and out except me and that is after dark. In the winter the only time they see me in daylight is on weekends.

 

[jedstivers]

You do what 10 hours a day Kenny?

 

[BC]

You can let the cows graze every third day or buy some stocker calves to utilize the wheat pasture.

 

[1982vett]

Apparently I know nothing about fescue but can you do what we do on oats sometimes is only graze a few hours at a time a day. And give them free choice hay. ???? I don't know just throwing things against the wall.

Thats wha I am thinking. Where I feed hay is .3 of a mile from the fescue. Dont like them walking that much.
pricefarms, again good thoughts.
Another issue, I work 10 hour days and nobody is there to let them in and out except me and that is after dark. In the winter the only time they see me in daylight is on weekends.

You can let the cows graze every third day or buy some stocker calves to utilize the wheat pasture.

Don't give in to them standing at the gate all day.....means they aren't hungry enough to scavenge or stand around a hay ring waiting for it to be refilled.

You know this is where you use that "sorry" ~8% hay. And .3 miles isn't that far. :2cents: Builds muscle and good cardio don't ya know. :lol:

 

[Bigfoot]

Ive had hay tested, but I've never tested stockpiled grass. I had no idea, it got that high. I had always heard old people say that the energy went up in it after a few frost. I wasn't sure that was correct either, but most of what the old folks say is true. Well, except for them telling me if I worked real hard, I'd get ahead.

 

[inyati13]

I took some forage samples 3 weeks ago and I have a different problem than usual. The forage is stockpiled fescue. I cut the hay from these fields in August and followed within a few days by no till drilling wheat and fertilizing with 19-19-19 at 250lb per acre. I had intended this to be winter grazing for cows. The test came back with the protein being 21.6%. This is way too high for cows. I need ideas of how to use it without wasting it.
I have them on some other areas now that was not fertilized or well taken care of and it came back at 12.6%. I will do better next year on that one also.
IDEAS?

I had not idea either it would go that high. No wonder my calves are large and my cows are over-conditioned. I bet mine might be higher due to the clover and other grasses, i.e., bluegrass and orchard grass.

 

[TexasBred]

I took some forage samples 3 weeks ago and I have a different problem than usual. The forage is stockpiled fescue. I cut the hay from these fields in August and followed within a few days by no till drilling wheat and fertilizing with 19-19-19 at 250lb per acre. I had intended this to be winter grazing for cows. The test came back with the protein being 21.6%. This is way too high for cows. I need ideas of how to use it without wasting it.
I have them on some other areas now that was not fertilized or well taken care of and it came back at 12.6%. I will do better next year on that one also.
IDEAS?

If you can just limit graze it. Graze a couple of hours then move them. Most wheat and rye will always test that high on a dry matter basis.

 

[kenny thomas]

I took some forage samples 3 weeks ago and I have a different problem than usual. The forage is stockpiled fescue. I cut the hay from these fields in August and followed within a few days by no till drilling wheat and fertilizing with 19-19-19 at 250lb per acre. I had intended this to be winter grazing for cows. The test came back with the protein being 21.6%. This is way too high for cows. I need ideas of how to use it without wasting it.
I have them on some other areas now that was not fertilized or well taken care of and it came back at 12.6%. I will do better next year on that one also.
IDEAS?

If you can just limit graze it. Graze a couple of hours then move them. Most wheat and rye will always test that high on a dry matter basis.

TB, I met with a forage specialist with VA Tech and he said exactly the same thing. I cant do that because of work. But I think I will give them a days worth and then take them off of it for 2 days. He also suggested feeding hay now and saving this fescue for bad cold weather.

 

[inyati13]

I took some forage samples 3 weeks ago and I have a different problem than usual. The forage is stockpiled fescue. I cut the hay from these fields in August and followed within a few days by no till drilling wheat and fertilizing with 19-19-19 at 250lb per acre. I had intended this to be winter grazing for cows. The test came back with the protein being 21.6%. This is way too high for cows. I need ideas of how to use it without wasting it.
I have them on some other areas now that was not fertilized or well taken care of and it came back at 12.6%. I will do better next year on that one also.
IDEAS?

If you can just limit graze it. Graze a couple of hours then move them. Most wheat and rye will always test that high on a dry matter basis.

TB, I met with a forage specialist with VA Tech and he said exactly the same thing. I cant do that because of work. But I think I will give them a days worth and then take them off of it for 2 days. He also suggested feeding hay now and saving this fescue for bad cold weather.

Kenny, I have a problem with controlled grazing but not because I am not there. I have some excellent fescue that is on extremely steep slopes. I mow it with a relatively big 4WD high HP tractor. But the slopes are so steep, they are actually hard to walk up for a man in his 60s. Thus, I don't try to do temporary fencing. If I was 40, I might. So, I turn them into some very large tracts of pasture. Say 30 acres. I do have enough diversity in my pasture that I am not having any toxicity from endophyte and I have a good mineral program. I have never had a case of fescue foot or anything of that nature. My cows cycle well etc. Keeping the fescue heads knocked off probably helps.