inyati13
Well-known member
January is moving quickly. I put out protein tubs yesterday. I started feeding hay on a regular basis this week. Up to now, the cows would walk past the hay rolls and go out in the pasture and forage. I am feeding my best hay first. The hay from my fields runs about 10% protein. The square bales are alfalfa and grass. I have not tested them but they are clearly high energy and high protein. I feed those on a select basis.
I bought 60 rolls of hay that to the eye looks good. Red clover, fescue and orchard grass. It tested 5% protein. The cows don't want to eat it. I assume it was cut too late, mis-handled at cutting, etc. Looks fair. There is some weeds but it would not take much to beat 5% so I assume it must have been poorly handled.
Here is what I have learned in my four short years:
First, The market for hay does not reflect quality. The hay that goes for 15 to 20 dollars a roll is generally poor.
Second, I will not buy hay in the future until I test it first, and set a minimum quality.
Third, if your want good hay, you better be prepared to pay a premium. Hay masters know their hay is better and the price is going to reflect that.
I am thinking forward. I am going to fertilize my hay land around mid-March. If you want quality you better feed the soil. Quality in equals quality out. I have been working on the crushed limestone applications and I have finally got good lime treated hayland. I am expecting yields and quality to go up this year if the weather cooperates.
I want to produce my own good quality hay. It takes input if you want good output. Buying hay here is a crap shoot and mostly the cheap hay is crap!
I bought 60 rolls of hay that to the eye looks good. Red clover, fescue and orchard grass. It tested 5% protein. The cows don't want to eat it. I assume it was cut too late, mis-handled at cutting, etc. Looks fair. There is some weeds but it would not take much to beat 5% so I assume it must have been poorly handled.
Here is what I have learned in my four short years:
First, The market for hay does not reflect quality. The hay that goes for 15 to 20 dollars a roll is generally poor.
Second, I will not buy hay in the future until I test it first, and set a minimum quality.
Third, if your want good hay, you better be prepared to pay a premium. Hay masters know their hay is better and the price is going to reflect that.
I am thinking forward. I am going to fertilize my hay land around mid-March. If you want quality you better feed the soil. Quality in equals quality out. I have been working on the crushed limestone applications and I have finally got good lime treated hayland. I am expecting yields and quality to go up this year if the weather cooperates.
I want to produce my own good quality hay. It takes input if you want good output. Buying hay here is a crap shoot and mostly the cheap hay is crap!