A few weeks ago, we did a hay lot count. Looked like we were going to have around 800 bales left. Then, the forecast changed and the cows are eating it fast and have put a pretty good dent in that 800. We keep enough hay to get us through the next year or at least buffer the reserves if there's a drought. But everyone doesnt do that. Just wondering if anyone is getting nervous that they'll have to find hay to get them through this bad stretch of weather?
Hay reserves
- Thread starter cowgirl8
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TexasBred
Well-known member
I don't get nervous about much of anything anymore. Learned long ago it doesn't help at all. If there's a drought I'll sell out and take my profit or I'll pay more for hay and cut into my profit a bit. Either way it won't be the end of the world.cowgirl8":3cbcx2yv said:
pricefarm
Well-known member
I like to have at least half of what I will need for the next winter left over but that isn't going to happen this year. This past hay season 1 st cutting I got about half of what I normally get due to a dry spring then we just had one of the coldest feb on record. I will have enough hay but sure want have much extra.
Tim/South
Well-known member
I will run out this week. Should have had enough. Luckily I have some good friends with hay. That is a good thing because there is no hay to be found here in the southeast. Terrible year for hay yields. I cut 100 more acres than last year and was 60 rolls short of the year before.
TexasBred
Well-known member
I'm beginning to see ads in the papers around here advertising hay for sale. Mostly round bales and price appears to be reduced somewhat.
kjonesel
Well-known member
I'm working on two year old hay but with the extremely cold weather this past month and the cows closer to calving switched to some second cutting alfalfa / orchardgrass that I put up last year. I am taking the advice from an article I read several months back about the nutritional needs of cows in the last stages of gestation and calories consumed to make heat. I wish I would organized those articles and hang onto them. They had a lot of details I don't seem to remember.
sim.-ang.king
Well-known member
I feel a lot like TB, nervousness is for people that worry.
It's not in my hands anyways, for I know not tomorrow.
It's not in my hands anyways, for I know not tomorrow.
etmountianman71
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Should be close to about 40 bales left, we keep enough to feed and sale the rest. Will change that up next year as I am trying t build a bigger storage barn so I can keep more. Should be nice to go from year to year.
I should have enough to feed out from what I calculated, this cold snap put a damper on my reserve.
I should have enough to feed out from what I calculated, this cold snap put a damper on my reserve.
What's a reasonable shelf life for barn stored net wrapped hay?
M-5
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I've seen 4 yr old hay the was Barn stored that looked perfectly fine. I do not know if the nutritional value is diminished or not.
kenny thomas
Well-known member
Test show average loosing 1/2% protein per year of storage. So good 14% hay should last 25 years before it gets to the protein some here say they are feeding.TennesseeTuxedo":3s30v15f said:
kenny thomas":6i39n50d said:
Interesting.
Thanks KT, you too Dash5
jedstivers
Well-known member
Years ago before we had irrigation I wanted two years worth of hay in a barn or at least a barn to keep some in and have on hand two years worth. And I mean everyday of two years feeding. I never got a barn or close to that, just thought if I ever did I would be set to take on a big drought.TennesseeTuxedo":2y0u4cyr said:
Now I don't worry as much because between growing oats and bailing them in April (so far we've necer had a all winter drought in history here) and having irrigated milo I'm not as concerned. We'll wrap something up.
Haven't run inventory lately but I think right now we could feed all next year on what's bailed now.
If not we could get close.
Nesikep
Well-known member
It would be quite a year before we had a drought here bad enough to not get 2 cuts off... We irrigate and are gravity fed on a mountain with sole rights.
I like having enough to get through the winter, and having some to sell, with a little left over. This year has been really easy on the haystack and wood pile... We had a cold snap in December and then it's been really warm since mid january.. It's unheard of that I take my heifers out for a walk at this time of year and there's grass to be found!
I've found I need about 50 ton to get me to calving, and 50 additional to get to pasture and bull turnout, that's for about 25 cows.. I did start feeding a little earlier this year but the warm weather has made up for it.
I like having enough to get through the winter, and having some to sell, with a little left over. This year has been really easy on the haystack and wood pile... We had a cold snap in December and then it's been really warm since mid january.. It's unheard of that I take my heifers out for a walk at this time of year and there's grass to be found!
I've found I need about 50 ton to get me to calving, and 50 additional to get to pasture and bull turnout, that's for about 25 cows.. I did start feeding a little earlier this year but the warm weather has made up for it.
sim.-ang.king
Well-known member
You have plenty of helper bulls and you could always sell, or eat.
Muddy
Well-known member
What's a helper bull?sim.-ang.king":86yq8nfg said:
Supa Dexta
Well-known member
Bulls that are just there to help eat the hay, and not much else. :lol:
