How much is too much?

[Hogfarmer10]

I’ve got a pasture that I rotate cattle through. I mowed it for hay early and it has been growing back for 5-6 weeks. It’s always had some red clover in it (15-25%), but now it’s closer to 75%-80%. It’s blooming heavily and is almost knee high. I’m afraid it’ll cause them to bloat. Am I wrong?

 

[kenny thomas]

Im curious to see some answers. I have lots of white clover in some paddocks but not much red.

 

[kenny thomas]

Is it possible to mow and square bale it for later?

 

[MurraysMutts]

Square bales!

 

[kenny thomas]

Square bales!

You say that like its a dirty word. Lol

 

[50/50Farms]

Square bales!

Do you eat them?

 

[MurraysMutts]

You say that like its a dirty word. Lol

No way!

Do you eat them?

Yum yumm yummy!

My nurse cows love a square bale!

Sometimes they smell good enough to eat tho!

 

[Dave]

You say that like its a dirty word. Lol

Big squares are the way to go. Idiot cubes (small squares) are a dirty word and to be avoided if at all possible.

 

[Hogfarmer10]

Not interested in square baling. Only person around me with a square baler charges $1.70/bale, 250 bale minimum. And he stays pretty busy. I could round bale it if it’s an absolute necessity, but I’d much rather be able to graze it

 

[4hfarms]

It's ok as long as you have a mineral tub. I dont have it In the top of my head but it's the magnesium that allows them to burp. I have clover, red and white and now crimson, i planted this year in the fields. Haven't had a problem in many years, since I started tubs. Not 50% of the field but.....

 

[Named'em Tamed'em]

You say that like its a dirty word. Lol

Yep you have handle them.

3x4x8 or 4x4x8 are squares for me.

 

[Hogfarmer10]

It's ok as long as you have a mineral tub. I dont have it In the top of my head but it's the magnesium that allows them to burp. I have clover, red and white and now crimson, i planted this year in the fields. Haven't had a problem in many years, since I started tubs. Not 50% of the field but.....

Thank you. Mine get free choice loose mineral year round. This group of 28 averages about a bag/week. Do you think that is adequate or should I add a mineral tub as well?

 

[ClinchValley86]

I graze clover heavy ground quite a bit. I've heard clover can trick you into thinking it's more of the stand than it really is. Leaf shape and plant structure makes it look huge.

We are covered in it this year. Absolutely everywhere.

If you're concerned at all I'd toss a bale of hay in a feeder and give them access to it.

If you give them days worth at a time I can see if possibly being a problem. They could go for the clover and nothing else for a day or two. Giving them 1 days worth at a time will prevent that to a degree.

Makes me wonder if it'd be better to initially turn them onto it of the evening with high sugar content or of morning with lower sugar. Might make no difference.

 

[Dave]

I have a friend who grazed a pasture which had a lot of alfalfa in it. Bloat was a concern. He hand mixed bicarbonate of soda into his loose minerals to prevent bloat.

 

[4hfarms]

Thank you. Mine get free choice loose mineral year round. This group of 28 averages about a bag/week. Do you think that is adequate or should I add a mineral tub as well?

I use about a hi mag tub a month with 16. The tub just makes it waterproof. The only ones they use and not devour like candy are the black molasses tubs. I think free choice would be fine.

 

[Allenw]

I graze clover heavy ground quite a bit. I've heard clover can trick you into thinking it's more of the stand than it really is. Leaf shape and plant structure makes it look huge.

We are covered in it this year. Absolutely everywhere.

If you're concerned at all I'd toss a bale of hay in a feeder and give them access to it.

If you give them days worth at a time I can see if possibly being a problem. They could go for the clover and nothing else for a day or two. Giving them 1 days worth at a time will prevent that to a degree.

Makes me wonder if it'd be better to initially turn them onto it of the evening with high sugar content or of morning with lower sugar. Might make no difference.

I would turn them in on it when it's dry from any morning dew and make sure they had access to something before turn in so they wouldn't over eat on it when turned in on it. The controlled grazing would be the way to go, making them eat a mixture instead of just the clover, maybe even cutting it to a couple of hours or a half a day at first allowing them to adjust to it some before being on it for a full day.