Pretty Day Pics

[Jogeephus]

Here is a clover patch that I thought was pretty. Been considering harvesting the seed from it but I'm not sure if Monsanto has a patent on it or not. ;-)

Here is Bertha's baby. Some might remember a discussion we had about Bertha a while back. Seems she is one of those lebanese cattle that lives one of those alternative livestyles - milk stealing and all. This calf was born on 2-6-8 and she is standing beside some 7+ - 8 weight heifers. Don't know what the calf weighs but she looks like she is doing pretty good.

 

[1982vett]

Here is a clover patch that I thought was pretty. Been considering harvesting the seed from it but I'm not sure if Monsanto has a patent on it or not. ;-)

Let's see if we can figger a way around that. If you cut and baled it as hay and then fed it to you cows in a perpaired field, just what could Monsanto do. You just fed your cows, it came up by itself. :nod:

 

[bigbull338]

those are some nice pics.love that thick stand of clover.it sure is nice an thick.if i was you id cut an bale it.clover makes some dang good hay.looks like itd make 3 or 4 rolls to an ac.

 

[Frankie]

You'll probably hear from Monstanto after this post. :lol: You must be getting some rain this spring?

 

[KNERSIE]

Which clover variety is that? I have never seen that type of flowers on red clovers over here.

 

[Beefy]

i sprinkled some of that dixie crimson around in the fall and i think most of it got killed in the winter. but there are a few blooming here and there. i hope it reseeds like the ladino or durana does, lol. ive always wanted a big field of it.

 

[Jogeephus]

Like Beefy said, that's Dixie Crimson. It does well here especially if we have a wet fall. If you let the bloom set you will have it every year. Beefy I hadn't lost any due to the cold. Normally plant it around Sept - October. Did get only a halfway stand of it on some drier dirt I think it sprouted then didn't get any more water.

 

[KenB]

Jo, Did you plant it in a prepared seed bed?

 

[mnmtranching]

Joe, That is 1 heck of a good doing 2 month old calf you got there. Year from now it will be ready for the freezer. Nice looking crop you got there. Do you in normal conditions have trouble drying it to bale? Our Red Clovers are of different varieties, and normally it's kind of hard to dry to bale. HA HA :roll: not the last couple years, nothing there to dry. :cry2:

 

[HAY MAKER]

I like your cattle Jogeephus ,and the clover,wish we could grow clover around here,I dont think it would do good in these caliche soils...............good luck

 

[Jogeephus]

Jo, Did you plant it in a prepared seed bed?

No, I drill it on top of bermuda doesn't work worth a flip in bahia though. :?: I found that once I get it established and I let the seed set I don't have to do it again. This is a trade off as the feed value drops after seed set but its still pretty good feed. In about a week I can either graze it or cut it for hay and there will be enough seed on the ground for next year.

Do you in normal conditions have trouble drying it to bale? Our Red Clovers are of different varieties, and normally it's kind of hard to dry to bale.

It is hard to bale cause our springs are normally unpredictable when it comes to rainfall. Also, it can shatter pretty bad if you fluff it too dry. Best to fluff it early with the dew. I have been known to bale it fairly green and feed it straight to the cows setting a bale here and there throughout the fields so they can spread it for me.

I was approached by someone wanting to harvest the seed. He said I would be surprised at how much seed I'd collect. I'm not sure if this will leave enough seed on the ground to reseed next year but if it does it might just be a good way to earn a little extra income.

 

[Jalopy]

Jo- In my opinion I am confident that harvest loss from gathering the clover seed for use would be more than adequate to reseed for next year. The net amount to re-establish would be what 20-30# per acre that is less than 1/2 bushel harvest loss per acre and I think that would be hard to get any less harvest loss than that, so it may be worth trying to harvest if someone is interested in the seed.However you still have the rain to contend with and that maybe the determining factor- Good Luck- JLP

 

[texast]

Both pics are a beautiful sight to see. The heifer looks really nice.
On the clover, is this the clover that will cause bloat? And also how do feed you it in hay form to avoid bloat?

 

[TexasBred]

Beautiful stand of crimson clover. Highway department seeds the right of ways in East Texas with the stuff. Really beautiful in the spring. My grandad got him a good stand of it by pulling the seed heads from teh clover growing on the sides of the roads adn then putting it out on his place. Took several years but it worked. Makes good pasture too but doesn't get as tall as arrowleaf. Still wish I had some of it.

 

[Beefy]

i want to know about bloat too.

 

[flaboy]

Nice pics Jo and nice calf too. I have some stands of white clover and my stupid cows won't eat it. Well, if they do, they eat it last. Maybe I should change colors.

 

[iowafarmer]

That is a nice looking calf and that clover looks gorgeiouse as the grass is just starting to green up around here.

 

[Jogeephus]

On the clover, is this the clover that will cause bloat? And also how do feed you it in hay form to avoid bloat?

When I first started messing with clovers, bloat was a real concern to me. Extension guy told me that I didn't need to worry about it that much if I used crimson. He also told me that if you will seed ryegrass along with the clover you shouldn't have a problem.

With time I've gotten bolder as I've never had any bloat problems using this clover and have put 6 weight heifers on pure stands of it to get some quick weight gain. But normally I will either seed it with ryegrass or will give them free choice hay and I will never put them on a pasture of clover on an empty stomach. Since that time I've learned that your highest risk of bloat is with the ball, white and persian clovers. Medium risk is the red, crimson and subterranean. The arrowleaf poses the lowest risk.(if I'm wrong on this somebody please step in cause this is just my understanding)

I've never done anything different with this clover feeding it in hay form. I do sometimes unroll it to spread the seed but I've never ever had a problem with bloat. (Genetics and breed has some influence on bloat as well)


Thanks Jalopy. That's kinda what I was thinking too. My friend told me I'd be surprised at the number of seed I could harvest per acre. At the everincreasing cost of seed, I could use it elsewhere on the farm or possible even sell it to offset some of my fertilizer costs. (Assuming somebody doesn't have a patent on it. ;-) )

 

[Beefy]

At the everincreasing cost of seed, I could use it elsewhere on the farm or possible even sell it to offset some of my fertilizer costs. (Assuming somebody doesn't have a patent on it. ;-) )

or send some to your good friend beefy.

 

[Jogeephus]

At the everincreasing cost of seed, I could use it elsewhere on the farm or possible even sell it to offset some of my fertilizer costs. (Assuming somebody doesn't have a patent on it. ;-) )

or send some to your good friend beefy.

Would that be Visa, Massacard or BejingExpress. :lol: