Quite simple. Hit your button that said Hay For Sale. I did misquote you though, you called it Choice, I called it premium in my post - that's what we call it here. I just rounded up your buzz words and strung em together. The only erroneous part is my inference that you deal only with horses since nowhere on the page did I see anything about cows other than your hay is better cause you don't raise cattle. :roll: But I see what you are talking about now on line eight and do apologize for missing it in it brevity.
Since I must have stepped on your toes for trying to show folks a way to cheaply check the quality of the hay they are considering purchasing and for some reason you want to incite me, I'd like to ask you a few questions about hay.
Why should hay fed to cattle have any less nutritional value than horse hay? If the relative food value is low, is the cattle producer not going to have to supplement the low grade hay with something to keep the cows from losing condition? Will this not be a hidden cost to the cattle producer? After all, many people on this board cannot justify the investment in haying equipment and rely on commerical producers to sell them good quality hay since they also cannot justify tub grinders and syrup tanks are extremely costly to use.
Do you go out of your way not to fertilize and care for cow hay?
And while we are knit-picking about wording on your web page, exactly what are "triditional methods"? Never heard of that?
Using one of your own photos for reference:
Looking at the poor coloration of the grass in the background and the rank areas left in the field because you haven't bothered to change your blades, I was wondering what if any fertilizer did you put on this field? I hope this is not standard operating procedures in your operation. Pretty poor excuse of a hayfield and a baling job if you ask me. How many bales/acre is that 8? 10? Boy you really skinned the cat on that cutting. (minimal inputs + extra time above recommended = maximum bales per acre & profit and buyer be danged) Yeah, I know how it works - that's why I made this post, just didn't have any reason to point any fingers.
Picture 2 from your advertisement:
Based on your statements about leaching fertilizer, I'm almost positve you got to put it in the field before it can leach! I see that little if any was applied in this field. (And you are really going to sell that to people? :roll: ) I would strongly suggest you get a soil test and fertilize accordingly. Might want to take a soils class as well. Soil fertility is good and also pick up hydrology while you are at it. Get these under your belt and then we can really start talking grass production.
Picture 3
Can't quite figure this one out. Either you still haven't bothered to change the blades on your mower or you are running the mower too fast thru some mighty rank hay or it could simply be both.
You say that you've sent some hay over my way and people were pleased? I doubt it. People around here expect and deserve better than what I see in these pictures.
As I said in the very beginning, I was merely making light of a serious situation that can hurt cattle producers by pointing out an easy method they can check to see what they are buying. I tried to defray your comments but you wouldn't let it be. You might be able to influence others that this is the way to grow hay but you are not going to influence me. I know a little something about hay production and based on these photos, this isn't even in the ballgame.
I see now why I stepped on your toes and am now glad I started this post cause maybe somebody will learn what cattle producers are up against when it comes to buying hay from some commercial hay producers. You also advertise that since you don't have cows the buyer comes out better by buying your hay. Based on what I have seen, a cattle producer would be better off buying hay from another cattle producer because he is/will be feeding it to his own herd and I don't know any around here that would produce anything as off color and rank as what you show in these pictures.
Oh, here are some pictures of what happens when your fertilize bermuda grass for hay production.
Application of adequate amounts of nitrogen based on a soil test makes the grass green. This enhances the sugars and the RFV of the feed.
Sharp blades on a mower makes for a clean even cut thus eliminating stags in the field which will dimminish the overall quality of the next cutting.
Ideally the grass should be cut before the lower sections of the grass brown up. Browning up in the lowers signals that the food quality is going down. By comparing this picture to those on your website, you can clearly see this cutting has a maximum of 2 inches of browning whereas the stags left in your field are over 10 inches. Not good for a cattle producer looking for something other than filler.
With all the rain you have had this year its a shame you want to cut so many corners instead of striving to produce a superior product. But there again, that's why I made the post. Sorry about your toes! :lol: Good bye.
