robertwhite
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So for the last couple of years I have been buying my hay rolls (5x4) from a guy that basically just cuts, bales, sells, just to keep his fields mowed and is not really looking to make any more than he puts into it (fuel, string, etc). 1st cutting is a mix of field grass & sericea (sp?) and my cattle eat it like candy. His second cutting is typically Bermuda & Johnson and is usually just fine.
So this year, I bought all of his 1st cutting and then when I did my figures, I found I was going to be short, so I bought 18 rolls of the second cutting. Didn't really pay attention to it as it was stored under tarp. I just loaded it, drove home, stacked it in my barn.
Since the second cutting was the last purchased, it naturally went in front of the other rolls and I started feeding it to the cows. The first bale they kind of picked through it and didn't seem that interested. After a few days they had eaten enough that I dropped another roll. Again, they picked through it (unlike the sericea which they devour). A buddy came over a couple days later and we went out and looked at the roll. Turns out the cows weren't eating it because they didn't like it, it's because they can't. It has a LOT of Johnson grass that was cut too late and it is basically twigs. (thick heavy straw).
I then had to move all of it out of the barn so I could get to the 1st cutting rolls, which once again they are eating it all up.
Soooooooooo, if you are still with me, I need some advice as to what to do about the bad hay (16 rolls x $25). It is not a ton of money, but it also is not a little amount either. I don't want to cause bad blood and lose my connection for close by, cheap hay. But I also now have 16 rolls that I can do nothing with. I really have no place to dump them and I have no access to a shredder/chipper which would allow me to chop it and mix it with corn to feed.
I partly blame myself for not paying closer attention when I picked it up, but I have never had to check it before. If I ask for and receive some/all of my money back, that then might make him not willing to sell to me next year. I MAY have enough of the 1st cutting to get by as we are having a mild winter and I took my bull to the sale barn. (he was 100 pounds lighter per the scales than 2 weeks before due to the crappy hay)
Any advice or thoughts would help greatly, as I am pretty torn about what to do. :frowns:
So this year, I bought all of his 1st cutting and then when I did my figures, I found I was going to be short, so I bought 18 rolls of the second cutting. Didn't really pay attention to it as it was stored under tarp. I just loaded it, drove home, stacked it in my barn.
Since the second cutting was the last purchased, it naturally went in front of the other rolls and I started feeding it to the cows. The first bale they kind of picked through it and didn't seem that interested. After a few days they had eaten enough that I dropped another roll. Again, they picked through it (unlike the sericea which they devour). A buddy came over a couple days later and we went out and looked at the roll. Turns out the cows weren't eating it because they didn't like it, it's because they can't. It has a LOT of Johnson grass that was cut too late and it is basically twigs. (thick heavy straw).
I then had to move all of it out of the barn so I could get to the 1st cutting rolls, which once again they are eating it all up.
Soooooooooo, if you are still with me, I need some advice as to what to do about the bad hay (16 rolls x $25). It is not a ton of money, but it also is not a little amount either. I don't want to cause bad blood and lose my connection for close by, cheap hay. But I also now have 16 rolls that I can do nothing with. I really have no place to dump them and I have no access to a shredder/chipper which would allow me to chop it and mix it with corn to feed.
I partly blame myself for not paying closer attention when I picked it up, but I have never had to check it before. If I ask for and receive some/all of my money back, that then might make him not willing to sell to me next year. I MAY have enough of the 1st cutting to get by as we are having a mild winter and I took my bull to the sale barn. (he was 100 pounds lighter per the scales than 2 weeks before due to the crappy hay)
Any advice or thoughts would help greatly, as I am pretty torn about what to do. :frowns: