Hay

Latest Articles

Hay

Downsizer Forum Index -> Land Management

Author

Message

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 13 3:06 pm Post subject: Hay
How long would you leave nice, fresh small bales out in the field before stacking in someone's wooden barn? Am I right they want time to cool off?

henchard

Joined: 23 Aug 2012
Posts: 232
Location: Carmarthenshire

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 13 3:14 pm Post subject: Re: Hay

Nick wrote:

How long would you leave nice, fresh small bales out in the field before stacking in someone's wooden barn?

Am I right they want time to cool off?

As long as they have not had rain on the cut grass or bales and it has been left long enough and turned properly before bailing it can IMHO be stacked inside pretty much straight away. However, in the current good weather it will do no harm to leave them out for a day or two before collecting.

On the other hand I've seen ricks self-combust when damp hay has been stacked!

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 13 3:19 pm Post subject:
Ta. It was cut dry on Thursday and hasn't had a bit of moisture since. Likely to be baled tomorrow or Tuesday. Thanks.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 13 3:19 pm Post subject:
Ta. It was cut dry on Thursday and hasn't had a bit of moisture since. Likely to be baled tomorrow or Tuesday. Thanks.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 13 4:08 pm Post subject:
And when could I feed it to cows? Very low on grass...

misty07

Joined: 22 Jan 2010
Posts: 2223
Location: swindon wiltshire

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 13 5:37 pm Post subject:
let them out on the hay field eat up all the wastage? then feed whenever your ready. hay not like silage or haylage that needs time to ferment.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 13 5:48 pm Post subject:

Nick wrote:

And when could I feed it to cows? Very low on grass...

I'm curious, if the cows are short on grass, why have you cut it, rather than grazed it?

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 13 8:56 pm Post subject:

Cos in two weeks they can graze the harvested fields and I need hay for the winter. Plus, half of what we harvested was borrowed land specifically for a hay crop. Plus, a chunk of my hay is needed for horses

Essentially, I'm over stocked briefly. I am shooting two in ten days and really they need to stay on the current field til then. It's the only place I have races and trailer ports.

So, when can I give them fresh hay? Everyone recoils when I suggest fresh hay for them.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 13 9:03 pm Post subject:

Nick wrote:

So, when can I give them fresh hay? Everyone recoils when I suggest fresh hay for them.

Any point after it being cut, if you're talking about cows, as for horses, they'll only eat it, if you give it to them.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 13 9:15 pm Post subject:
Oh really? Not too concentrated or anything? It's bad for horses if too fresh. They are such badly designed animals.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 13 9:29 pm Post subject:
No, I think that's just the preserve of equids. They're a grazing animal that can be killed by eating good grass, I'm amazed they survived to the modern day.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 13 9:33 pm Post subject:
I'd have them, and pandas, extinct, tbh.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Tue Jul 16, 13 1:33 pm Post subject:
Buy two bales of old hay if you are worried about feeding fresh hay to your horses, but I would think, if well got, then feed your own hay. It is amazing what horses will eat and survive if they have to! I would have abolished all breeds of geegee till I met the Haflinger breed which are so friendly and quiet, I could almost buy one!

	Downsizer Forum Index -> Land Management	All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

View Latest Posts