Disappointing haylage yield.

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windseywoo

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Hello all. just wondering how everyone else is doing with growing their own hay/ haylage for their own animals. I put aside about 4 acres to see whether it was plausible for me to become self sufficient and not have to buy in, but it hasn't really worked. Off the field we only got 16 bales of the large square bales, which with the 4 horses I'm pretty damn sure won't be enough ( they live out 24/7). Now ok I didn't fertilise it with anything, just spread some of the manure back on it but not a huge amount and it had been left for a good 9 months, I'd got the length of grass but not the density. Yet when I was talking to the farmer he said its all down to how cold its been through the spring and start of summer and that has really affected the yield.
So my questions are:
1: Do I try it again next year?
2: Do I use chemical fertiliser instead? (think that's a yes!!!)
3: Am I realistically going to get off the number of bales that I need to go through the winter ( 25 minimum?)
Hopefully we won't have to start feeding it until November like we did last year and that the weather isn't too bad. I've seen quite a bit for sale of last years so may just bump up the amount just in case.
Thanks.
 
We have 10 acres to take of and the amount of grass compared to last year is poor down to the cold weather we will be buying in.
 
Our hay meadows are definitely lighter than last year due to the lack of growth here in May and the continuing cold nights. Our haylage has just been done and was also lighter than last year but we got 175 big round bales from 13 acres. We aim for a minimum of 10 bales per acre and consider anything less not to be good as it makes them v expensive. Get your soil tested as you will not get as good a response from your chemical fert if your land is deficient in lime and even lime on its own will increase your yield if the land has been short of it.
 
When did you shut it off to let it grow? The ground this spring has been really cold, mine is only just ready to cut and the longer we leave it the more we will get. I found using chemical fertiliser wasn't economical - I was spending £300 just to get an extra £200 worth of haylage, it might be better for you to buy in the extra you need. Keep on with the muck spreading, that will affect the fertility in the long run, and shut it off early and harrow and roll it as soon as it is dry enough to get on. Mine was shut off in late Feb this year. You might also get a better yield, and better grazing on the aftermath, if you can get it overseeded with some new seed - younger grass is stronger and grows more.
 
Hi all. The farmer did offer to do a second cut but depending on price of first lot we don't think it will be worth it. The field had been left since November last year so it had had a good rest with nothing on it and it was said that round the edge the yield was really good but in the middle it was really fine. So think the plan would be to get the ground tested, re seed in places and then fertilise as needed. If then I could aim for 8 to 10 bales an acre then that would easily be enough for the winter. I think I'm going to buy in extra now while he's still got some left of last years before it sky rockets and then give it another go next year. TBB who do I need to get in touch with for ground testing? Thanks all.
 
Mine no where near ready, and will left until at least August before its cut. It was harrowed, rolled, fertilised, and sprayed back in April, but its just been so cold its probbably about half the length of normal at this time.
 
Most agricultural contractors will test the ground for you, and you could ask them for advice and about overseeding too (bear in mind you need to not graze it for up to a year to allow it to establish good roots). Our local suppliers have an agronomist who visits and advises for free if you buy the supplies from them - you might find similar.
 
BCW at Market Drayton http://www.bcwagric.co.uk/where_to_find_us If you want to consider the Ph, Sean Smith was good with mine, liming is all he does so he knows the job well. Ph tests on site and advises how much lime you need - and yes, he has been known to say you don't need any. :) He is near Ashbourne but covers most of the midlands and NW 01629 581279
 
I was astounded at our cut this year, thought it would be poor as the horses had grazed part of it quite hard til December. But we got a bumper crop of approx 420 small bales (hay) off around 4-5 acres. It got rained on a couple of times after cut but look remarkably good.
 
We didn't cut ours in the hot spell because we'd have had nothing to make - fingers crossed now for a dry spell in Aug.

Soil samples are good from Progreen - £25ish for a full test and guidance on what you need to do/ add depending on what you want (horse grass not cow grass!)

Roughly 100 small bales an acre so from 4 acres you'd be aiming at enough for 2.5/3 horses (mine eat 150 small bales a year)
 
It depends where you are too, we got hugely more dense growth in somerset on clay than we do on chalk in wiltshire.
 
Different contractors using different machines will have the machine pack the bale tightly or loosely, depending upon whether the bale is to be sold on, or retained. Tightly packed bales, whilst producing the same level of DM, will simply produce fewer bales, and a saving in wrapping costs. Not always a bad thing!

Alec.
 
Alec Swan said:
Different contractors using different machines will have the machine pack the bale tightly or loosely, depending upon whether the bale is to be sold on, or retained. Tightly packed bales, whilst producing the same level of DM, will simply produce fewer bales, and a saving in wrapping costs. Not always a bad thing!

Alec.
Click to expand...

I disagree!

Contractors will pack loose when paid by the bale and tight when paid by the ton! :D

But, to be serious, I applied some muck over winter, then my usual 2cwt/acre of 20:10:10 (1cwt=50kgs, 2.4 acres = 1 hecatre, you work it out!) and have a good crop on about 13 acres. But it isn't ready to cut yet. I always try to cut when the grass is flowering, i.e. when it is producing pollen, as that gives the best compromise between protein and bulk.

Anyway, the neighbour who bales my hay went off and got married and is now on his honeymoon in Australia. Some people just have no consideration! :)
 
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