field management, hay making

[cobface]

Hello all, havent posted in a long while, alots happened recently - house move etc.
My horses (3) have been off the land (3 acre field) for approx 5 weeks now, the boggy mud bath has dried out and we managed to harrow it today, looks loads better. Planning on leaving the young coblet where she is on a 9 acre field for the summer and moving my welshie and my TB (who is now kept at a livery yard) on it together during the day. I have sectioned a bit off for the TB which she grazes on for a few hours each day and then shes in at night.
So now i have harrowed and the rolling is being done soon how long will it be before they can go back on it again? Baring in mind that we want to get a crop of hay this year (our first time) do i section the hay part off and keep them off it totally? when do i do this? thanks
Also how many bales will i get off approx 2 acres? and after hay has been cut and baled how long before the horses can graze it again?

 

[JamesEarwaker]

As you say, section the hay part off and leave it, we are nearly middle of april now so fingers crossed (weather holding) by middle of june to end you should have a decent crop to cut.
The amount of bales you get per acre all depends on how well it grows, you can never get the same amount per acre in every field, well not spot on anyway, all depends on weather and how much rain we get too. Some people move horses onto hay fields more or less straight away but thats because they need the space, always a good idea to let it have a bit of rain and green back up again and then stick them on, as always all depends on how it looks so down to you.

 

[Abbeygale]

You will need to rest the field you want to cut for hay entirely. We are not cutting hay this year - but we would normally take the horses off the field we cut for hay at the end of Jan / beginning of Feb - but slightly later will usually still be ok.

Quantity of bales you will get will depend on the type of grass growing, and how dense it grows. We cut hay of a 3 acre field - and we would normally get near enough 300 bales of that - BUT our field is a very long established grass field, and it is a fairly short, but very dense growing mix of grass. This means it never looks as though there is a lot of grass there when it is standing, but we nearly always end up with a load of bales!

It is worth getting in touch with local contractors now to find out who would be able to cut, turn and bale for you - unless of course you are lucky enough to have your own equipment.

Most of all - start praying now for between 3 - 5 days of really good weather to cut and bale in!!!

 

[Bosworth]

my horses use the winter paddocks till the end of april, I then get them muck spread, harrowed and rolled and they are ready for hay in July. I have 10 acres that have no horses in from Jan on and they are normally ready for haylage in June.

 

[teddyt]

As others have said, If you want hay you shouldnt graze from now on. 100 bales an acre is a good yield but it totally depends on the type of grass, land, weather, etc. You may only get half that. After the hay has been cut there will be alot of sugar in it because it will be all stem and no leaf (sugar accumulates in stem). Just bear that in mind for your individual horses.

 

[cobface]

Thanks for that
They have all been off it a while now (5 - 6 weeks) so will keep them off it till after hay has been made. The welshie will have to be moved soon as she is on a 9 acre field with 4 others, will section a bit off for her and the TB.
Need a little shower though now as the field is so dry and looks quite bare in places.