Hay makers/providers anybody!!

charliesarmy

charliesarmy

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Just wondering what a cut would be like at this time of year my hay maker rang today saying he's cutting and how many do I want..said I'd let him know tomoz..normally get enough to see me through half of winter then start using haylage from another source..but realistically I give excellent quality hay but just how good would it be cut at this time of year?? dont want to fill a barn full of poor grade hay :o any advice?
 
good week for it, dry if was cut later less goodness in it. but as just cut in time before and frost damage should be fine, if baled dry. have all mine in shed was cut may and i buy from local farmer its brilliant hay, at this time of year he would only cut silage or haylage as goodness starts to go out of it.
 
If the weather holds it should be good quality but still lower protein than earlier hay.

I would grab as much as you can store as it is easier to buy in foods or balancers to up the levels than it is to by the fibre part of a horses diet.

My field was cut today but we are making haylage as that way we are less dependent on the weather holding.
 
Yes I think it could be...he was meant to get it in end June..but only just got the call unless I am second cut call,please give both scenario's I like to learn.new to me all this supplying my own stuff,much easier on livery:rolleyes::)
 
s4sugar said:
If the weather holds it should be good quality but still lower protein than earlier hay.

I would grab as much as you can store as it is easier to buy in foods or balancers to up the levels than it is to by the fibre part of a horses diet.

My field was cut today but we are making haylage as that way we are less dependent on the weather holding.
Click to expand...

OK this should be baled tomorrow afternoon...yep I think you are right would be much easier to suppliment with feed's if needed,:)
 
OK.
If it's a first cut, the hay won't be that brilliant as the grass would have gone to seed by now. By all means feedable (is that even a word?:o) to horses, but not desperately nutritious.
If it's second cut then the quality will be better, it will be slightly lower nutritional value than, say June hay, but not that much and the main problem at this time of year is making sure it dries well as there is plenty of dew on the ground.
The weather man just said there is possibility of ground frost over night, which will make things tricky hay wise.
 
martlin said:
OK.
If it's a first cut, the hay won't be that brilliant as the grass would have gone to seed by now. By all means feedable (is that even a word?:o) to horses, but not desperately nutritious.
If it's second cut then the quality will be better, it will be slightly lower nutritional value than, say June hay, but not that much and the main problem at this time of year is making sure it dries well as there is plenty of dew on the ground.
The weather man just said there is possibility of ground frost over night, which will make things tricky hay wise.
Click to expand...

OK thank you...he has always said he won't take hay unless he can *he does have haylage balers wrappers as well* blimmin confusing this hay haylage malarky :D
 
We cut and made 47 bales yesterday, it was a first cut but the seeds had long gone, however the new growth that came up would have been fine. My theory being it has to be better than being hungry no matter what the content, so I would have it if I were you and see if you can source better stuff later if necessary.
A local farmer has been boasting how all those "Daft horse people" have been paying £50 a big bale for haylage collected, so if that's anything to go by get what you can now...
We ended up paying £28 a bale at a farm auction the other week for 35 bales. I've also tried to source some straw to pad their diet out a bit, and hopefuly the lush grass that's currently growing on our first cut fields will mean later than usual grazing for them using less of the haylage..
I reckon it's only a matter of time before someone invents a method of growing hay under cover like cannabis plants...yes, they tried barley grass but that's fed fresh, we need something that can be baled!
 
You can grow pretty much anything in them water machines :D whatever they are called... I'm thinking of buying a small one, even if it doesn't do it for horses, I'm sure the sheep will be glad of some greenery while in the lambing shed.
 
Mine cut this morning - first cut, for the first time in years.
Hoping to have enough to feed a shetland, a welshie (a) and my cob - approx 3 acres cut, bit sparse but see how we get on, have to use make shift pallets and plastic sheets to store it!
 
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