TMD Jan.1

What can I do to make my hay last longer this winter?

It looks like hay  may be getting short for a few people this winter with colder conditions than what we are used to seeing.  Hay should be utilized to its full potential and that means more than just dropping it out in the field.  You can lose over 50% of the hay you put out by cattle stomping it into the ground and not eating it.

Hay rings= Hay Rings can greatly increase the amount of hay being eaten by cattle. You can lose at least half of the hay you feed if you just put the roll in the field.

Unrolling Hay= This is also an efficient way to feed hay if done properly.  Only unroll what the cattle can clean up in one feeding.  Otherwise cattle will use the extra as bedding and it will not be consumed.  Figure on a 1000 pound cow eating 25-30 pounds of hay a day.

Feed in dry areas if possible= Cattle can burn more energy walking through mud.

Supplement feeding= If making your hay last longer is a concern, supplement the hay with cubes, range meal, or molasses feed like Purina's Sup-R-Lix liquid.

Access to Woods= With a little bit of cover and insulation, cattle will use less energy keeping warm and will eat less. Wooded areas can protect against some winter conditions.

My quote of the week comes from Thomas Edison.  It reads, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."