Barley or Wheat Straw for sheep bedding?
- Thread starter NK10390
- Start date
Those I supply say wheat for sheep because barley straw tends to stick to the wool and tangle in the feet. Spring barley not as bad as winter
Personally (we use both in the pigs) I'd say there isn't much in it, but barley being a bit leafier probably has the edge on absorbancy and keeps stock cleaner for a bit longer
casper74
Member
- Location
- North Yorkshire
Rape straw or Wheat best for sheep or sawdust.
Barley wraps around the feet and causes infection.
Barley wraps around the feet and causes infection.
Cab-over Pete
Member
- Location
- Kenilworth, Warwickshire
I bought some beautiful and soft spring barley straw one year, thought they were going to be spoiled this lambing time.
Bloody hopeless. All it did was wrap around like enormous ropes across the shed and in the individual pens all the ewe had to do was go round in about 6 circles while fussing over her lamb and the straw would be dragging the poor little thing around behind her.
Nice, clean wheat straw, the more brittle the better is best.
Bloody hopeless. All it did was wrap around like enormous ropes across the shed and in the individual pens all the ewe had to do was go round in about 6 circles while fussing over her lamb and the straw would be dragging the poor little thing around behind her.
Nice, clean wheat straw, the more brittle the better is best.
- Location
- Ceredigion
Most use barley but ask for short stuff
If you use wheat you will need to bed more often
If you use wheat you will need to bed more often
Om352
Member
- Location
- Ceredigion
All my customers ask for it smashed up
Om352
Member
Best straw we ever had for bedding was wheaten straw that was on the ground for 3 weeks before it could be baled. It looked terrible and was gone grey with constant rain but baled dry and lovely and loose when rolled out for cattle. I think freshly baled barley or wheat has a waxy feel that doesn't help soakage. You need patience to do that or like this year the weather will make you wait to bale anyway.
- Location
- North of Perth
Shear them, I winter clip mine.
I only use barley straw out of a straw walker combine for bedding sheep.
We got barley straw last winter which was partly chopped some way before it was baled and it was a game changer for sheep bedding.
Graiped it in off a drop side trailer down the feed passage and that was it, no spreading necessary, half an hour later it was as well scattered as you could have done it yourself, better actually.
Lambing pens were a wee bit more awkward until I got a couple of barrow bags and kept them sitting full for that job.
Have had the issue before of the clean straw wrapping around sheeps feet as well.
Graiped it in off a drop side trailer down the feed passage and that was it, no spreading necessary, half an hour later it was as well scattered as you could have done it yourself, better actually.
Lambing pens were a wee bit more awkward until I got a couple of barrow bags and kept them sitting full for that job.
Have had the issue before of the clean straw wrapping around sheeps feet as well.
Do you also shear them in summer?
- Location
- North of Perth
Not usually. Only one or two maybe.
pauld
Member
- Location
- Pershore Worcestershire
If you want happy sheep pea or bean straw keeps them occupied all day rooting through it for any peas or beans, obviously does not look so nice.