Barley straw

[sherg]

Does anyone know a rough analysis for either spring or winter barley straw we're thinking about feeding some to the ewes outside, just wondered how it would compare to hay

 

[South Downs Farmer]

Bright, clean spring barley straw isn't far off hay I think, all the better if it's got some couch/meadow grass in it and better still if it's from an undersown crop!

 

[neilo]

Bright, clean spring barley straw isn't far off hay I think, all the better if it's got some couch/meadow grass in it and better still if it's from an undersown crop!

Agreed. I had some straws sampled a few years ago, but can't find the results now. IIRC, WB was quite poor, very low D value, ME & Protein. SB was almost identical to moderate hay and WW was between the two. I seem to recollect that the SB straw was about 9 ME and 9-10% CP. All straw is very low in mins though, and I did get a few cases of Ca deficiency in in-lamb ewes unless I gave them some FA mins.

 

[pauld]

Not a good idea to feed straw outside as too much wasted. Better to feed hay. Feeding straw inside is ok as they will eat the most nutritious parts and the rejected stalks become bedding.

The straw they choose to eat will have a similar feed value to average hay.

Barley straw trading at about the same price as hay so you have an option of trading some if it suits.

 

[sherg]

Not a good idea to feed straw outside as too much wasted. Better to feed hay. Feeding straw inside is ok as they will eat the most nutritious parts and the rejected stalks become bedding.

The straw they choose to eat will have a similar feed value to average hay.

Barley straw trading at about the same price as hay so you have an option of trading some if it suits.

They seem to be able to waste hay or silage outside as well

Agreed. I had some straws sampled a few years ago, but can't find the results now. IIRC, WB was quite poor, very low D value, ME & Protein. SB was almost identical to moderate hay and WW was between the two. I seem to recollect that the SB straw was about 9 ME and 9-10% CP. All straw is very low in mins though, and I did get a few cases of Ca deficiency in in-lamb ewes unless I gave them some FA mins.

So how much is good quality spring barley straw trading at then @neilo?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

They seem to be able to waste hay or silage outside as well

So how much is good quality spring barley straw trading at then @neilo?

I would think where you are about 70 delivered 50 to 60 ex farm

 

[Big Blue Yonder]

I was offered 75 ex yesterday for sb straw but that was from merchant delivering hay. ewes will waste a lot of straw. we always found wheat straw good to feed as usually more grass in it. we put the straw down walk through feeders and then shovel out waste in morning. you might be surprised how much they actually eat inside as bored and will chew away at straw

 

[neilo]

So how much is good quality spring barley straw trading at then @neilo?

As FT said, I'd have thought about £60/t for a good local customer. Mind, I did see a bit of snow about yesterday so things might change soon.......

 

[sherg]

well I'm local not so sure about good

 

[Derrick Hughes]

well I'm local not so sure about good

Without sticking my Nose in to deep take some of his beet as well , sheep love it

 

[neilo]

Without sticking my Nose in to deep take some of his beet as well , sheep love it

Already accounted for.

 

[sherg]

Without sticking my Nose in to deep take some of his beet as well , sheep love it

Fed beet to the ewes a couple of years ago they did well on it, but we had about 40 ewes that year have campylobacter abortion which we blamed on infected ewes crapping on beet and the others eating it maybe it wasn't that but it was the only thing we did differently that year