Bean haulm for sucklers

[whatnow]

Is bean haulm worth baling for sucklers? I guess it’s quite course and sticky/stick like so not particularly absorbent or kind for feeding? Does it have much nutritional value or an X factor that’s hard to quantify? Would you stick with wheat straw given the choice?

 

[Will Blackburn]

I baled some last year. Used it for bedding yearlings, they wouldn't eat it. It won't keep stock spotless but it was fine bedding. I suspect the fym will be quite nutrient rich.

 

[whatnow]

I baled some last year. Used it for bedding yearlings, they wouldn't eat it. It won't keep stock spotless but it was fine bedding. I suspect the fym will be quite nutrient rich.

So probably as well to chop it and use wheat straw instead

 

[beefandsleep]

Good bedding, well worth baling.

 

[whatnow]

Good bedding, well worth baling.

Better than barley or wheat? Good because it’s more absorbent or better nutritionally?

 

[beefandsleep]

It’s no use for feed, I found they did pick at it though. It’s fibrous and absorbent. Obviously like any bedding straw it needs to be baled dry, that’s probably your biggest challenge. Last year I had 4 quads per acre and with straw trading at £120+ locally it was very welcome. If baled dry I wouldn’t say it was worse than wheat, just doesn’t look as pretty in the yard as it’s black.

 

[Al R]

I know people that use it as a sub layer like OSR straw, highly absorbant and saves wasting cereal straw on the base.

 

[whatnow]

It’s no use for feed, I found they did pick at it though. It’s fibrous and absorbent. Obviously like any bedding straw it needs to be baled dry, that’s probably your biggest challenge. Last year I had 4 quads per acre and with straw trading at £120+ locally it was very welcome. If baled dry I wouldn’t say it was worse than wheat, just doesn’t look as pretty in the yard as it’s black.

Is there much dust with it compared to cereal straw?

 

[beefandsleep]

It wasn’t too bad, I’m sure it’s more to do with how dry it’s baled. I’ve certainly seen dustier wheat straw.

 

[whatnow]

It wasn’t too bad, I’m sure it’s more to do with how dry it’s baled. I’ve certainly seen dustier wheat straw.

Thanks. Good to know

 

[Hesstondriver]

if you put it through a chopper , any beans left in it go like bullets !

 

[beefandsleep]

if you put it through a chopper , any beans left in it go like bullets !

And stones don’t? I didn’t find it a problem and there were some beans in it.

 

[Hesstondriver]

And stones don’t? I didn’t find it a problem and there were some beans in it.

I didn't say it was a problem, just an observation

 

[Werzle]

Its ok for starting yards off with to create a drainage matt