Buying Forage for Sucklers

[Magik22]

I think this has been covered previously but times have changed a bit recently!

I’ve been debating the pros/cons of not cutting any of my own grass and buying in hay for my hill suckler herd.

Cuttable ground only makes up 5% of the acres of the farm and generally yields very poorly, which limits the wintering capacity. Not having to cut my own would free up time, better summer grazing, massively reduce machinery/contractor costs, lime/fertiliser application etc etc…

I understand that I would be at the mercy of the forage market, which in a bad year could be costly, but the other option is to be at the mercy of the fert/fuel market…followed by the beef market.

I’d be interested to hear other peoples thoughts and if they buy in or make their own and why?

Cheers!

 

[Highland Mule]

I buy in all fodder, but I'm not working on a huge scale and have a day job which would make timing awkward if I were cutting silage/ hay. A few times I wish I had the kit to balance grass levels but that usually goes away after a couple of weeks when the stock catch up again as the growth slows.

Most years, it works okay although drought times are less easy (2018 being the worst).

If I recall correctly, @Chae1 buys in a lot of fodder too, although I suspect that's easier in Aberdeenshire.

Do you have many recreational fodder growers around you with broken calculators?

 

[Chae1]

If your a hill suckler herd. Cost of transport getting it to you could be a cost issue.

Do you have storage?

As @Highland Mule said you need some recreational fodder makers in your area. Those that just top grass and bale it once per year to keep it tidy.

There becoming less and less around here.

I'd say on average its cheaper to buy in. This year will be a exception as was 2018.

 

[Highland Mule]

Someone (@M-J-G ) asked for notice of any cheap hay but I’ll give you this one first.

It would certainly be cheaper than making your own.

 

[hill shepherd]

I think this has been covered previously but times have changed a bit recently!

I’ve been debating the pros/cons of not cutting any of my own grass and buying in hay for my hill suckler herd.

Cuttable ground only makes up 5% of the acres of the farm and generally yields very poorly, which limits the wintering capacity. Not having to cut my own would free up time, better summer grazing, massively reduce machinery/contractor costs, lime/fertiliser application etc etc…

I understand that I would be at the mercy of the forage market, which in a bad year could be costly, but the other option is to be at the mercy of the fert/fuel market…followed by the beef market.

I’d be interested to hear other peoples thoughts and if they buy in or make their own and why?

Cheers!

I've been thinking along similar lines regarding forage for sheep. We usually cut 60 acres to make haylage for 1000 sheep, last summer bought another 40 round hay bales (£20 each), I know it will be alot more to buy this year but sometimes think by the time you've payed for fert, wrap and contractors it would be cheaper to buy it in and graze the extra 60 acres

 

[Highland Mule]

View attachment 1047405
Someone (@M-J-G ) asked for notice of any cheap hay but I’ll give you this one first.

It would certainly be cheaper than making your own.

@JP1 - this might be worth a look if local to you?

 

[Poorbuthappy]

View attachment 1047405
Someone (@M-J-G ) asked for notice of any cheap hay but I’ll give you this one first.

It would certainly be cheaper than making your own.

Was gonna just tag @M-J-G into this thread from the op!

 

[Highland Mule]

Was gonna just tag @M-J-G into this thread from the op!

Certainly closer than Latvia.
Click

 

[JP1]

@JP1 - this might be worth a look if local to you?

Too far (120 miles ) but thank you

I saw that on the FB group where someone asked him if he'd done his production costings

 

[Magik22]

View attachment 1047405
Someone (@M-J-G ) asked for notice of any cheap hay but I’ll give you this one first.

It would certainly be cheaper than making your own.

I think the haulage back to Devon might make that one a little expensive!

I’m lucky enough to have barn space for hay. I’ve bought loads of last years hay for a good price before, finding people who want to clear shed space before new season crop comes in is often fairly well priced.

In theory if I just bought in I could run higher numbers and maybe lose slightly less money for less work! I have enough rough grazing for easily 5 times the amount I can winter.

 

[Highland Mule]

Too far (120 miles ) but thank you

I saw that on the FB group where someone asked him if he'd done his production costings

I'm getting Suffolk and Sussex mixed up again!

 

[JP1]

I'm getting Suffolk and Sussex mixed up again!

Don't start for either from Reading !

 

[Wood field]

A lot will depend on location, we buy all our straw and have to top up our own hayledge
Transport and plastic wrap this year ( on top of fert) will make it expensive for us , local contractors phoned me offering hayledge, they want £40 per 4’ round

 

[Highland Mule]

I think the haulage back to Devon might make that one a little expensive!

I’m lucky enough to have barn space for hay. I’ve bought loads of last years hay for a good price before, finding people who want to clear shed space before new season crop comes in is often fairly well priced.

In theory if I just bought in I could run higher numbers and maybe lose slightly less money for less work! I have enough rough grazing for easily 5 times the amount I can winter.

Depends on how you value your time too, assuming it wouldn't be otherwise wasted. I'm a big fan of late season bargains too - got all mine for this winter sorted already.

 

[Woolless]

Depends on how you value your time too, assuming it wouldn't be otherwise wasted. I'm a big fan of late season bargains too - got all mine for this winter sorted already.

Where do you look for it? Facebook?

 

[Highland Mule]

Where do you look for it? Facebook?

Everywhere and anywhere. It helps that I have shed space for hay and (running native cattle) am not so bothered about quality for silage.

 

[JP1]

Hay and Straw UK | Facebook

Open to all who dabble in hay and straw. Set up to be a laugh, a place to buy, sell, share pictures and generally be jolly about all things Hay and Straw. All for sale posts must include prices and...

www.facebook.com

 

[Woolless]

I think this has been covered previously but times have changed a bit recently!

I’ve been debating the pros/cons of not cutting any of my own grass and buying in hay for my hill suckler herd.

Cuttable ground only makes up 5% of the acres of the farm and generally yields very poorly, which limits the wintering capacity. Not having to cut my own would free up time, better summer grazing, massively reduce machinery/contractor costs, lime/fertiliser application etc etc…

I understand that I would be at the mercy of the forage market, which in a bad year could be costly, but the other option is to be at the mercy of the fert/fuel market…followed by the beef market.

I’d be interested to hear other peoples thoughts and if they buy in or make their own and why?

Cheers!

I think you've answered your own question, it's more bother than it's worth to you. Any areas that you could shut off and then strip graze later in the year? Sounds like the area you've been cutting would particularly benefit from a long, uninterrupted growing season then being plastered on dung by your hungry cows. Hill type cows should cope with that no problem.

 

[Nearly]

put money into a shed.
straw + treacle before they calve. Hay + straights after?
35 sucklers here and the grass cut is almost an embaressment this year. Nothing growing now though.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I think this has been covered previously but times have changed a bit recently!

I’ve been debating the pros/cons of not cutting any of my own grass and buying in hay for my hill suckler herd.

Cuttable ground only makes up 5% of the acres of the farm and generally yields very poorly, which limits the wintering capacity. Not having to cut my own would free up time, better summer grazing, massively reduce machinery/contractor costs, lime/fertiliser application etc etc…

I understand that I would be at the mercy of the forage market, which in a bad year could be costly, but the other option is to be at the mercy of the fert/fuel market…followed by the beef market.

I’d be interested to hear other peoples thoughts and if they buy in or make their own and why?

Cheers!

Yiu don't say where you are why as a big impact on fodder price , price your saving on lime I don't understand
I think the answer is don't put all your eggs in one basket