DRY Wholecrop bales for Sheep

[steveR]

Following a conversation a couple of days ago I had with an old friend, I started to wonder.... Partially based on the trail work done at Harper, 30odd years ago.

Wholecrop cereals are a great feed for cattle and sheep, but need to be clamped, as anyone who has ever tried bale and wrapping wholecrop will know! 'effing Rats wreak havoc in a matter of a few weeks.

So, round baling Barley or Oats as wholecrop, but as an almost ripe crop, Is it feasible? My take was to mow the crop before being fully ripe, (25-30% MC?) leave on the ground to dry in the swath, then bale up and store, maybe a blend of the two cereals??

I suspect the rats will still like it, but at least no damage from knackered wrap! Probably not much use for cattle* as the grains will go straight through, but good for sheep I guess...



*Although I am sure I have seen some work on feeding whole oats to cattle, so maybe it would work for them too??

 

[glasshouse]

Following a conversation a couple of days ago I had with an old friend, I started to wonder.... Partially based on the trail work done at Harper, 30odd years ago.

Wholecrop cereals are a great feed for cattle and sheep, but need to be clamped, as anyone who has ever tried bale and wrapping wholecrop will know! 'effing Rats wreak havoc in a matter of a few weeks.

So, round baling Barley or Oats as wholecrop, but as an almost ripe crop, Is it feasible? My take was to mow the crop before being fully ripe, (25-30% MC?) leave on the ground to dry in the swath, then bale up and store, maybe a blend of the two cereals??

I suspect the rats will still like it, but at least no damage from knackered wrap! Probably not much use for cattle* as the grains will go straight through, but good for sheep I guess...



*Although I am sure I have seen some work on feeding whole oats to cattle, so maybe it would work for them too??

Done that plenty times, i used to cut it with a swather, leave it to dry then bale it
Sheep do well on it, and once a week isenough to feed them

 

[steveR]

Done that plenty times, i used to cut it with a swather, leave it to dry then bale it
Sheep do well on it, and once a week isenough to feed them

Good to know... Nothing new under the sun The idea of a more relaxed feeding regime appeals to me, good for man and beast! Although, the daily feed scrum is good for stock checking!

Barley or Oats?

What sort of % would the grain be do you reckon at swathing time? I was thinking it needs a bit of green, to deal with going through a mower. Not many swathers around therse parts.

 

[glasshouse]

A mower wont harm it
Not a conditioner
You need some stubble though

 

[Kevtherev]

Done it a bit in the past
rats seem to attack the bales relentlessly also if doing it make sure they have extra wrap layers as the stubble can poke the wrap as they drop off the wrapper.

 

[glasshouse]

Done it a bit in the past
rats seem to attack the bales relentlessly also if doing it make sure they have extra wrap layers as the stubble can poke the wrap as they drop off the wrapper.

Dont need to wrap unless it gets wet, leave them in the field, not a shed

 

[Bury the Trash]

I guess a haybob to rake up and air up a bit before baling would be a bit harsh ?

I might try the same with peas getting a few days dry at the right time is the challenge as ever....

 

[steveR]

Done it a bit in the past
rats seem to attack the bales relentlessly also if doing it make sure they have extra wrap layers as the stubble can poke the wrap as they drop off the wrapper.

Would never wrap 'em again! Broke my heart at the damage!

 

[steveR]

I guess a haybob to rake up and air up a bit before baling would be a bit harsh ?

I might try the same with peas getting a few days dry at the right time is the challenge as ever....

Wants a Wuffler style tedding.

To feed sheep?

 

[steveR]

Dont need to wrap unless it gets wet, leave them in the field, not a shed

I tend to collect the bales and leave them one high, with a good air gap. I have a hard standing with stone that drains quite well, which is great as no ground damage, which would be perfect for 50-60 bales.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

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as it says in the description, harvested before the grain sets, so no probs with rats

 

[Bury the Trash]

Wants a Wuffler style tedding.

To feed sheep?

Yes sheep.

Ha,ha, yeah Wuffler would thresh it fairly well up under the hood or jam up ....and would need a high stubble to pick it up then the belts might slip..

Funnily enough Dads old one is up under the hedge in the nettles..... and beyond restoration I should think, .......

..... fortunatley

 

[Bury the Trash]

About Us | Western Seeds

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as it says in the description, harvested before the grain sets, so no probs with rats

No, not that...... this thread is about dry harvested whole crop, the grain would be an important bit , of it great for sheep to ferret through the bale and pick out the bits they want .
No plastic as no fermentation/ preservation needed other than it being dry enough to bale ....
.....without it getting mouldy
..... as in hay making....

 

[neilo]

Following a conversation a couple of days ago I had with an old friend, I started to wonder.... Partially based on the trail work done at Harper, 30odd years ago.

Wholecrop cereals are a great feed for cattle and sheep, but need to be clamped, as anyone who has ever tried bale and wrapping wholecrop will know! 'effing Rats wreak havoc in a matter of a few weeks.

So, round baling Barley or Oats as wholecrop, but as an almost ripe crop, Is it feasible? My take was to mow the crop before being fully ripe, (25-30% MC?) leave on the ground to dry in the swath, then bale up and store, maybe a blend of the two cereals??

I suspect the rats will still like it, but at least no damage from knackered wrap! Probably not much use for cattle* as the grains will go straight through, but good for sheep I guess...



*Although I am sure I have seen some work on feeding whole oats to cattle, so maybe it would work for them too??

Whether it’s clamped or baled, the real feed value is in the starch content of the grain. If you cut it too early, the starch level will be very low, as it is at it’s highest in fully ripe grain.

 

[neilo]

About Us | Western Seeds

Suppliers of the highest possible quality seed at the most competitive price

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as it says in the description, harvested before the grain sets, so no probs with rats

That looks like an interesting option for nursing a reseed, have you tried it yourself? Does it ferment OK?

 

[deleted user 837354]

The problem with arable silage involving legumes is that it is often very wet and you will struggle to get it to ferment properly as the sugar in it are so dilute.

I have seen barley and beans grown together and wholecropped, obviously the beans were not as far as long as you would like but hey ho.

You can mow wheat or barley and rake it without losing the heads from it all. I have seen it baled and wrapped, it would make me very very nervous but it would be a nice feed and very convenient for sheep.

 

[Al R]

Google alkalage, that’s what it’s called when fit for combining but ensiled.
I did it years ago at a farm through a forager, 30acre between 100 acre of grass before and after.
Only ever done wholecrop at cheesy stage and through a chopper for cows but the ones I’ve seen try 2 acre of it as bales have regretted it as badgers and rats had every bale even when surrounded by 1000 bales of grass which were untouched by badgers and rats.

 

[glasshouse]

Wants a Wuffler style tedding.

To feed sheep?

Tedding?
No way
An acrobat maybe if u were desperate

 

[glasshouse]

Its a very cheap and easy way to feed sheep, esp if miles away
Bales are v heavy though
Maybe the rat problem could be solved by stacking them on pedestals like they used to with corn stacks 70yr ago

 

[steveR]

No, not that...... this thread is about dry harvested whole crop, the grain would be an important bit , of it great for sheep to ferret through the bale and pick out the bits they want .
No plastic as no fermentation/ preservation needed other than it being dry enough to bale ....
.....without it getting mouldy
..... as in hay making....

Spot on... And no plastic wrap to getr holed by hungry rodents!