Hay or silage

[hilux]

just wondering what would be the best to feed to sheep. Going to cut in a couple of hours and the weather is good enough to make hay.

 

[michael N123]

3/4 hay chopped threw the baler and 6 layers of wrap

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Hay 1st choice but if its not 100% wrap it , depends on your system and number of sheep as well, how quick can you use a bale

 

[Global ovine]

If the weather is a guarantee to make hay successfully then go for it. It has the same nutritive value, can be stored much longer if you have shed space, lighter to handle and costs about 35% of wrapped bale silage per kg DM to make.

A no brainer in my book.

 

[hilux]

Use a round bale every day on 2 lots and 1bale every other on another lot.

 

[davidroberts30]

just wondering what would be the best to feed to sheep. Going to cut in a couple of hours and the weather is good enough to make hay.

what forecast you seen??????????????

 

[hilux]

what forecast you seen??????????????

BBC. Weather Channel. Not as far west as you. Look at Swansea dry until Monday night, so got to give it a go.

 

[hilux]

Hay 1st choice but if its not 100% wrap it , depends on your system and number of sheep as well, how quick can you use a bale

Out wintered until mid Jan, then in the shed until lambing and if its dry chuck them out to lamb. That's the plan. TBH never put sheep inside before over the winter but with a new shed up and trying to build up grass for the spring.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Use a round bale every day on 2 lots and 1bale every other on another lot.

No problem there then . Unless its 100% ready wrap it , but haylage not silage
But your forecast is different to mine ,no hope of hay here

 

[davidroberts30]

BBC. Weather Channel. Not as far west as you. Look at Swansea dry until Monday night, so got to give it a go.

Its currently drizzling here and wet again after monday

 

[puppet]

For sheep good hay is best but this summer good haylage at day 3 is better than wet hay at day 10

 

[hilux]

Brings me on to my next question. Got a concrete floor in the shed with a damp proof membrane below it, would i have to put something between the concrete and hay and if so what? Haven't got enough pallets so was thinking plastic sheet.

 

[hilux]

Its currently drizzling here and wet again after monday

For a change the sun is out here and you can feel it warming up. We did have a lot of drizzle here yesterday afternoon and evening.

 

[puppet]

Brings me on to my next question. Got a concrete floor in the shed with a damp proof membrane below it, would i have to put something between the concrete and hay and if so what? Haven't got enough pallets so was thinking plastic sheet.

If the hay is good and floor dry then no need

 

[hilux]

If the hay is good and floor dry then no need

Was wondering if the hay would absorb damp up through the floor with damp in the air over time.

 

[puppet]

If you are selling it to a racehorse pallets will keep it perfect but to some sheep the percentage of colour change will just be the bottom inch, especially if there is a damp course. You don't get wet trousers sitting on the living room floor which is equivalent to your building. The damp more likely to come from the hay

 

[davidroberts30]

For a change the sun is out here and you can feel it warming up. We did have a lot of drizzle here yesterday afternoon and evening.

I can see us having cloud/drizzle till tomorrow afternoon

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Don't stack them like Chimneys . Everyone does it but its wrong imo

 

[hilux]

Don't stack them like Chimneys . Everyone does it but its wrong imo

Was going to ask that question. You must be a mind reader.

 

[hilux]

I can see us having cloud/drizzle till tomorrow afternoon

Makes a change the valleys are dryer than the riviera of Wales.