Is it too early for haylage ??

[zetor-man]

Have some grass just about to head

is it too early in the season for haylage

what protein % is suitable for haylage on a grass test

 

[neilo]

Dairymen have mostly done first cut in a lot of areas, why would haylage be any different? If it's going to head already then it wants doing before the feed value plummets. Get some feed in that will reduce your concentrate bill, unless it's just belly fill for suckler cows of course.

 

[Highland Mule]

Location? Was snow here yesterday, and the grass is only just waking up after the winter.
Get your location on your profile and then folks can advise.

 

[herman]

We usually start at the beginning of June onwards, but with the new seeds growing like mad we will be starting as soon as we have a good weather window.
Hopefully that will give us a chance of a second haylage cut and good enough weather to make it.
All for horses, any poor bales fed to our few suckler cows.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Is it for horses or cows . Horse be to early, cows no
But then you could do a test . We are quite late here , so could be wrong

 

[zetor-man]

it for equine market

it had 70 kgs / acre of 20/10/10 on the 30th of March, no rain since, don't think the fertiliser even worked, the tips of the leaves look purple/brown

 

[Gedd]

Get it cut and gone when it rains it will grow away for another cut

 

[M-J-G]

If it's going to be used to reduce concentrate feeding to young cattle, breeding sheep or dairy cows then ok cut it if you want.

If it's for dry sucklers etc it's a waste until thet Is more bulk, unless you're going to feed it along with a lot of straw.

 

[muleman]

Have some grass just about to head

is it too early in the season for haylage

what protein % is suitable for haylage on a grass test

Too early for grass here!

 

[Grassman]

it for equine market

it had 70 kgs / acre of 20/10/10 on the 30th of March, no rain since, don't think the fertiliser even worked, the tips of the leaves look purple/brown

That doesn't look anywhere near ready for most horses. All depends on your target audience. Race horses want energy. Your average pet horse wants low energy belly fill.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

it for equine market

it had 70 kgs / acre of 20/10/10 on the 30th of March, no rain since, don't think the fertiliser even worked, the tips of the leaves look purple/brown

Waste of diesel cutting that...there’s nowt on it

 

[M-J-G]

it for equine market

it had 70 kgs / acre of 20/10/10 on the 30th of March, no rain since, don't think the fertiliser even worked, the tips of the leaves look purple/brown

Just noticed you said it's for horses.

No way is that any use for horses, it about a month off being ready for that job.

 

[herman]

Done a field of haylage today, mown on Monday tedded twice rowed up today and baled.
Didn't look like a heavy crop but did 10 round bales an acre, lovely stuff reasonably dry with a beautiful smell.
This is fist the first cut on a new ley to try to clean some blackgrass up, which, was just starting to flower.
The haylage is off to a stables that knows how to feed horses and run some sporty animals.
Plenty more to do but will leave it a couple more weeks, although we may regret it if the weather breaks into a long spell of rain.
Probably get a good chance of getting a second haylage cut.