Nice problem to have

[Sid]

I have got too much good silage and not enough " roughage" left.

I am going to be short of dry cow roughage until I make some.

Being organic I can't feed conventional straw.

Only option i have is to buy hay, or do the TFF collective have any other ideas?

 

[organicguy]

When do you need it for? Standing hay?

 

[Sid]

Now until I've made some hay.

 

[sheepdogtrail]

Can you trade some of your good silage for some organic fiber?

 

[Sid]

Can you trade some of your good silage for some organic fiber?

Basically we have too many in calf heifers this year that don't need the quality, but they will need it next winter so am a bit reluctant to sell.

And before the usual suspects say calf at 24 not 40 months( it was always 28-30 months) we have brought back calving age as we knew there we would be short of cheap summer grazing for them.

 

[sheepdogtrail]

Basically we have too many in calf heifers this year that don't need the quality, but they will need it next winter so am a bit reluctant to sell.

And before the usual suspects say calf at 24 not 40 months( it was always 28-30 months) we have brought back calving age as we knew there we would be short of cheap summer grazing for them.

Got it. I can not offer anymore. You will figure something out.

 

[dinderleat]

Depends how good the silage is but I wouldn’t worry you could just keep them a little bit tight

 

[happycows]

Store the straw in a ring feeder ready to bed up and put a sign up saying “not for eating!”

 

[dinderleat]

Or just bed up well and keep them on silage

 

[jondear]

Never had a problem with feeding decent silage to dry cows .Better than not having enough .That's a problem!
Just restrict a bit .

 

[Sid]

Depends how good the silage is but I wouldn’t worry you could just keep them a little bit tight

They will be out on restricted grazing, usually with hay or haylage.

 

[Sid]

Never had a problem with feeding decent silage to dry cows .Better than not having enough .That's a problem!
Just restrict a bit .

At grass I next 3 months is problem.

 

[Muddyroads]

I’ve got some good rush bales with a fair bit of hay in them (organic). The sucklers spend a fair bit of time grazing the good stuff out of it when I bed them down. Spare ones if your interested, 8’, 6 strings.

 

[Tamar]

Just do what every other organic farmer does. Put the straw down for 'bedding' and hope they don't eat it !!

It ticks the box.

 

[Sid]

I’ve got some good rush bales with a fair bit of hay in them (organic). The sucklers spend a fair bit of time grazing the good stuff out of it when I bed them down. Spare ones if your interested, 8’, 6 strings.

I'm looking for roughage for feeding while they are out on grass, though thank you.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I've got some organic hay in Wiltshire. Not sure what he wants for it though
But you have two other options . Keep them in on the silage or turn them into a small field and feed the silage. No matter how good you silage is it won't be as good as fresh spring grass

 

[Beef farmer]

I'm looking for roughage for feeding while they are out on grass, though thank you.

You feed them while they are grazing?

 

[betweenthelines]

I'm looking for roughage for feeding while they are out on grass, though thank you.

Why?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

You feed them while they are grazing?

I used to feed my sucklers hay in paddocks until the calved so they calved easier

 

[Beef farmer]

I used to feed my sucklers hay in paddocks until the calved so they calved easier

When did you calve them?