About half the field was cut for 2nd cutting, the other half (on the right) will be grazed by the cows.
Beautiful, high-quality feed for the sheep this winter.
Too bad we can't harness some of this energy to help with the job, we sure could use it!
Monday, August 24, 2015
2nd Cutting
First cutting was all made into baleage because it was so wet this year. There was no cahnce at all to make dry hay early this year. Those are the big "marshmallows" in the background -The Great Wall of Baleage.
About half the field was cut for 2nd cutting, the other half (on the right) will be grazed by the cows.
Beautiful, high-quality feed for the sheep this winter.
Too bad we can't harness some of this energy to help with the job, we sure could use it!
About half the field was cut for 2nd cutting, the other half (on the right) will be grazed by the cows.
Beautiful, high-quality feed for the sheep this winter.
Too bad we can't harness some of this energy to help with the job, we sure could use it!
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That IS beautiful looking hay, Kris, and the cattle are so lucky to have you!
ReplyDeleteHow does Baleage differ from regular hay. I would think any grass that was baled while damp would just rot. :(
ReplyDeleteBaleage is made by cutting the hay and baling it when it is just wilted, it is not allowed to dry. The bales are then wrapped in many layers of airtight plastic. The hay ferments inside the wrap and becomes baleage. It is called haylage in the UK. It is basically pickled grass. It is a very high quality, high protein feed that is extremely palatable. It is a great feed for cattle and sheep and can be a great feed for horses and donkeys as well. It's main drawback is that it requires heavy equipment to handle and has to be eaten up within a few days of being opened as it will not keep once the plastic is cut.
ReplyDeleteThat is fascinating! I figured mold would be the main component and it would kill any livestock that ate it. Thanks for the lesson. I love learning new things!!
DeleteWe call it haylage here too. The vet recommends that if horses eat it that they have botulism vaccine as we had some case of it here.
ReplyDeletebut now that you are done helping there can you come and help us? :)
Wonderful looking hay. I know some folks are getting second crop right now and others who were lucky...have a third.
ReplyDeleteWe had wrapped dry bales last year and it worked out well. This year we aren't wrapping. If you don't do it just right for equine, you have a mess.
Lots of beautiful hay around our part of the country.