By Christine Gelley
Is the hay in your manger fit to be fed or better suited as a bed? The only way to know is to hay test.
Decide Before December
By December, many beef producers are feeding hay and hopefully have long ago done the math to determine how much hay they will need to last through the winter. If you choose to wait until December to inventory or shop for hay, you may wind up disappointed with what hay supplies remain available to purchase. Whether you make your own hay or buy from others, be proactive in assessing your hay supply for both quality and quantity.
Determining how many bales you will need is a complex calculation that takes into account the following:
- Access to extended season grazing.
- The life stage of the cattle in your care, including stage of gestation for pregnant cows.
- Animal body weights and body condition scores from the beginning of winter to the end.
- How much hay will be lost in storage or during feeding from the weather and animal behavior.
- How animal intake will vary as the quality of each batch of hay changes.
Experience is often the best calculator in making an estimate of hay needs, but to know with certainty if your hay is worth feeding in the first place, you should be testing your hay before laying it in a manger. Once you know the quality, you can determine if you have enough hay to nourish your cattle and how to supplement if needed.
Source : osu.edu