Devonviolet Acres

[Mini Horses]

HAY -- if you do NOT want that type of grass to grow where you are using it, then do not buy it. First cutting generally has most seed...2nd & third most often finer, shorter and less seed. Think about your own grass you mow as to seeding, when cut short.

I have bought hay that I wanted to seed and fed in different areas to promote that "free seeding".

Bermuda is another type to be careful near a garden, that stuff will withstand a herd of horses!! Your hoe is no match.

Rolls are a saving pricewise. Can be a PITA to handle/feed if you store & carry sections to them. Doable but much slower than a pad on a square. Like me, you probably have more time than $$. That's a great price. Around here it would be $75 & up. If I get $50 I'm thrilled.

 

[greybeard]

This time of year, with the rainfall we have been getting, johnson grass will be good. Just make sure you don't buy any late in the year after first frost, or earlier in the year (mid summer) after drought stress, or even several dry cloudy days. JG is a member of the sorghum/sudan family and there are known issues regarding nitrates and prussic acid/cyanide toxicity.
It's an excellent forage and I've fed lots of it, but I do try to keep it out of my pastures for the above reasons. As long as livestock keep it eaten down during the growing season, it poses few problems, but late in the year, if any is left standing and growing, the time between first frost and first hard freeze can be very dangerous. If you remember the herd of cattle that were killed a few years ago in Bastrop Texas, prussic acid was the reason, tho it was Tifton and not JG. It took only 2 hours for them to start dying.
Always, grass farmer first, livestock producer 2nd. Know your forages!!
https://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2...he-mysterious-cattle-deaths-in-central-texas/

And yes, the risk carries on into hay.
https://www.noble.org/news/publicat...t/dont-overlook-johnsongrass-in-your-pasture/

 

[OneFineAcre]

Just make sure the johnson grass hay is thoroughly composted before putting directly in the garden, or ya will end up with it growing in your garden. That is what we are fighting now in ours. My Mom did that without composting and it is a tremendous headache to get rid of there.

Yep

 

[babsbag]

Thanks Bruce. Those square bales were heavy! It took both of us to move them! But, nothing like @babsbag's 400 pound square bales!

1400 lb square bale. I don't lift them, I don't slide them, they stay where they land when they come off of the truck. Actually my tractor can push them. I am starting a search for a bigger tractor, one that can move these. My plan is to put them in a feeder in one chunk and let the goats free feed. I have the perfect area for feeding, the perfect area for storing. It would leave the barn open for lounging and not eating. I get excited just thinking about it. Now I need a Bobcat that can lift 1600 lbs.

I would have to have my feeders built for me as I want a tray on the bottom. Or at least have them modified.

 

[Devonviolet]

YIKES!!!!! 1400 pound square bales! There is NO WAY we could manage a square bale that big/heavy!!!

BTW @babsbag, your 1400 pound square bale looks like a massive chunk of cheddar cheese!

 

[Bruce]

Sure does! But not natural cheddar, Wisconsin cheddar with the added yellow color

 

[greybeard]

1400 lb square bale. I don't lift them, I don't slide them, they stay where they land when they come off of the truck. Actually my tractor can push them. I am starting a search for a bigger tractor, one that can move these. My plan is to put them in a feeder in one chunk and let the goats free feed. I have the perfect area for feeding, the perfect area for storing. It would leave the barn open for lounging and not eating. I get excited just thinking about it. Now I need a Bobcat that can lift 1600 lbs.

I would have to have my feeders built for me as I want a tray on the bottom. Or at least have them modified.

I've seen them. Most have one side that folds or hinges down to horizontal.
Fold the side down to horizontal, set the bale on the horizontal side, then lift that side up to a pair of latches, either with a tractor, bobcat, or a set of hand crank winches.
It picks the bale up with it and flops it over into the position shown in your picture.
I've seen round bale feeders made the same way, or very similar.

 

[babsbag]

I have always struggled with how to free feed them and not have the goats climbing on them or the bale getting eaten around the edges and then be unreachble to the goats. I saw this the other day and went DUH !!! I never thought of loading the bale on the edge and letting gravity do the rest. I use feeders like that now only I throw the hay in. Now if I could only win the lottery and buy the tractor. Of course my little JD is paid for and not going anywhere and my little walk behind is staying as she is so small and useful so that means ANOTHER tractor.

 

[babsbag]

Thanks @greybeard. I was wondering about "dropping" a big bale in the feeder and it didn't sound like a good idea. I save quite a bit of money and back breaking labor feeding these bales and since I can get barn stored hay any day of the week I don't have to store a bunch for winter. If I get a tractor that can move them then I can also have three delivered at a time and no more weekly drives to get hay. I am liking this more all of the time. It's only money, right?

 

[CntryBoy777]

I have always struggled with how to free feed them and not have the goats climbing on them or the bale getting eaten around the edges and then be unreachble to the goats. I saw this the other day and went DUH !!! I never thought of loading the bale on the edge and letting gravity do the rest. I use feeders like that now only I throw the hay in. Now if I could only win the lottery and buy the tractor. Of course my little JD is paid for and not going anywhere and my little walk behind is staying as she is so small and useful so that means ANOTHER tractor.

If the dairy purchases the tractor it can be depreciated on your taxes over a period of 3yrs....I believe....at least that is what it was when I was involved with accounting. Plus, it will lessen the profitability of it, too.