Can cows eat fresh baled hay?

This is why it is suggested that hay that has been baled very dry at low moisture levels should not need to go through the fermentation process and is ready to eat for cows. However, since it is difficult to ensure that it is baled at this moisture level, usually, cow owners avoid feeding them fresh hay.

How soon can you feed fresh cut hay to cattle?

We start making hay in late spring and finish in early fall. We then feed the hay from late fall through spring. Quality hay is essential to raising healthy cattle and quality grass fed beef.

What hay can cows not eat?

Sorghum, Sudans, Millets and Corn. Four main categories of sorghum and millets are grain sorghum, forage sorghum, sudangrass and sorghum-sudan-grass hybrids. These all put grazing cattle at risk for prussic acid HCN poisoning.

How long should hay sit before feeding?

In perfect conditions — where the hay has been baled at less than 12% moisture and is very dry — it is safe to feed straight away, but this isn't often the case, Tim explains: “The main reason for allowing a period of anywhere between two and eight weeks before feeding freshly made hay is to allow for a process called ...

What kind of hay can cows eat?

Most experts recommend mixing alfalfa with grass hay, rather than relying exclusively on alfalfa hay. Alfalfa hay is often recommended for dairy cattle, but may not be a good fit for beef cattle, since it can lead to bloat. Legume hay is another nutritious option for cattle, since it's high in protein.

IT IS HAY FEEDING SEASON!

Can you feed cows just hay?

Forage. When available, unlimited pasture access is the best feeding option for cows. If lush pasture is not available, farmers feed hay. Hay is generally dried and baled grass, legume or straw according to Hobby Farms website.

Which cut of hay is best for cows?

Alfalfa is a great source of good quality protein. It is important in lactating dairy cattle, which need a high amount of protein and high energy feedstuff. It meets dairy quality for digestible protein. Alfalfa hay is very palatable for a majority of livestock, meaning they love the taste.

Can I feed fresh cut hay?

So how soon can you feed new hay? If the hay is cut and bailed in perfect conditions with less than 12% moisture in the bale, it should be safe to feed straight away. But due to how hard this is to get accurate; it is recommended to wait 2-8 weeks before feeding.

How many days does hay need to dry?

It basically takes about three days of good weather to cure hay. This can be a challenge in late May or early June. A good strategy is to mow just before or right after a rain, because of the likelihood of good weather for the next few days.

Can you feed cows just grass hay?

Cows do, indeed, eat grass. Their diets consist mainly of roughage from various grasses, hay, legumes, and silage. Grass pastures also provide much of the protein they require, although lactating dairy cows may need additional protein supplements. Minerals, salt, and plenty of fresh water are also essential.

Can cows eat green hay?

Alfalfa (green or fed as hay) is better for calves, younger cattle, or dairy and pregnant cows in late gestation. While the nutritional value of hay for beef cattle isn't as crucial as dairy, it is still something for producers to think about, especially pre-calving and while nursing a calf.

Why can't cattle eat alfalfa?

Why does alfalfa cause bloat in the first place? Soluble proteins in forages and other small particles within the cells of the plant are rapidly released once they reach the rumen. These proteins and particles are attacked by slime producing rumen microbes, which cause a buildup of stable foam.

How many bales of hay should you feed a cow?

Calculate Number of Bales Needed

Determine the number of bales of hay that each cow needs by dividing the cow's yearly need by the adjusted weight of each bale. For a cow needing 8,190 pounds of hay per year and a bale weight of 960 pounds, divide 8,190 by 960 for a yearly need of about 8.5 bales per cow.

Can cows digest hay?

Because cows, like other ruminant animals, have a special type of stomach called a rumen, which is home to billions of microbes which can eat grass and hay. These bacteria, fungi and protists provide nutrients that the cow can digest.

When should you start feeding hay to cattle?

One guideline for feeding hay, according to Dr. Eric Bailey, Beef Cattle Nutrition Extension Specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, is to begin when forage gets below 4 inches across the pasture.

Can hay be too dry to bale?

When hay is too dry before baling, the leaves of the forage become stiff and brittle, making them much more likely to fall off. In many cases, a significant portion of hay's nutritive value lies in the leafy portions of the herbs used to make the hay.

How long after you cut hay do you bale?

Subject: RE: How long does your hay lay to bale dry? Cut first thing in the morning, ted about 2-4 hours later, do nothing the next day, rake as soon as dew is off (-48 hours after cutting), let dry about 3 hours, and bale. Sometime takes an extra day to dry or occasionally a day less if perfect weather.

Is hay still good if it gets rained on?

Quick facts. Rained-on hay can be a suitable forage, especially for horses prone to laminitis. Forage quality tends to be retained if: The rain occurs soon after cutting when the forage has had little time to dry.

Is it safe to feed fresh cut hay to horses?

“If hay is baled with a low moisture content, less than 12%, it can be fed right away, and horses shouldn't have any problem with it,” said Kathleen Crandell, Ph. D., longtime nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

Can you feed new hay?

Any hay that has been properly cured and dried before being baled should be stable and can be fed as soon as needed. There are no nutritional advantages to storing hay for weeks or months prior to use. Hay actually loses some of its nutritional value when stored for long periods of time.

How long is hay good for?

If the hay was of good-quality when harvested and stored in a dry place with sufficient airflow, hay is likely suitable for consumption for two to three years. Keep in mind that hay, even premium forage, loses much of its vitamin content in the first few months of storage.

Do cows prefer grass or hay?

The simple answer is hay. Most people are familiar the a cows diet in the summer, acres and acres of lush green grass. But what is hay? Hay is the staple forage in most cattle operations.

What kind of hay do beef cows eat?

Hay for Cattle

Mature beef cattle can get by on rather plain hay of any type but lactating cows will need adequate protein. Good palatable grass hay, cut while still green and growing, can be very adequate.

How tall should hay be before cutting?

According to Gelley, the general rule when mowing lawns is to remove one third of the total leaf area. For hay production of cool-season pastures, mow or graze before seedheads develop, and down to 3 to 5 inches. For warm season pastures, mow or graze down to 8 to 10 inches for proper regrowth.