Farming dilema - need help brainstorming
Posted by: dhaley <dhaley@...>
I just got my goat herd down to a managable size, my sheep down to a
managable size and we have 3 horses (planning on one more as funds allow).
All toll we only went through 15 round bales this winter and it was a harder
MN winter. We had 12 additional animals than we do now. We didn't touch the
700 square bales in the hay loft.
We hired a guy to bale for us because we just didn't have the money for the
equipment to do it ourselves. We baled 50 round bales just the first
cutting. With it being so wet here this summer the farmers are all saying
we'll get three cuttings, that means 150 round bales if we round bale...I
only need 20. There was such a glut of hay last year that we couldn't sell
ours. This year is going to be much worse. What on earth does one do with
all the hay? Part of one of the hay areas will be horse pasture within a
few weeks but that's only 4 round bales worth. The hay man says there is no
way my sheep and goats can eat down the other pasture/hay field, it's just
too heavy and rich. He said it may need 4 cuttings. I know I should be
thankful for all this forage but frankly I'm overwhelmed. I can't justify
paying someone to cut and bale something I can't even use! We don't have a
place to store square bales and it will cost me twice to square bale than
it's costing me to round bale. Hubby is thinking of getting some cows but
once again that means....more money and more work with animals. Does anyone
know how much hay we should figure per cow per month? We have to do
something with all this HAY!....Deanna