Baling strong paddocks

Muckit

A new idea suggested in IFJ last summer was to skip a paddock if it was gonw strong and make bale silage of it.

Has anyone tried this out?

I can see the benefits from a grass management point of view, But what i don't understand is

• Would you not be baling cow dungs aswel?
• Unless you have your own ways, what contractor is going to come in for to do a handful of bales??

C0N0R

We regulary do this, 3 or four acres here and there. Don't have a problem getting contractor at all. Brings up lovely aftergrass

dasheriff

Iv done this a few times aswell its a great job,it makes a great job of the fields there is no wasting of grass and the cows are mad for it..iv no problem getting a contractor to do it either..
I see your consern about the dung but it didnt effect my bales anyway..

whelan1

i do this too, no problems

Miller80

did it last year for first time, very happy with it. the paddocks taken out were the best paddocks later in the year

funny man

Muckit wrote: »

A new idea suggested in IFJ last summer was to skip a paddock if it was gonw strong and make bale silage of it.

Has anyone tried this out?

I can see the benefits from a grass management point of view, But what i don't understand is

• Would you not be baling cow dungs aswel?
• Unless you have your own ways, what contractor is going to come in for to do a handful of bales??

do it all the time but i don't bale it right away, i let it bulk up, you can only do this if you have a low stocking rate.

jeff greene

Its not a new idea, its part and parcel of grass management. I do it all the time and it works fine, I have my own gear and mow a bit higher to avoid soil and dung. I don’t allow it to bulk as I use it to buffer and need the paddock back growing fast. Plenty of contractors looking for work

blue5000

Ya worked well last year for me too, baled a paddock beside the kale and just moved them into the corner of the kale paddock. Contractor didn't complain, he was usually goin up or down the road anyway. Don't let it get too strong.

Muckit

Right. God seems to be a success so! I suppose it depends on the size of your paddock (not too small) and having a good relationship with a local contractor.

sh1tstirrer

That idea has been around as long as round bale silage.

Muckit

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

That idea has been around as long as round bale silage.

Yer always one step ahead of us up there in Cavan

Swinefluproof

About 10-15% of the silage I bale is from paddocks that have come too strong, most farmers have a bit from time to time and in fairness when it's a small piece they let me work away if I'm passing with the mower rather than getting me to cut straight away.
There never seems to be a problem with dung as far as I can see but I usually cut much higher than I would on silage ground. One farmer insists that I "top" his other paddocks with the mower as they come alot more even than when he does them with his own topper. He could be a lazy f****r though :rolleyes: