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Running low on silage

  • 21-01-2016 9:34pm
    #1
    Matty6270
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 165 ✭✭


    Hello. It's a bit early to be running low on silage but there is no last in the silage pit this year. I do have around 20 cows not calving until April-may. How could I slow down the feed. Could I cut back on the late calving cows


Comments

  • #2
    Timmaay
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,396 ✭✭✭✭Timmaay


    Matty6270 wrote: »
    Hello. It's a bit early to be running low on silage but there is no last in the silage pit this year. I do have around 20 cows not calving until April-may. How could I slow down the feed. Could I cut back on the late calving cows

    There's yards jammers with 2nd cut silage from last summer up and down the country, alongside the incredibly mild winter and loads of grass, you should have zero problems buying in some for well below the cost of making it! However do your sums on the economics of them late calvers, with the crap milk price could well be better of just to flog them on if you can get a reasonable price.


  • #3
    Matty6270
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 165 ✭✭Matty6270


    I'm not in dairy. Sucklers.


  • #4
    freedominacup
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,920 ✭✭✭freedominacup


    Matty6270 wrote: »
    I'm not in dairy. Sucklers.

    He might still be right. Straight barley or maybe oats at 3-4kg plus 1kg of straw would replace half your daily silage requirement per cow. Buying bale silage is almost always lucky bags. At least with the straights you have a good idea what you're getting.


  • #5
    Timmaay
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,396 ✭✭✭✭Timmaay


    Sorry if I'm being nosey ha, but 2015 was one of the best years on record for grass growth, how on earth did you manage to be so far out with your silage budget??


  • #6
    frazzledhome
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,278 ✭✭✭frazzledhome


    If it's dry cows you want to feed I'd buy it on DD. absolutely loads on there ATM.

    I'm buying all my dry cow feed on there at the moment. We've loads of pit and good quality bales here that are way too good for that job.

    I am only buying as sellers are panicking and selling at way lower that I can make silage for. Artic delivered 57 bales in here today at €18 per bale for 2014 bales of Haylage. Unbelievable value and perfect for what I'm feeding it to. Talked to guys selling for as little as €8/ bale for 14 silage.


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  • #7
    whelan2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,216 ✭✭✭✭whelan2


    Our sucklers are on big square bales of oaten straw and baled silage. Yes they will eat the silage first but they clear the straw quick enough too


  • #8
    Muckit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,174 ✭✭✭✭Muckit


    frazzledhome wrote: »
    I am only buying as sellers are panicking and selling at way lower that I can make silage for. Artic delivered 57 bales in here today at €18 per bale for 2014 bales of Haylage. Unbelievable value and perfect for what I'm feeding it to. Talked to guys selling for as little as €8/ bale for 14 silage.

    How are they feeding? any mould? you are dead right. time to buy an commodity is when there is a surplus and prices are low. bloody bales can have plenty of waste though if pin holed. still great value regardless when delivered into your yard.


  • #9
    Timmaay
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,396 ✭✭✭✭Timmaay


    frazzledhome wrote: »
    If it's dry cows you want to feed I'd buy it on DD. absolutely loads on there ATM.

    I'm buying all my dry cow feed on there at the moment. We've loads of pit and good quality bales here that are way too good for that job.

    I am only buying as sellers are panicking and selling at way lower that I can make silage for. Artic delivered 57 bales in here today at €18 per bale for 2014 bales of Haylage. Unbelievable value and perfect for what I'm feeding it to. Talked to guys selling for as little as €8/ bale for 14 silage.

    What would you call way too good for the job? Milkers pit here has loads of 72dmd 1st cut, with maize on top. The milkers definitely won't use all what's left, I've been feeding some to the drys, but am wondering is it too good for them? Last year I emptied the whole pit as I was worried about keeping over the maize a 2nd year (rats were at it during the spring), hard to know what to do this year. I'm getting less maize this coming year, and only putting it at the front of the pit, so it will be mostly used up by now.


  • #10
    Matty6270
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 165 ✭✭Matty6270


    frazzledhome wrote: »
    If it's dry cows you want to feed I'd buy it on DD. absolutely loads on there ATM.

    I'm buying all my dry cow feed on there at the moment. We've loads of pit and good quality bales here that are way too good for that job.

    I am only buying as sellers are panicking and selling at way lower that I can make silage for. Artic delivered 57 bales in here today at 18 per bale for 2014 bales of Haylage. Unbelievable value and perfect for what I'm feeding it to. Talked to guys selling for as little as 8/ bale for 14 silage.
    Add your reply here.
    My god that's cheap. Where are you located and how far does the Lorry have to travel. I'm in south donegal


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