Would /have you used baled rushes as bedding?

whelan2

I never did and don't think I would.

Dakota Dan

We used them years ago for yearlings and ploughed in the dung for root crops. I can only barely remember it as it was so long ago but from what I do remember is that they weren't great for soakage.

Suckler

Dakota Dan wrote: »

....but from what I do remember is that they weren't great for soakage.

Not a bit of soakage in them. Can't fathom the scramble to use them now.

148multi

Used some years ago, weren't great for soakage.
Mulched about 10 acres last year, was down during the fine weather, baled it to clear land, ended up using it for bedding and was happy with it.

50HX

use grassy/rushy bedding here every year for bedding under suck calves and for calving down.

fine once you have enough of it and don't spare it

no issues with calf health so can't see why i'd be forking out for straw

it'll be good enough for lots of people this year .

Base price

I have used bales of chopped rushes, pea straw and osr straw as a base in a shed before topping off with barley straw. It works well in that it allows liquid to flow if you have a sloping floor.

TPF2012

https://www.donedeal.ie/farmproduce-for-sale/rushes-free-to-cut-and-take-away/19292390

Why didn't I think of this.:D

Dakota Dan

Base price wrote: »

I have used bales of chopped rushes, pea straw and osr straw as a base in a shed before topping off with barley straw. It works well in that it allows liquid to flow if you have a sloping floor.

So if the baler man chopped the rushes they would be better for bedding?

Base price

Dakota Dan wrote: »

So if the baler man chopped the rushes they would be better for bedding?

Yep and easier to spread both into and out of of the shed iykwim.

rushvalley

Grandfather here used to cut a load of briars to put into a shed as a base then top it up with dried rushes as needed.

Nekarsulm

Used them under sheep.
Works fine, but then sheep dung is a lot drier than cattle dung.
Also, they love the grass through the rushes, will spend ages picking it out when you put in fresh bales ignoring the nice silage in front of them...

memorystick

I've 45 8*4*3 of 2 year old failed haylage in a clamp. The bales had been moved to see what they are like but there is little feed value in them, I think I'd be mad to use them for bedding even though they are dry- my chest isn't great so can visualise the nebuliser for me and maybe pneumonia for the beef heifers. They're all bought in and am unsure if they had pneumonia as calves. I was thinking of throughing them across the layback (90*35) and not set foot in there! I think I'd be safer leaving them locked onto the slats for this time. I can't justify €50+ per head on bedding. Any advice.

148multi

Dakota Dan wrote: »

So if the baler man chopped the rushes they would be better for bedding?

Found the mulched ones good, topped this year and chopped going through baler.

Muckit

They reckon if you make right compost that you cook the weed seeds. It could be done with rush cattle bedding too l would think. Pile it up, cover with polythene or keeping turning with loader til goes into brown compost

TooOldBoots

Muckit wrote: »

They reckon if you make right compost that you cook the weed seeds. It could be done with rush cattle bedding too l would think. Pile it up, cover with polythene or keeping turning with loader til goes into brown compost

I'd be leaving the Dung heap in place for a few years before spreading it. Or else spread the rusher dung back out on the rushy field. I certainly would not be spreading that dung on green land

_Brian

TooOldBoots wrote: »

I'd be leaving the Dung heap in place for a few years before spreading it. Or else spread the rusher dung back out on the rushy field. I certainly would not be spreading that dung on green land

Rush seeds stay viable for something like 80 years, be a long wait on the dung heap !