Is hay good enough for dry cows

cacs

I have a good few bales of haylage it’s really hay I am feeding them to dry cows. Is it good enough or should I mix it with silage. I am trying to use it up it’s too much hassle to sell and it could be a long winter yet.

Say my name

I'm feeding hay myself atm to dry cows.
But then it's serving the purpose of soaking up the cows. Some people feed straw for a few days but I think that's too severe at drying off.
I had the hay bought so this is what's occurring atm.
This is good hay though and if I could get hay like that every year to do this job I'd be in heaven. The bales last longer than silage and the straw beds stay drier for longer. So less labour and less expenditure.
Now if only I could be guaranteed that it would be good enough for the total dry period and access to enough of it. I'd have some easy life.

If it's good quality wrapped haylage I'd have no qualms whatsoever of feeding it on its own to dry cows over the winter.

bogman_bass

I always feed hay to dry cows. As long as they have access to minerals it’s just the job.

grassroot1

Didnt they eat hay for years, our are on hay and fodder rape. The scratch factor is good for the rumen I would imagine. I would feed more hay except it does not suit our slurry channels

cacs

bogman_bass wrote: »

I always feed hay to dry cows. As long as they have access to minerals it’s just the job.

that is what i was thinking. a neighbour told me i should be feeding silage 1 for 1

squinn2912

Good thread. On occasion we’d have a go of round bales of hay and every few days roll one in front of the dry girls. I think it does them the world of good

Dakota Dan

It depends on their condition.