Hay from Mature Grass?

We were going to have our hay cut a couple weeks ago-- and honestly, it was probably a bit too mature then-- but the weather didn't cooperate, and it never got it. Now it's quite mature, with fully formed seed heads and the seeds already starting to drop off.

Is it worth it to make hay at this point? If we do make hay and feed it this winter (we have a few beef steers and goats), will I need to supplement with anything? We're in central TX and our "winter" is pretty short, maybe just 3 months or so when our grass won't be growing.

LMK17 said:

We were going to have our hay cut a couple weeks ago-- and honestly, it was probably a bit too mature then-- but the weather didn't cooperate, and it never got it. Now it's quite mature, with fully formed seed heads and the seeds already starting to drop off.

Is it worth it to make hay at this point? If we do make hay and feed it this winter (we have a few beef steers and goats), will I need to supplement with anything? We're in central TX and our "winter" is pretty short, maybe just 3 months or so when our grass won't be growing.

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Definitely still worth making into hay, for something to fill your animal's bellies. Protein and energy levels will be significantly lower, so be prepared to supplement with grain and/or a protein tub. We have fed out crappy hay multiple times and everybody does fine (even with a little mold, but watch out for LOTS of mold).

Sounds good, thanks!

Any hay beats snowballs as the saying goes up here. Plus if there is a dry spell and grass is slow to come it will help keep them full. Yes the protein will be lower, but the roughage will certainly not hurt them. Do as @mysunwolf has suggested with protein supplement or some grain. It is also better for you to get it off the field at this point so that the spring growth will be able to get a good start and you will not be dealing with all that mess when first cutting time comes. There are places that we have only gotten one cutting due to the wet weather in the past and we still either cut the hay or at the least bushhog it. But that leaves alot of clumps and next year cutting will be a pain. Don't do much bush hogging except in pastures.

We are lucky that we have some good cool season grass that I can graze most of the winter but it's only good if we do a last cutting of hay before the frosts come in so it doesn't smother the new grass. We have several areas that have Johnson Grass so we run the bush hog over that on high about a week before cutting hay. Our sheep actually like the Johnson grass in that stage and before it gets tall and tough.

Hi Tamara, I'm not a sheeple so I can't answer your question. But, just so you know - it's not necessary to post the same question on multiple threads. Have you read through these threads? Chances are your question has been answered in there somewhere.

Congrats on your newborn!

All of our cattle and sheep have free access to hay. We use round bales and put them out as needed and as the weather dictates. Any animal with a rumen will eat what they need and then stop to "digest" it. Yes some are pigs and will eat more than they need but they NORMALLY will not eat themselves sick. In the cold weather it is better to have more than not enough for them to eat. Alfalfa being one that we do not allow free access to but any orchard grass, timothy, mixed pasture grass, fescue is all fed free choice.

Tamara said:

Hello everyone!

I have a hay feeding question abut sheep. Im trying to gather more information about free choice hay. I have three sheep on a short grass large pasture. I have timothy hay and want to know what i can leave out at a time. A weeks worth or get a round bale and they pick from it. Let me know your suggestions. I have a new born and would love to cut back on extra work. Thanks

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My b-i-l has hair sheep and uses only round bales.
Like Jan said, the'll eat a while and rest awhile.
Round bales are a huge time and labor saver for me.

Our sheep are hair sheep also. We raise White Texas Dall sheep. The rams are raised for their horns and go to a couple of hunting preserves in Pa. We do not make pets of them and the rams will take 3-6 years to develop horns that are measureable. The problem is that they are like the wild Dalls or Bighorns. They fight in the fall/winter and butting heads can not only be heard from a distance, but they break the horns also which greatly lowers their value. We certainly don't make a profit on them but my son has had them for years and we enjoy them. Any ram lambs that do not make the cut, and many ewe lambs, go to the market at the times of year that there are ethnic holidays and do well. They are slow growers though, so are not as profitable as some other breeds for lamb growth.