RANCHING Business
Because hay equipment has
many intricate parts that have to work in concert, breakdowns are common. It is helpful to either be a good mechanic or have a good mechanic and an ample repair bud- get, he says. Also, it’s important for producers to fi gure the “lost” time into their calculations. Many people also overlook the
fuel and labor costs associated with moving the hay off the fi eld, he says.
Purchase considerations Obviously, purchasing hay re-
moves many of upfront costs and the logistical headaches, particular- ly if producers establish a relation- ship with a trusted source, he says. “If a cattle producer can contract
with someone who can consistently provide an adequate supply of good quality hay, that may be a very cost- effective option,” Homeyer says. “It removes the production risks and the production headaches.” Anyone who considers purchas-
ing hay should also plan to have it analyzed for nutrients, particularly protein, Homeyer says. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Soil, Water and Forage Testing Labo- ratory in College Station provides testing services for protein alone for $5/sample. The lab can test for additional nutrients for an addi- tional charge. “Protein is the crucial nutrient
for cattle, especially in the winter,” Homeyer says. “The protein content in your hay is a crucial component of your feeding program. In fact, it can dictate whether you have to supplement.” For instance, good quality coast-
Copyright © 1996, 2011 Intervet Inc, a subsidary of Merck & Co., Inc.
al bermudagrass hay is generally 10 to 14 percent protein. In com- parison, wheat straw is very low in protein, making it more useful as fi ller than feedstuff, and early
38 The Cattleman September 2013
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The biggest benefi t for producers who grow and
harvest their own hay is control.
bloom alfalfa is 17 to 22 percent pro- tein. A lactating beef cow requires 8 to 12 percent crude protein of dry matter intake while nursing a calf up to 6 months of age. “Even though alfalfa has a high-
er cost per pound than other types of hay, it may end up being less expensive in the long run because it is more nutritionally complete and alleviates the need for range cubes or other protein sources,” Homeyer says. If a producer chooses to feed alfalfa, it may require an investment in troughs to catch the leaves and minimize waste, he says. Years of watching cattle eat hay
led Homeyer to make an observa- tion about the comparative value of high-quality hay. “Cattle tend to clean up good
hay,” he says. “They don’t butt it. They don’t stomp it. They don’t mess around with it. They just eat it.” In other words, spending a little more for high quality hay may also minimize expense associated with waste, he says. Another potential benefi t of buy-
ing hay is that the acreage dedicated to hay production can be used to provide additional grazing, increas- ing the number of animal units in the operation, or can be held out to use as reserve grazing in a drought, he says. Instead of producing hay, some
producers prefer to reduce their stocking rates to “store hay on the stalk.” In climates where the grass
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