2011 Milo Hay Experience (No Grass this Year)

charles todd

Well-known Member
The grass hay production in Louisiana (like Texas) was poor at best this year. A friend row-crop farmer let us cut and bale his Milo stalks. The following pictures are of the experience. We had to move the bales 14 miles to the farm.

We had 3 trucks and trailers going. We moved right at 300 bales total. We had a 1 ton w/ 33' trip axle, 3/4 ton w/ 20'+5' pop-up dove, and my 1/2 ton w/ 20' moving the bales out of the field and to the farm.

Field we cut and baled.
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Staging bales for loading
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Moving 11 twine wrapped 5x4's. (straps removed for unloading)
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Moving 10 new wrapped 5 1/2' x 4's (maybe 6'x4'?) (Not finished strapping)
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Cows checking out the Milo. They seem to enjoy!
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It's not grass, but serviceable. We are feeding hay in August due to poor pastures due to drought. They seem to prefer the milo to the spring hay we baled.

The bales were a little more delicate than conventional hay. We had to be careful moving, loading, hauling, and unloading them. The picture of the cattle eating from the trailer was one that "blew up" while unloading. Hopefully this will get us through the winter.

Enjoy!

CT
 
Nice pics!!! Have you run a TDN test on the 'hay'? It's very possible for a cow to starve to death with their belly full.
 
(quoted from post at 09:50:24 09/01/11) Nice pics!!! Have you run a TDN test on the 'hay'? It's very possible for a cow to starve to death with their belly full.

Negative. I have been reading about that though. I know the protein is a little less, but there are some other nutrients that exceed grass hay. Correct me if I am wrong, but the TDN is checking for nitrates, right? I did read that crops grown in drought conditions can be high in nitrates from the fertilizer. This crop was grown under center pivot irrigation, so I assume it may not be as drought stricken.

I am trying to get Dad to take some samples to the LSU Extension office to have it tested. I assume we may have to supplement with range cubes or other feed too. I'd hate for him to kill off his herds. Later in the year we will open our hay fields to the cows for fall grazing.

There are several farmers that are opening up their fields in Central Louisiana to Texas farmers. The agreement is you bring your equipment in, respect the land, and we will not charge you to harvest. Thought I have also heard some farmers are charging $5 a bale to harvest stubble. There are nothing but 18 wheeler's with flatbeds moving up and down I-49.

I also heard that in this region (LA, TX, MS, AR...) DOT has removed a lot of restrictions due to weight, width, ect as long as the loads are secure and safe. Commercial and Farm, as long as the commodity is HAY. That was hearsay, but from the amount of overloaded vehicles I have seen on the highways and interstate I can believe it.

This can almost be called a disaster as far as cattle farming is concerned.

CT
 
Total Digestible Nutrients. When thinking about nitrates, you're probably talking about prussic acid.....which can be a problem, but usually isn't if the hay is handled correctly.
 
(quoted from post at 11:46:45 09/01/11) Total Digestible Nutrients. When thinking about nitrates, you're probably talking about prussic acid.....which can be a problem, but usually isn't if the hay is handled correctly.

Correct, it was the acids that I was researching. I still think taking some samples to the LSU Extension Office will be in order.

Hopefully it will have enough TDN to sustain nutrition w/o much other than the trace mineral tubs we currently have out. We also grind our own cotton seed hulls and milo for winter feed as well.

Thanks for the information.

CT
 

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