Nicolaas - oat silage

[raymondb]

Ours works out to approximately $3.00/bale for the wrap. Four of us purchased a tubeline wrapper for about $5000.00 a piece. We have used the wrapper for the last 4 years and have had to spend zero dollars for repairs to the wrapper. The used wrapper is probably worth about $15000.00 today. We have wrapped approximately 2000 bales per year. Our best day was 400 bales(Cutting,baling,hauling and wrapping) It was really hot out that day so the oats,barley, peas mixture got down to 40% moisture real fast after cutting.We have had some of this feed wrapped for three years before we used it and it looked like the day it was wrapped only with the sweet silage smell.

If you consider land costs, interest rates, and using the land for pasture and therefore running more cows, you are further ahead getting silage hauled in and made by someone else much more economical then making it youself-especially if you can be assured of a consistant steady supplier.

We kinda have alot of fun getting together and making this stuff for each other-kinda like the old threshing days.

[cswilson]

Silage seems to be making a comeback in this neck of the woods too-one big custom outfit kinda makes a swing through every year and does a bunch.

[ALLFARMER]

Thanks Nicolaas I think what I'll end up doing is planting oats & swath grazing some & baling some. Last winter my JD 4440 could barely make it through the open field with so much snow.

[cowman]

Allfarmer: Despite being branded a reactionary...I would ask if a JD 440 can't get through the snow...how in the hell is a cow going to do it? Hey, a JD 440 is a pretty powerful tractor...well it was when I was young!
Now right now, right here, we have about eight inches of snow? These darned cows seem to have a problem with that? They seem to be wasting a lot of feed by trampling it into the snow, unless you plow them a path?
Now I am sure I have a bunch of politically incorrect cows that don't follow the "rules" set out by the holistic dictators, that seem to have decided how it should be for all of us cow jockeys! What can I do? Where can I find these "holistic self serving communist cows"? My darned old free enterprize cows just don't get it! They seem to have this idea that I should plow them a place to eat and bed! Probably a rascist thing! Damned Herford/Simmental/angus /charlais bastards!...I could include a few more but the boys who raise the real fringe ones might get upset if I don't include them! LOL

[grassfarmer]

Rather warped analogy Cowman, surely your cows are the communists when you look after them like they are on welfare? my free enterprisers were out grazing today - finished their limit fed silage so set about some old grass - we had 12" snow last week and it doesn't bother them greatly.

[cowman]

Well and here all these years I thought they were taking care of me! Those darned traitors!
But the fact of the matter was this land was bought and paid for by Hereford bulls and I guess the other cattle kept the old refrigerator full and the phone bill paid! I guess I'll have to tell them they aren't pulling their weight anymore!
But then I don't like seeing feed trampled in the snow, and I do like plowing snow, so I guess I'll still keep doing it the old expensive way? Maybe I could call it "recreational snow plowing" so I can justify it?
I wonder how we ever survived before we had all this enlightenment?