I Can't Se This Having Much Feed Value?

big rockpile · #1 01/10/13, 07:33 AM

Neighbor planted hundreds of acres of Corn,couldn't get down to cut it for Silage,later when it was ready to pick he mowed it down and Baled it.The stalks were dry and turning almost Black.

Seen in the paper he was trying to sell it for $65 a Bale.I just can't see it having much feed value.

big rockpile

glenn amolenaar · #2 01/10/13, 07:53 AM

BR, Hopefully anyone buying it would demand a test on quality and safety of this baled trash. In this area it is selling for $35-45 a bale tested, personally I would not buy it at any price.
Glenn

Awnry Abe · #3 01/10/13, 08:24 AM

Compost

tentance · #4 01/10/13, 09:01 AM

all plants have less nutrition after they flower, and even less nutrition after fruiting/seeding. it might have some roughage value, but i doubt it was properly stored, based on what you wrote, so probably unsafe. agree with compost

Alice In TX/MO · #5 01/10/13, 09:21 AM

In a bad hay year, it sells. Whether it's safe for use with the mold and aflatoxin is another question.

rambler · #6 01/10/13, 10:59 AM

Need to do a nitrate test if it was dry there, that's the bad issue this year.

Cows like cornstalk leaves, while it.s low in feed value, it is good fiber for them and can be mixed with some high protien products to make a good feed for them.

I won't speak to the quality of it since I didn't see it, and the price sure does sound high. It's a filler, not the main energy source, and as others say, I hear prices of $30 to 35 here tops.

--->Paul

dkhern · #7 01/10/13, 01:50 PM

there were folks here last year that hauled hay equip to tx and baled corn. dont know details about cost. they were happy go get it. last yr was that bad.

big rockpile · #8 01/10/13, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

In a bad hay year, it sells. Whether it's safe for use with the mold and aflatoxin is another question.

Yea I wa Deer hunting seating next to some of these bales and definate Musty smell of mold.They did go through the trouble of wrapping them.

I guess a person could pump them with Molasses and maybe make them more plyable.I sure wouldn't feed it.

I know as a kid we would cut and shalk Green Corn and Cane cows ate it just fine but it had a Good Sweet Smell.

big rockpile

Karen · #9 01/10/13, 02:29 PM

They do that a lot here. According to the farmer next door, it is a 'filler'. It gives the cows something to keep them busy when there's snow on the ground and nothing for them to do but stand around and wait for their feed; plus it adds needed fiber. No one, however, feeds it exclusively. It's just an add-in after their regular feed/hay.

FarmboyBill · #10 01/10/13, 02:30 PM

If those corn stalk bales going for $65, Whats regular grass hay going for?

coolrunnin · #11 01/10/13, 04:18 PM

I just sold this past weekend 35 2 year old large round bales for 55 dollar ea. to a neighbor and he was glad to get it, good hay is non existent for sale.
But yea there is abunch of trash for sale out there for unbelievable prices.

oneokie · #12 01/10/13, 04:34 PM

As has been said, baled corn is a filler. Most times whom ever is feeding that will also have the molasses tubs or liquid feed tubs available to the cattle for the energy provided by the molasses/NPN.

arcticow · #13 01/10/13, 05:26 PM

What no one asked is, does it still have the ears on it? If it does, there is feed value. Not all black surface mold is toxic... sure, it's nice to be able to find, afford and feed all the nice, pretty stuff. BUT in a drought like this and when dollars count, if it ain't full of aflatoxin and I had acess to a tub grinder, I'd dead sure consider it. WHITE molds, no...

big rockpile · #14 01/10/13, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmboyBill

If those corn stalk bales going for $65, Whats regular grass hay going for?

$100-$125

big rockpile

big rockpile · #15 01/10/13, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcticow

What no one asked is, does it still have the ears on it? If it does, there is feed value. Not all black surface mold is toxic... sure, it's nice to be able to find, afford and feed all the nice, pretty stuff. BUT in a drought like this and when dollars count, if it ain't full of aflatoxin and I had acess to a tub grinder, I'd dead sure consider it. WHITE molds, no...

Yea I went down there before it was cut and it did make some.

big rockpile

CaliannG · #16 01/10/13, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big rockpile

$100-$125

big rockpile

Ya'll are paying what I paid during the drought....makes sense, I guess.

Yes, once they turned black, they are no longer worth anything for feed. Too dangerous.

During the drought, however, I saw corn straw, rice straw and wheat straw going for $65 a bale...he might be trying to do that, even though he would be selling poison.

tinknal · #17 01/10/13, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcticow

What no one asked is, does it still have the ears on it? If it does, there is feed value. Not all black surface mold is toxic... sure, it's nice to be able to find, afford and feed all the nice, pretty stuff. BUT in a drought like this and when dollars count, if it ain't full of aflatoxin and I had acess to a tub grinder, I'd dead sure consider it. WHITE molds, no...

This is the exact same question I had. Most round bales have some mold on the outside. It seems if this was a drought year that it is very unlikely that the bales would be moldy on the inside.

Pony · #18 01/10/13, 08:53 PM

I would be very concerned about aflatoxins.

arcticow · #19 01/10/13, 08:57 PM

MOST black molds will not hurt cattle or even goats. I have, at times fed BLACK hay and NEVER had any come up sick. Given the choice, I'd take perect bright green hay, but if you grow your own and feed it sooner or later you WILL have some go south onyou and if it's all you have you will feed it or sell the stock. Fact of life... and I did say IF it ain't full of AFLATOXIN.

Pony · #20 01/10/13, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcticow

MOST black molds will not hurt cattle or even goats. I have, at times fed BLACK hay and NEVER had any come up sick. Given the choice, I'd take perect bright green hay, but if you grow your own and feed it sooner or later you WILL have some go south onyou and if it's all you have you will feed it or sell the stock. Fact of life... and I did say IF it ain't full of AFLATOXIN.

Obviously, your life facts must be different from mine.

I will never feed my stock questionable hay. A few bucks saved will not pay for the horrible death caused by aflatoxin. I would never risk putting my stock through that.

There are other feeds that can be used if the hay goes wonky.