Standing Grass Field... Any Good?

[SuperDog]

A person I know has about 20 acres of standing grass that hasn't been cut at all this year. It is about 5 ft high and is going to seed. Its a mix of mostly grasses, with a bit of clover and alphalfa.... I can cut and keep all I want for free. The question is.... is grass that is beyond growing and going to seed, even worth the time and energy to cut and bale? Would it still have enough protien and stuff for some beef cattle?


Thanks

[francismilker]

With it already going to seed, it's going to have more stems in it and be a little tougher. But, if I had someone willing to give it to me, I'd go for it! It's still going to have protein in it until the first frost comes, after which the proteins and nutrients receed back into the soil. You can take a sample of the hay to the local extension office and have it tested for quality and content to let you know how much grain supplement to add to your animals diet.

[Tad]

Well worth it, also would make good horse hay. Bale it sell it to the horse people for $3 and buy better stuff for your cows at $2 a bale!

[Sunraven]

I'd bale it, it's better than eating snowballs.

[sammyd]

5 feet high and seeded out?
First crop would be worthless (unless you could sell it to one of them horse people), but if you could get it off and get a second crop, you might have something.

[SuperDog]

Originally Posted by sammyd

5 feet high and seeded out?
First crop would be worthless (unless you could sell it to one of them horse people), but if you could get it off and get a second crop, you might have something.

Thats what I was thinking..... but what the heck am I gonna do with all that .... Junk hay for lack of better words

[Up North]

If you can get it for free, I would cut and bale all of it. For one thing, even a mature hayfield has some fine grasses and undergrowth that still have feed value. The other strategy is to mix it with better hay and/or grain during the winter months, to serve as roughage/filler and reduce consumption of more expensive, better quality hay.
Then there's always bedding hay needs. A cow or pigs or chickens can sleep on old hay just as well as straw come winter.
All the different grades and quality levels of hay get utilized on our farm.
Bales of poorer quality hay can also be sold as mulch hay for gardening or re-establishing grass along new highway shoulders after construction. Also, the concrete guys will buy those bales in the fall to insulate new concrete pours from freezing.
"Think outside the Bale", LOL.

[sammyd]

There is the bedding aspect, I put up 5 acres of old nasty grass last year for that.
Forgot about that.
Tried mixing it with the animals feed, only the goats would touch it. The cows palates were way too refined....just sorted it out and left it.

[topside1]

Hi Superdog, even at a minimum if you didn't bale it just mow it for the guy and have an understanding that you'd like to free bale the same field in the fall or next spring when the grasses have food value. You may be on to a great relationship with your neighbor/friend....Bought 40 squares last year of questionable hay, the steers and goats laughed at it, so it was used for winter bedding....I'd bale some for bedding and bushog the rest.