Winter Rye or Oats?

[HappyFarmer]

We normally plant winter rye this time of year to add some fresh forage to our pastures, which have slowed and even started turning brown. At 60+ a bag, we thought we might try oats instead, as we can get oats bulk through the coop at a far better price.

We were wondering if this would be acceptable as a supplemental forage, and how it would do over the next few months before a hard freeze hits? We're in New England.
HF

[Bearfootfarm]

At 60+ a bag, we thought we might try oats instead, as we can get oats bulk through the coop at a far better price.

Oats will do fine until they freeze, and then they die.
And if you meant youre paying $60 a bag for rye, they are sticking it to you.
Abruzzi rye here is $15, and Wintergrazer 70 is $17.
Even Marshall Reygrass is only $37 a bag, and it only takles 25-30 lbs per acre.

[HappyFarmer]

Thanks bearfootfarm.

I find our prices are always higher than other areas. It kills me when I read others pay 10 or 15 for a disbudding-I was charged 130~for 2 kids, with anesthesia a couple years ago. It quickly makes me learn how to do things myself, lol.

I don't recall the weight of the bag, but it was under 80 lbs as I could lift it.

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

Being so far north my advice is probably moot...but I plant not only rye, but also oats and peas and a deer plot mix of (vetch, peas, clovers etc.) and a wild bird seed mix that includes black oil sunflower....as everything winter dies off here the rye is going strong, then in the spring when the rye dies we are left with oats, alot of the deer mix and bird seeds. As the pasture grass takes over it kills back the clovers etc....giving me a variety for the goats to eat through. Vicki

[Bearfootfarm]

I don't recall the weight of the bag, but it was under 80 lbs as I could lift it.

The standard weight is 50 lbs. If it's a "bushel" it would be closer to 60 lbs.
It pays to shop around, and most any place that sells ANY seed/feed can order whatever you want , even if they dont normally keep it on hand.

[ET1 SS]

I just picked up a tonne of oats. I paid $200, which is $5 per 50 pound bag.

We ran out of sweet feed today, and began shifting over to the oats. We plan to get a tonne of barley and one of corn next week.

[HappyFarmer]

Hmm. I think I'll do both, in case the oats don't take, starting to get a little nippy at night this past week.
Thanks for the suggestions!