Broke Cowboy
Well-known member
Pencil it out and I bet the added fertilizer, negated manure spreading and less fence requirements bring the cost to less than feeders and some lost hay.
We put out the bales, feed all the cattle and do not even bother to close gates or worry about fences once the snow comes - they will stay beside bales until they are all gone.
NR - when was the last time you bought fert for your pastures?
Then listen to the costs spent by those down south on their fert costs.
I can honestly say we have not put fert on a hay field or a pasture in over five years since we started this.
We have had excellent weed control since we started doing this and we have seen a noted improvement in all pastures since we started this - all compliments of the cattle.
Last winter we did not use a tractor once to feed cows - no wear and tear and no fuel costs. Some folks down south roll out hay every day with their tractors and tell me it is because they do not want to waste hay?
That "no machinery" has to be worth something.
I have two feeders - solid and capable of handling about 20 head at a time each - stored inside - anyone want them - come and get them - we will likely never use them again.
I am a convert to bale grazing and will likely never go back.
Best to all
BC
We put out the bales, feed all the cattle and do not even bother to close gates or worry about fences once the snow comes - they will stay beside bales until they are all gone.
NR - when was the last time you bought fert for your pastures?
Then listen to the costs spent by those down south on their fert costs.
I can honestly say we have not put fert on a hay field or a pasture in over five years since we started this.
We have had excellent weed control since we started doing this and we have seen a noted improvement in all pastures since we started this - all compliments of the cattle.
Last winter we did not use a tractor once to feed cows - no wear and tear and no fuel costs. Some folks down south roll out hay every day with their tractors and tell me it is because they do not want to waste hay?
That "no machinery" has to be worth something.
I have two feeders - solid and capable of handling about 20 head at a time each - stored inside - anyone want them - come and get them - we will likely never use them again.
I am a convert to bale grazing and will likely never go back.
Best to all
BC