So dry farmers cutting down trees to feed

old · Aug 21, 2012

Saw in the news tonight how there are a number of guys who are cutting down tree to feed the leaves to the live stock. Fields are brown and all that is left is dust and maybe a few weeds. Hay is in very short supply also in this area. Hope it rains soon or hay may go up to well over $100 per bale and that is for the 4X4 bales. Seen ads already for $85 per

tjdub · Aug 22, 2012

I came within a week of doing that here in SE MN. When wetland pasture starts going dormant, it's about time for those stinking boxelder trees to pay their dues. It started raining here again in early August, though.

Hoofer B · Aug 22, 2012

We have hay and semis. How much do you need?

rockyridgefarm · Aug 22, 2012

I've been doing that for the last three weeks. My pastures aren't completely burned up, but I figured I may as well start cutting before they are.

The cattle like the black locust best. It's also a good excuse to make locust posts. They like boxelder black walnut as well. They'll eat the mulberry, but will leave it for the other two trees. I won't cut my oaks and cherries unless I gotta.

We're usually hay rich here is SW WI. This year, not so. CRP hay is already bringing $100-150 a ton at market. Last year, it was $60. Good dairy quality hay is $250-300 and looks to be going up. I know a lot of guys who are planning to cull very aggressively.

36 Coupe · Aug 22, 2012

Big round bales are going for 30.00 in maine.Squares are 2to 3 bucks.TSC was selling small squares for 7.79 and people were buying it.Theres plenty of hay for 3 bucks around me.

Traditional Farmer · Aug 22, 2012

Its been too wet here to make hay,looks like its going to clear out now for awhile maybe.

James Babcock · Aug 22, 2012

Wow, I never would have thought cows would eat black walnut leaves, learn something almost every day on this board. Wild cherry leaves are supposed to be toxic after they wilt for a while but are said to be OK fresh. If the cows are that hungry, I reckon they eat the leaves before the leaves become poisonous.

Case Nutty 1660 · Aug 22, 2012

been a tough year here to in Wyo, small squares 14.00 1200 lb rounds 200.00 cash only are advertized we have no extra trees to feed them would not feed them for day or so at least on my place

mkirsch · Aug 22, 2012

The only time one of our cows got ahold of any leaves, she bloated up and died. The bloat was so bad she looked like a propane tank, and you could stand her dead carcass up on its legs.

The rendering plant didn't want to take her because they claimed she'd been dead too long. This was the next morning <12 hours after we found her. She'd been dead less than a day, as she went out with the rest that morning.

John A. · Aug 22, 2012

old, That practice was done in Central Texas back in the 50s.
Called "Ball & Chaining",,, hook 2, D7 Cats together with a 60 ft or so of Anchor Chain and a big 3 ft steel ball in the middle with some sort swivel so the chain doesn't kink up, then head off down the pasture get to the end , the Cats do a flip-flop of sides and fall back in the same swath that just made, come back to where they just started from. Them move over 60 ft and do it all over again.
Part of my Moms Home place got Chained in the 50s It was a rape of the land IMO, I still Cuss the Day they unloaded The Cats!
Later,
John A.

641Dave · Aug 22, 2012

I hate to hear that about the trees.

Billy NY · Aug 22, 2012

Black cherry leaves when wilted or at some stage of this contains or produces some form of cyanide, black walnut is toxic to horses, not sure whats in that, cannot even use sawdust from it for bedding.

Jimmy King · Aug 22, 2012

Wild Cherry are poison as soon as they start wilting. Had a Vet tell us once all fruit trees are.

rockyridgefarm · Aug 22, 2012

I've been cutting them three weeks and no dead cattle. Like I said, they don't like mulberry as much as the Black Locust, Boxelder, or black walnut.

One thing I pry have going for me is they're not dining exclusively on leaves. They also still have grass. I'd prefer they keep eating both instead of waiting 'til the grass is gone and then feeding them exclusively leaves.

Traditional Farmer · Aug 22, 2012

Why is that? Trash trees and bushes would over run the place if not for bush hogging and goats.

Northvale - PA · Aug 22, 2012

every summer when its gets dry here in SE PA, I go around and trim the lower branches off our trees, even in the yard. Toss them to the sheep, they clean off the leaves, I cut the larger limbs for firewood, the sticks get burned. Nice efficient way to keep things tidy.

Traditional Farmer · Aug 22, 2012

BTW cattle love Hickory tree leaves and they make great firewood

tomNE · Aug 22, 2012

cattle guys here in NE are starting there cows on a mixture of cornstalks and wet gluten. it should work well with some free choice mineral.
only bad part is no hay until bunks are clean or the cows will leave the cornstalks lay!

Anonymous-0 · Aug 22, 2012

Look at the tree line of any pasture cattle are in and you will see the bottom branches are all at the same height - just high enough past what the cattle can reach.

BigMarv1085 · Aug 22, 2012

I can remember taking a all purpose plow and dragging up kudzo and feeding it to the cows. I was too embarrased at the the time to tell anyone but it actually was really high in protein, keep the cows fed and came back pretty quick.

BigMarv1085 · Aug 22, 2012

I can remember taking a all purpose plow and dragging up kudzo and feeding it to the cows. I was too embarrased at the the time to tell anyone but it actually was really high in protein, keep the cows fed and came back pretty quick.

bg/mo · Aug 22, 2012

The key here is going to be price

huntingreen2day · Aug 22, 2012

We did that here in Tennessee back in the late 50 or early 60. Cut Sassafras trees down. I ate Sassafras leaves also when young and poor.

So dry farmers cutting down trees to feed

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