Animals eat straw...usually when you re-bed they'll come munch on it a bit. Usually they prefer hay, but will eat straw if they're starving. They usually don't eat straw that's not fresh though. I dont' understand why she doesn't just feed hay up there? Wouldn't that make more sense? Bed with straw, then put hay up there in hay feeders. Oh wait, she doesn't use hay feeders...
I've seen dairy cows eat it when they're turned out into newly bedded barns, sheep, goats, etc. I've worked on many different farms and have seen animals dive in to fresh straw to eat it. And yes, these animals (especially the dairy cows) have food available 24/7.
Its a low quality low protein and doesn't fullful any animals nutritional requirements. Sure, mix it in for shits and giggles and you'll end up with more manure and less energy for the animal. Maybe animals will pick at it, cows I guess in particular, but I've never seen horses, pigs, alpacas, yaks, or sheep eat around their hay to consume the straw. I'm also guessing the straw you and articles reference is cut differently or a different type than what is available in small square bales.
Oh good grief, just because you've never seen it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I've seen it multiple times. You said animals won't eat it unless they're starving. That's simply not true. Perhaps it's a novelty for many animals when there is fresh bedding, but I can tell you COUNTLESS times when I re-bedded the cows on the 500 cow dairy farm where I worked, as soon as we'd start spreading straw, the cows would bounce (yes, bounce, they were excited) over to EAT THE STRAW.
I've also seen it at my own house with my sheep and goats. They will leave the hay feeder to see what I'm doing and EAT THE STRAW.
Straw is a low quality feed, but it is useful for fiber and to produce more rumination which increases body heat in the winter. But I'm sure you know that, seeing as how you know everything about all animals all the time.
*insert eye roll*
And no, it's not different straw than what is in small square bales. Same straw. Harvest the wheat grain (or rye, or barley, or oats) and bale the straw. Same stuff.
Jenna, Since you love to give helpful tips to everyone, here are a couple of tips for you: You might want to wear your glasses more often as they help to hide your lazy eye. Unfortunately, your dollar store hair extensions draw attention to your face so you might consider taking those out. It's impossible to take a washed-up, thirty-something seriously when she looks like she's playing dress up with mommy's make up and grandpa's clothes. If I wanted farming and homesteading tips from a crazy person, I'd write to Charles Manson in prison.
It's clear you have no livestock experience, Anon 1:40, because if you did you'd see there's nothing I have said that is wrong.
I don't feed my livestock straw, I only bed with it. I have hay for my animals. But I find it hard to read Meredith's blog without commenting on things I know personally to be false. I love to hate on Jenna as much as the next person, but when Meredith makes incorrect statements, I like to correct them. I figure she'd be open to learning from others who have livestock experience, but it seems like she's not.
I'm not sure why she (or you, for that matter), find anything wrong with that. In fact, much of the Cold Antler Sham and Sham Too blog posts are correcting Jenna's blatant lies and incorrect "facts" about raising animals.
I find it hypocritical you get pissed off at Jenna's "Amen Charlies" because they stick up for her no matter what. Isn't that what you're doing now with Meredith? Are you simply a Meredith "Amen Charlie"?
It would be nice to have an actual discussion about it, but I have a feeling you're just going to reply with your typical "ok Jenna" bullshit.
Good feedback. I have the least experience with goats and cattle. I understand straw is edible but it's not a mainstay and based on recent reading should only be incorporated for certain species and only when used to supplement a higher quality feed.
Hay has nutritional qualities straw doesn't have.
Straw has insulating abilities hay doesn't have.
A field adjacent to the alpaca farm made corn stalk round bales this year. That was a new one for me. No silage, straight up round bales with entire stalks.
Yes, several farmers around here bale corn fodder and soybean fodder too. They also graze harvested fields too, so cows can clean up the fodder. Usually they'll plant a winter cover crop in that same field, so they can eat the cover crop (usually rye) and corn fodder at the same time.
Animals eat straw...usually when you re-bed they'll come munch on it a bit. Usually they prefer hay, but will eat straw if they're starving. They usually don't eat straw that's not fresh though. I dont' understand why she doesn't just feed hay up there? Wouldn't that make more sense? Bed with straw, then put hay up there in hay feeders. Oh wait, she doesn't use hay feeders...
ReplyDeleteAnimals also eat rocks when they are starving.
ReplyDeleteWhat species have you seen eat straw voluntarily when actual feed is available?
I've seen dairy cows eat it when they're turned out into newly bedded barns, sheep, goats, etc. I've worked on many different farms and have seen animals dive in to fresh straw to eat it. And yes, these animals (especially the dairy cows) have food available 24/7.
ReplyDeleteGoogle "feeding straw" and you'll see plenty of articles on how (and why) to incorporate straw into rations for beef cattle, dairy cattle, etc.
ReplyDeleteIts a low quality low protein and doesn't fullful any animals nutritional requirements. Sure, mix it in for shits and giggles and you'll end up with more manure and less energy for the animal. Maybe animals will pick at it, cows I guess in particular, but I've never seen horses, pigs, alpacas, yaks, or sheep eat around their hay to consume the straw. I'm also guessing the straw you and articles reference is cut differently or a different type than what is available in small square bales.
ReplyDeleteOh good grief, just because you've never seen it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I've seen it multiple times. You said animals won't eat it unless they're starving. That's simply not true. Perhaps it's a novelty for many animals when there is fresh bedding, but I can tell you COUNTLESS times when I re-bedded the cows on the 500 cow dairy farm where I worked, as soon as we'd start spreading straw, the cows would bounce (yes, bounce, they were excited) over to EAT THE STRAW.
ReplyDeleteI've also seen it at my own house with my sheep and goats. They will leave the hay feeder to see what I'm doing and EAT THE STRAW.
Straw is a low quality feed, but it is useful for fiber and to produce more rumination which increases body heat in the winter. But I'm sure you know that, seeing as how you know everything about all animals all the time.
*insert eye roll*
And no, it's not different straw than what is in small square bales. Same straw. Harvest the wheat grain (or rye, or barley, or oats) and bale the straw. Same stuff.
Jenna,
DeleteSince you love to give helpful tips to everyone, here are a couple of tips for you:
You might want to wear your glasses more often as they help to hide your lazy eye.
Unfortunately, your dollar store hair extensions draw attention to your face so you might consider taking those out.
It's impossible to take a washed-up, thirty-something seriously when she looks like she's playing dress up with mommy's make up and grandpa's clothes.
If I wanted farming and homesteading tips from a crazy person, I'd write to Charles Manson in prison.
Oh good grief. You know, it is possible to disagree with Meredith and NOT be Jenna. Your paranoia is showing.
DeleteSigned,
K
Thanks for setting me straight, Jenna
DeleteIt's clear you have no livestock experience, Anon 1:40, because if you did you'd see there's nothing I have said that is wrong.
DeleteI don't feed my livestock straw, I only bed with it. I have hay for my animals. But I find it hard to read Meredith's blog without commenting on things I know personally to be false. I love to hate on Jenna as much as the next person, but when Meredith makes incorrect statements, I like to correct them. I figure she'd be open to learning from others who have livestock experience, but it seems like she's not.
I'm not sure why she (or you, for that matter), find anything wrong with that. In fact, much of the Cold Antler Sham and Sham Too blog posts are correcting Jenna's blatant lies and incorrect "facts" about raising animals.
I find it hypocritical you get pissed off at Jenna's "Amen Charlies" because they stick up for her no matter what. Isn't that what you're doing now with Meredith? Are you simply a Meredith "Amen Charlie"?
It would be nice to have an actual discussion about it, but I have a feeling you're just going to reply with your typical "ok Jenna" bullshit.
-K
Good feedback. I have the least experience with goats and cattle. I understand straw is edible but it's not a mainstay and based on recent reading should only be incorporated for certain species and only when used to supplement a higher quality feed.
ReplyDeleteHay has nutritional qualities straw doesn't have.
Straw has insulating abilities hay doesn't have.
A field adjacent to the alpaca farm made corn stalk round bales this year. That was a new one for me. No silage, straight up round bales with entire stalks.
Yes, several farmers around here bale corn fodder and soybean fodder too. They also graze harvested fields too, so cows can clean up the fodder. Usually they'll plant a winter cover crop in that same field, so they can eat the cover crop (usually rye) and corn fodder at the same time.
Delete-K
Rye is the only green I see this time of year! Cover crops make me smile for so many reasons.
Delete