Hi Folks, currently reports are flying in that this years cereal yields are poor. Not only are the grain yields low, but the straw yields are just the same. Due to inappropriate weather this year, the cereal plants just diddn’t seem to grow very well during the stem elongation stage. Resulting in short plants, thus giving poor straw yields. I can’t help but think there is going to be a serious shortage of straw for this winter. Harvest has already been interrupted with unkind rain showers. So, the quality of feed straw will only deteriorate…
For those of you who are not sure what to buy I can help:
Wheat Straw = Bedding Material, livestock will eat it, but it has poor feed value. Barley Straw = More expensive, due to having a better feed value. Rape Straw = Cheap to buy, poor bedding and certainly rubbish feed value. Pea Straw = Expensive in comparison, great feed value, brilliant for show livestock.
My method has always been, use wheat straw for bedding, then in a rack, barley straw. But the prime stock that I want to keep in prime shape for showing, I use pea straw instead of barley straw.
“Buy your straw now, before it’s too late. You don’t want to be paying through the nose for it in the winter”!!!