Kick the Hay Habit
With winter hay feed costs being the largest single factor limiting profitability for most grazing businesses and the costs of producing hay far outweighing its value -- it’s time to kick the hay habit! Author Jim Gerrish acknowledges that hay and haymaking have been an integral part of animal agriculture for millennia, but many livestock producers are now too busy baling hay to effectively manage their operations and make the profit they deserve. So it is time to admit hay addiction, park the combine and kick the habit.
Gerrish writes in his straightforward way just how much it really costs to produce a ton of hay, how to use what nature provides for low-cost winter grazing, how to do a pasture inventory, how to design a customized winter forage system, how to transition from hay feeding to grazing and more. Since year-around grazing is possible – without hay – in every region of the U.S.A., Kick the Hay Habit is written for every grazier from beginner to experienced.
Copyright 2010, softcover, 224 pages.
Customer Reviews
United StatesJim Gerrish provides a very matter of fact manner of providing tips and trick to achieving year round grazing. He presents basic scientific information describing the importance of microbial activity on the growth of forage for livestock. Jim leads the reader in understanding the needs of livestock to achieve providing year round grazing. Jim Gerrish provides real world examples of some surprises that impacted his journey of year round grazing, but can be used to prevent potential problem in the pasture.
United StatesNot to much ground breaking info here. I’ll give you the cliff notes for free. Decrease stocking rates... live in a place where weather allows you to graze year round or stockpile forages (but apparently if you live in an area that has wet winters you’re *******) ...lease more land.
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