patty dukes
Hoof Picker
![*](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/Dragonwiz/ass-icon.jpg) ![*](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/Dragonwiz/ass-icon.jpg)
April and Baby 4/28/07
Posts: 294
|
HAY???
Jun 4, 2007 9:59:35 GMT -5
Post by patty dukes on Jun 4, 2007 9:59:35 GMT -5
I bought 2 rolls of first cut fescue hay yesterday from the man we buy all our round bales from. After it was loaded he asked what we were feeding. we paid 45. a roll. I was wondering if there was a reason he was asking what we were feeding? ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) ? I should have asked but was in too much of a hurry because the tail lights on the trailer were acting up and this man is like me he can talk alot. Is there a difference in the hay for horses than the hay for cattle? As far as I know I have never gotten first cut hay is there a difference in the cuts? This man has cattle and that is what he feeds the hay. Also a quick question about cattle. He has a calf that he said had its head stuck in the feed barrel for a long time he said he had to run it off which was weird because cows only eat what they want they don't over eat. this was a mineral feed. He said he didn't see the cow for a couple days and when he did see it he said it was walking like a TWH on the front legs and practically dragging the back legs. He said the cow is foundered in all 4 hooves. He seemed like he was putting the blame on the feed. Have yall heard of that? He said his $800 cow is now about $200 of hamburger meat. He is going to eat her. I seen the poor thing laying down when I was blocking the cows from getting out of the gate. She tried to get up and did get up on her back feet but not her front ones. That is how I knew something was wrong with her and of course I am going to ask........
|
|
akalinda
Stable Manager
![*](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/Dragonwiz/14.gif) ![*](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/Dragonwiz/14.gif)
The best dog in the whole world.His name is Rip
Posts: 1,180
|
HAY???
Jun 4, 2007 10:14:50 GMT -5
Post by akalinda on Jun 4, 2007 10:14:50 GMT -5
I can't remember who it was..but someone here on MS wrote that Fescue would cause a mare to abort . But I have no personal knowledge on the subject Patty. And I know even less about cows. Hope some one can give you a better answer.
|
|
|
HAY???
Jun 4, 2007 10:41:17 GMT -5
Post by darbyponygirl on Jun 4, 2007 10:41:17 GMT -5
yes mares that are pregnant need to be off fescue 90 days before due date?
|
|
bndranch
Global Moderator
Tractor Tire Kicker
Sleep tight my sweet Larkin.....02/08/07-02/11/07
Posts: 1,488
|
HAY???
Jun 4, 2007 11:23:39 GMT -5
Post by bndranch on Jun 4, 2007 11:23:39 GMT -5
I thought that the fescue caused poor milk production as well........ As for the calf, I have NEVER heard of a cow or calf foundering, however cows will bloat! I can't see the calf but if the calf was incredibly hungry or definicient then its possible it didn't want to leave it. But you also mentioned that the calf was stuck in the barrel. So to me it sounds like a nuroligical problem. Also on another note founder occurs 95% of the time in the front feet NOT the hind. But then again I have never heard of a cow foundering.
|
|
bndranch
Global Moderator
Tractor Tire Kicker
Sleep tight my sweet Larkin.....02/08/07-02/11/07
Posts: 1,488
|
HAY???
Jun 4, 2007 11:29:41 GMT -5
Post by bndranch on Jun 4, 2007 11:29:41 GMT -5
I just looked up fescue and it states that foals eating fescue grass can have their growth stunted. Here is another exerpt from an article I found: The secret behind fescue's hardiness lies in the fungus that lives inside it. Unlike the fungi that commonly grow on the outside of grains, the fescue fungus grows inside the plant and is passed on through the seeds. This fungus produces an ergot-like alkaloid, which is toxic to many animal species. www.cvm.uiuc.edu/ope/enotes/showarticle.cfm?id=166More then likely that is why he asked what you were feeding. Cows tend to have less of a problem with fescue then horses. He more then likely wanted to make sure that you weren't feeding it to something ie a pregnant mare or a foal..
|
|
Linda
Stable Manager
![*](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/Dragonwiz/14.gif) ![*](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/Dragonwiz/14.gif)
Maggie's new filly born 6-15-07
Posts: 1,153
|
HAY???
Jun 4, 2007 13:17:58 GMT -5
Post by Linda on Jun 4, 2007 13:17:58 GMT -5
JMO~~~We raise cattle and also horses. We try never use fescue for any of them. As far as cattle, if they get to much fescue it can make the bottom of their tail fall off. Hence, no help with swatting flys plus other problems. I've seen this happen in hubby's cousins cattle. In horses, we have QH's and Minis. The first year I had a mare foal, the Vet had to give her a shot cause her bag was so hard the foal wasn't getting anything. She had eatten some grass hay we had boughten and we didn't know fuscue was in it. When I have a problem with my horses, it seem's that the first question they ask me is *Are they eating any fescue?*so that makes me think there are many problems with this grass. I'm so new in this field that I wish I could add more info, but there are many very knowledgeable people on mare stare that could add a ton of input on this subject
As far as the mans calf getting stuck in the feeder, we had a cow get her horns stuck in the round bale feeder. She pushed that big thing around for 2 days until we could get help cutting her horns off to release her. I had to laugh, but was sad at the same time not being able to help her. She was so strong and mad. Put a big dent in hubbys truck. If she would have turned her head, just a little, she could have gotten out. Not to smart of her. lol I can post a picture if anybody want to see it. She is doing just find so I don't know what the man's problem was with his calf. .
|
|
devotee
Global Moderator
Posts: 3,723
|
HAY???
Jun 4, 2007 13:53:27 GMT -5
Post by devotee on Jun 4, 2007 13:53:27 GMT -5
Fescue isn't the problem. The problem is the mold that grows on fescue and causes havoc with equine reproduction. I've never heard of feeding fescue hay to horses. Our horses won't touch hay that has any random blades of fescue in it. They won't eat fescue in the pasture either, until after the first freeze, when it becomes very sweet and therefore another kind of menace.
Fescue has poor nutritional value, too. It's best to avoid it for every reason.
|
|
bndranch
Global Moderator
Tractor Tire Kicker
Sleep tight my sweet Larkin.....02/08/07-02/11/07
Posts: 1,488
|
HAY???
Jun 4, 2007 14:28:03 GMT -5
Post by bndranch on Jun 4, 2007 14:28:03 GMT -5
We don't have fescue around here that I know of but I was looking it up and it said on one of those websites that horses love it? ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) I understand that its the mold that affects it and only some of the fescue will get it and not others. But this mold is also what makes it more hardy. Again this is just what I read, I don't feed it.
|
|
Allison
Trainer
Addicted Stare Marer
Posts: 3,591
|
HAY???
Jun 4, 2007 15:00:28 GMT -5
Post by Allison on Jun 4, 2007 15:00:28 GMT -5
Steph of Elements lost a foal last year or the year before to fescue toxicity. It was very sad. ![:'(](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/cry.png)
|
|
|
HAY???
Jun 4, 2007 17:12:27 GMT -5
Post by coloredarab on Jun 4, 2007 17:12:27 GMT -5
I believe Steph lost THREE foals to fescue toxicosis last year. Steph, correct me if I'm wrong.
|
|
Allison
Trainer
Addicted Stare Marer
Posts: 3,591
|
HAY???
Jun 4, 2007 17:43:17 GMT -5
Post by Allison on Jun 4, 2007 17:43:17 GMT -5
You know I thought it was more than one, I was thinking 2 but I was afraid to say it if I was wrong because I have a terrible, terrible memory. But one death is tragic, I can't imagine the pain Steph had to go through with 2 or 3.
|
|
patty dukes
Hoof Picker
![*](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/Dragonwiz/ass-icon.jpg) ![*](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/Dragonwiz/ass-icon.jpg)
April and Baby 4/28/07
Posts: 294
|
HAY???
Jun 4, 2007 17:51:02 GMT -5
Post by patty dukes on Jun 4, 2007 17:51:02 GMT -5
I don't think I really made myself clear when I said stuck........sorry he just ment it wouldn't quit eating it. As far as the hay I am feeding it to my mare and foal.......I was just told the problem was with pregnant mares. I am going to call this guy and see if it is the fescue he gave me because he did talk about other types of grass. He said that bermuda has about the same protein as alfalfa. The last hay we got from him was either bermuda or johnson.
I just tried to call him and no answer I will have to try back
|
|
patty dukes
Hoof Picker
![*](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/Dragonwiz/ass-icon.jpg) ![*](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/Dragonwiz/ass-icon.jpg)
April and Baby 4/28/07
Posts: 294
|
HAY???
Jun 4, 2007 17:54:03 GMT -5
Post by patty dukes on Jun 4, 2007 17:54:03 GMT -5
that is really sad about the loss of the little foals.
|
|
|
HAY???
Jun 4, 2007 20:15:48 GMT -5
Post by darbyponygirl on Jun 4, 2007 20:15:48 GMT -5
I heard that feeding fescue to a pregnant mare makes the sac to thick and the baby can't get out
|
|
devotee
Global Moderator
Posts: 3,723
|
HAY???
Jun 5, 2007 11:00:58 GMT -5
Post by devotee on Jun 5, 2007 11:00:58 GMT -5
The last hay we got from him was either bermuda or johnson. Be really, really careful about feeding johnson grass to horses (or any stock, for that matter). Unless it is grown and havested under ideal conditions (no stresses), it is toxic. Were I live, hay is not permitted to be imported from any state that has johnson grass, lest the seed work its way into the ground and spread. Johnson grass can also be toxic (lethal!) when grazed in pastures that are stressed for any reason - drought, rapid growth, etc.
|
|