Market Day and Peanut Hay...

Many small farms are unable to keep livestock any more.  The drought has finished many.  The need for hay far exceeds the resources.  All calves but one went to the sale in hopes we could find hay for our seed stock.  We wanted to keep our heifers this year since we had a beautiful bunch.  We could not, not knowing if we would find hay or not.  Many are making this choice and many have had to sell completely.

Hubby directs the trailer to the loading chute.  The bull was not happy and voices his discontent with part of his herd leaving.  He was in the corral with them but promptly jumped the gate crushing it with his heavy exit strategy.  Normally a nice calm fellow, he did not like this one bit.

On the news last night I heard people are stealing hay in Missouri and Texas because of the long drought or maybe just because they can.  Hay is at a premium.  We were able to go a different "hay" way this year.

Peanut hay!  We have hay and the cows love it!!!  I do believe we will have enough for the winter and that is a great relief.  We feed range cubes and keep feeder buckets out but hay or roughage is necessary.  I imagine horses would colic or founder on this but the cows are very happy.  In fact the first bale was rolled out by the bull himself.

In south Arkansas peanuts are grown.  They have a  machine that pulls them up.  After a few days, the peanuts are ready to be harvested.  Another piece of equipment picks up the plants and shakes them to remove the peanuts. What is left has been baled for cattle feed.  It would be an added bonus if peanuts voluntarily grow next year.

We are the lucky ones!  We have feed!  Our herd is the smallest it's been since we began.  Hopefully the rains will come well timed and we can increase our herd again.

For now, we're happy...WE HAVE HAY!