Hay pricing

[THD]

What is good spring fescue and orchard grass square baled hay bringing as of this date 2008?
Location = south central Kentucky.

 

[reid5365]

Im outside of louisville how many bales you need??

 

[kyhayman]

Nothing less than 4 dollars a bale from what I'e been seeing and thats on the ground behind the baler. Seeing some grass on the wagon for 4.75 but its pretty common, decent hay on the wagon 5-5.50.

 

[Iowa Jim]

Does anyone here price their hay based on an indes of the nutrient profile?

I know out West hay is commonly sold for $/1 point of TDN. I have toyed with the idea of doing the same in the east, but by using a ratio between RFQ and $$$.

I am leaning towards $1 to $1.15/RFQ.

Jim

 

[Tim Daulton]

Thanks, Kyhayman, I had a feeling you'd come through with an answer for me.

 

[kyhayman]

I think it really depends on what it eating the hay. If its for a dairy cow then pricing on RFV makes sense. About half my dairy customers buy western hay on RFV already so they would be open to the idea.

Beef cow hay, goat hay, and horse hay I cant see people paying it. Educating customers is expensive. I'd rather try to provide exactly what they want, as shown by how they spend their money, rather than try to teach them what they need. The large majority of my customers buy strictly on color and smell. That means I harvest later, at a lower RFV, but get more yield and a better price.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I agree with Kyhayman, Most of my customers being goat, beef and some horse go strictly by visual and smell. But most importantly if their animal will eat it. Goats can be picky as far as being fine stemmed. Another important fact of dairy goats is they don't like change at all. If you put someone elses hay in their feeder they know its different and it turns into bedding. I have had calls when someone tryed another supplier and need mine as they wouldn't eat it the other hay.