West Central Nebraska - Sandhills | Have about a 5 acre calving lot. For the first time we seeded to rye last fall to keep the weeds out and clean it up. Did not graze last fall, was not fertilized and was on sandy ground so it was about 4-5” tall was all by dormancy. It’s been snow covered since heifers have been in the lot mid February, the other day when all the snow melted in one day the heifers went nuts grazing it, didn’t think anything of it, they did have grass hay out there. At 130 AM found heifer down, bloated as could be. Not breathing well, could not get up. Knifed her (did not have a trochar, we never have bloat), and she let out a lot of air and then got up. She has been doing well. She got antibiotics, vet told me to induce her as soon as she bags up. Anyways, has anyone had problems like this with rye? Should I go ahead and not plant rye in the lot again this fall, or is this a freak deal? TIA |