[Jacob-list] Alfalfa Hay

[Jim Spahr]

I can't believe the prices some of you have to pay for alfalfa hay!  We certainly would not feed it if it cost us $8 - $12/bale.  Our sheep do not eat the stems of grass hay or alfalfa hay.  My husband says they waste less when he spreads flakes out at least every 8 - 10 feet.  This works fine out in the pasture where there is lots of room, but in the ram pen there is more waste.  Our bales are from 50 - 60 lbs., 2nd and 3rd cuttings.  The stems are maybe 18" - just a guess.  It is very green and smells wonderful.  
On the topic of moldy hay and sheep, it is correct that sheep will not eat it.  Cows will eat it as we learned the hard way when we lost several Charolais cows due to a molded round bale purchased from a neighbor.  He did not admit that his hay caused our loss, so no compensation from his insurance company.  The sheep were smart enough not to touch it.  
I wonder if it would pay any of you southern breeders to hay hay shipped from Ohio?  About 400 bales could fit on a semi truck.  

                                                                      Mary Spahr 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.pairlist.net/pipermail/jacob-list/attachments/20011127/7a73654a/attachment.html