[Jacob-list] Hay issue

[Linda]

That's a thought for next year.  Thanks for the tip.  

We're currently thinking about seeing if we can use round bales efficiently.  Round bales are more plentiful than square bales most years and are cheaper per pound (if you don't waste 1/2 the bale).  Does anyone have experience with the round bale feeders?  

Silage isn't available here.  I've checked into Chaffhay, but it doesn't seem to be available anywhere nearby.  

$17 for a square bale?  Must be alfalfa?  I just found a source today for Bermuda at $4.50/bale from a feed store and I'm going back with the truck next week for more. 

Linda
 
www.patchworkfibers.com
Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun Yarn



> This might not work for everyone but this year we

> found a different way to buy hay. We found a producer

> who did not want to sell to lots of different people

> but just have a route for a few.  We signed up for as

> many bales as we think we will need this year and they

> keep the hay in their barn and then just deliver 30-60

> bales when you call them.  This gives them top price

> (at time of harvest) and we know what the consistent

> hay looks like and will look like for this year.  We

> did this because last year the hay was really very

> wide ranging in quality and varied in expense till it

> was unbelievable....$17 a bale. It was cause we had

> those record breaking rains and no one could get into

> the field to harvest and then lots of it molded.

> This way is good for us cause we know all year how

> much the bales will be and the farmer knows as soon as

> he harvests he has all the hay sold and does not need

> to get a loan to plant for next year,  We just have to

> take 30- 60 bales at a time which is a lot for the

> storage we have.  Just an idea. By the way, those of

> us in Calif. really envy the price of hay the rest of

> you guys pay.   Victoria

> --- jacob-list-request at jacobsheep.com wrote:



>> Message: 1

>> Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 13:08:08 -0500

>> From: "Neal and Louise Grose"

>> Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] hay extender

>> To: "Jacob-list"

>> Message-ID:

>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

>>

>> Corn silage is an excellent roughage and energy

>> source if you can find a ready supply. It will

>> supply plenty of roughage value and is about

>> equivalent in energy to 2 parts hay and 1 part corn

>> grain (68 to 72 mcal/pound and 8% protein, good

>> alfalfa hay in our area runs 62 mcal/lb, inadequate

>> for gestating ewes and growing lambs)...additional

>> protein will be needed to be added to corn silage

>> rations for late lactation and gestation. We have

>> used it for our sheep for years because we have it

>> for our dairy herd.

>>

>> You will need to be able to feed small quantities of

>> a fresh supply three times a week in the winter

>> (daily in warmer weather) because it will heat and

>> grow mold more readily than hay. Hay silage will

>> work as well, and should be slightly higher in

>> quality than hay of the same stage of harvest

>> because there will be more leaves retained. It is

>> more palatable than hay because it has a somewhat

>> sweet taste. (I have seen cows run across the lot to

>> get to an sickenly sweet smelling bale of sudan and

>> johnsongrass balelage.)

>>

>> Neal Grose

>> North Carolina

>> ----- Original Message -----

>> From: Meg Steensland

>> To: Linda ; Jacob-list ; jacob-sheep

>> Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2006 8:28 PM

>> Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] hay extender

>>

>>

>> Scarce hay - my usual guy just sold me his last

>> lot of 30 some bales. Tomorrow  am going to an

>> auction to see what they have.  There is always $3/

>> bale hay.  Silage if you can get it is another

>> option - but you still need the roughage.

>>

>> There is a local guy with some crummy - rough hay

>> as a last resort - then I will contact my lama

>> friends to see what they are doing.  My brother

>> wants to rent 30 acres next year and grow our own.

>>

>> Linda wrote:

>> It looks like hay is going to be terribly scarce

>> this year.  What are thoughts on feeds to stretch

>> out the hay supply?  I am currently using alfalfa

>> pellets and whole corn, mixed half and half.  My

>> ewes are in early gestation - from 1 to 2 months

>> along.  I understand that energy is more important

>> at this stage than protein.  I'll also be putting

>> out the Blue Seal tubs as soon as the new dealer

>> gets them the end of this week.

>>

>> Any suggestions on hay extenders and/or

>> substitutes?

>>

>> Linda

>>

>> www.patchworkfibers.com

>> Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun

>> Yarn

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>> Message: 2

>> Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:08:22 -0500

>> From: "Joseph Laughlin"

>> Subject: [Jacob-list] ram's horns

>> To:

>> Message-ID:

>>

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>>

>> Thank you to everyone who responded to my inquiry

>> about our Horned Dorset ram's damaged horn.  I

>> received lots of good advice and information. At

>> this point I have decided to leave it alone to heal

>> as is but if he damages it further - if it loosens,

>> comes off, etc. - I may try to secure it back in

>> place by taping, wiring or gluing.  For this ram

>> it's not a genetic issue. It's pure aesthetics on my

>> part. I have also taken steps to separate the Jacob

>> and the Horned Dorset rams to hopefully avoid

>> another collision! Thanks again! Jo Ann

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>> Message: 3

>> Date: Sat, 16 Dec 2006 09:01:24 EST

>> From: Paintedrockfarm at aol.com

>> Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] need help

>> To: punkinsmom at earthlink.net

>> Cc: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

>> Message-ID:

>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>>

>> Sara,

>>

>> WOW -- what an endeavor your friend has undertaken!

>> Enlisting the  help of a

>> qualified vet would be my first suggestion.  He/she

>> would be a  valuable

>> resource in developing a program to help get this

>> ewe back on track for  good

>> health.

>>

>> Emaciation can do weird things to an animal's body,

>> metabolism, etc.   Often

>> times, we overfeed right away thinking we are

>> helping the animal recover  when

>> that often results in more harm than good.  In this

>> case, quality is

>> definitely a priority vs. quantity, especially with

>> grain introduction and  hay.  You

>> want the ewe to meet her own body needs, while still

>> meeting  the needs of

>> her off spring still developing inside her.  Too

>> much protein  too quickly may

>> result in oversized lambs, adding only additional

>> body stress to  an already

>> run down mom-to-be.  Again, an experienced

>> veterinarian would be  a valuable

>> resource!

>>

>> I'd have a stool sample checked for parasites and

>> deworm, if needed.

>> Vaccinations to include basic CD&T (we use

>> Covexin-8), then others  as recommended

>> by her vet.  Since this ewe has unknown medical

>> history, it may be safe to

>> assume she has not received any health care based up

>> on her condition.  I would

>> give the initial vaccine then follow up with the

>> booster as the product label

>>

> === message truncated ===

>

>

> Victoria

> Castle Rock Farm

> Jacob Sheep & Nigerian Dwarf Goats

> www.castlerockfarm.net

>

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