[Jacob-list] Hay woes

[Linda]

HUH?  I shouldn't raise sheep because I need to buy hay? And because hay is a bit scarce this year I should quit?  

A few years back I wrote an article for our regional newsletter about the adaptability of Jacobs.  I know of healthy flocks raised an acre or less. I know of healthy flocks left to fend for themselves with no human intervention for years.  Jacobs seem to adapt to all levels of management, which I think is an indication of just how primitive they are.  Adaptability, IMHO, is a primitive trait.

Glad I'm not raising reptiles :-), although we sure have plenty of crickets here (I can send you some, if you'd like)

Linda





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


> Is it possible that realistically some areas just aren't suitable

> for keeping sheep? And therefore if one chooses to raise sheep in

> those unsuitable places, one is effectively keeping "an exotic" and

> should therefore accept outrageous cost of feed? To give an

> example, I keep tropical reptiles as pets, and I expect to have to

> provide electric heat for them, and to have to purchase live

> crickets at exhorbitant costs from pet stores. I do this out of

> choice after all. When it comes to my sheep, I am obliged to

> provide good shelter for them in Winter in the form of a well-

> insulatted barn, and I have an electric heater to stop their water

> from freezing. As we have snow on the ground from November to

> April, making pastures unusable, I expect to have to buy in hay to

> feed them during the Winter months. It would be much easier/cheaper

> if I had 12 months of good pasture, but in order to do that I'd

> have to move to Spain.

>

> But to answer your question, no I would not ration the hay. I make

> it #1 priority, because no matter what it costs me, it's cheaper

> than anything else available to me in Winter. I feed only hay, and

> they make plenty of milk on it.

>

> Melanie

>

> Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus.

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

>> From: Linda

>> To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

>> Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2007 5:45 PM

>> Subject: [Jacob-list] Hay woes

>>

>>

>> It's that time of year again, when we all start to get nervous

>> about hay.  My part of the SE has been in drought conditions for

>> about 6 of the last 8 years.  Last year hay was impossible to

>> find by February.  Usually we can just suck it up and buy hay at

>> an exorbitant price at the feed stores, but this year it just

>> wasn't there for any price.  We were fortunate to be able to get

>> hay from a neighbor that had sold her horses.  The first cutting

>> of hay this year was greatly reduced and some growers were

>> worried about a second cutting.  We got some rain and the second

>> cutting was good.  VERY expensive, but good.  I've good luck

>> finding and using round bales for our sheep at the top of the

>> hill.  I use alfalfa pellets every year to supplement the hay.  

>> Neal Grose mentioned at AGM that pregnant ewes need energy most

>> and that corn is a good substitute for some of the hay ration.

>>

>> Two questions:

>>

>> Does anyone limit the hay available to their sheep?  I was

>> reading at: http://ag.ansc.purdue.edu/sheep/articles/highhay.html

>> and on another site whose name escapes me about limiting the hay.

>> I've got some ewes now that are on grass hay only free choice and

>> they are fat little pigs.

>>

>> What do you use to substitute for part of the hay ration if

>> needed?

>>

>> Thanks

>> Linda

>>

>>

>> www.patchworkfibers.com

>> Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun Yarn

>>

>>

>> _______________________________________________

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