[Jacob-list] Question about Hay Type and Amount

[Zach Oaster]

Hi Marjorie,

I am a relatively new farmer myself (been doing this now for about two
years)... so others are welcome to give alternative advice, but I'll gladly
toss-in what I've found. I live in the upper-midwest also... Michigan.

I have found that how you feed them makes a big difference in consumption,
but there are other considerations as well.

I usually feed on the ground outside, or in a ground-level tub in the barn.
This does create a bit more waste than other hay feeders (like the sheep
feeders available through tractor supply), but it also keeps my fleeces
super nice and clean... and the waste hay ends up as either bedding in the
barn, or as an outdoor laying-down spot on the otherwise snowy/icy ground
(which the sheep love, especially on a sunny winter day). I feed them
outside most days, except in the middle of a snowstorm, rain, etc.
Obviously, when it occasionally snows, it covers the old hay... so there is
some waste there. The sheep won't dig much to uncover old hay.

I "write off" the wasted hay because I see the benefit of a VERY clean
fleece (especially for my handspinner market), and I don't have enough sheep
to warrant buying hundreds of dollars worth of feeders. You could maybe
build one cheaper (plans on the internet)...

I've tried a few different hay types. My Jacobs seem to like both a really
grassy green hay as well as an alfalfa/grass (usually timothy) mix (good
quality first or second cutting are fine, baled dry, low dust, etc...
usually sheep guides recommend some alfalfa for protein). During the winter,
I find that my 8-10 sheep will eat around 1 bale/day. I usually plan to buy
one square bale per grass-less day (usually October through April)... so
around 200-220... maybe a few more for good measure.

I only use grain as a treat, not as a usual food supplement. I always have a
Producer's Pride sheep block available at all times too... so that is an
additional source of vitamins, salt, and protein. My belief is that Jacobs
don't need much grain at all, and mine are fat and sassy... even when
pregnant and lactating... on a quality grass/hay diet.

Hope that helps!

^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
Zach Oaster
zach at fattoaster.com
Visit Zach & Lindsay's farm blog: http://www.fattoasterfarm.com
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^



On Wed, May 11, 2011 at 6:45 PM, Marjorie Schafer <MHSchafer at oglecom.com>wrote:


> Hello,

>

> I am a new poster to this list, though I've been reading it for many

> months.

>

> We are absolute newbie farmers and are getting our first Jacobs this

> summer, and I was wondering if you all could give me ideas about the type of

> hay you feed your Jacobs (e.g., grass hay? alfalfa? grass/alfalfa mix?

> first, second, or third cutting, etc. ?)

>

> Also--another totally newbie question here--how do you estimate how much

> hay per sheep for the winter? We have a long, cold winter (uppper Midwest),

> and will be having four lambs, a bred yearling, and a bred mature ewe (so

> six sheep total, including two bred ewes). We were thinking maybe 200 bales

> of hay for the whole winter. Does that sound way off (either too little or

> too much)?

>

> Thank you for your insights. I love this list and have learned so much

> about Jacobs here--

>

> Margie.

>

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>

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