[Jacob-list] Jacob-list Digest, Vol 84, Issue 2

[Quentin & Libby Llop]

Larger sheep have a maximum capacity of about 4 lbs./day, so allowing 
for waste 4 lbs. should be about right for the Jacobs. I feed round 
bales and each of my bales has about 250 sheep days. For example, if I 
had 25 sheep a bale would last them 10 days. The earlier cut the better 
the hay is. Often overly mature hay is bright green and good looking, 
but sheep will do much better on the early stuff even if it is musty. 
Grab a handful and squeeze, if it is soft buy it. If it is prickly there 
is not so much nutrition in it. Count of the lambs eating some, but not 
as much as the ewes. Currently my flock of around 80 adults and 95 sixty 
day old lambs are eating 3 bales a week.(Only about 10 of those are 
Jacobs. The rest are bigger sheep.)    Libby (been feeding sheep and 
making hay for 35 years now)

On 05/12/2011 10:44 AM, jacob-list-request at jacobsheep.com wrote:

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> Today's Topics:

>

>     1. Question about Hay Type and Amount (Marjorie Schafer)

>     2. Hay (Harry Meredith)

>     3. Re: Question about Hay Type and Amount (Zach Oaster)

>     4. Re: Question about Hay Type and Amount (Linda)

>     5. Rejected lamb (Joshua Bourget)

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> Message: 1

> Date: Wed, 11 May 2011 17:45:50 -0500

> From: Marjorie Schafer<MHSchafer at oglecom.com>

> Subject: [Jacob-list] Question about Hay Type and Amount

> To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

> Message-ID:<BANLkTimU_sbiPWihsDE553VX7Eva=6UTnQ at mail.gmail.com>

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

>

> 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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> Message: 2

> Date: Wed, 11 May 2011 20:36:37 -0400

> From: Harry Meredith<hwm27889 at yahoo.com>

> Subject: [Jacob-list] Hay

> To: "Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com"<Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>

> Message-ID:<AAB820BD-97F0-4284-A008-9D97CE05F429 at yahoo.com>

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

>

> I suggest you feed them hay you can buy locally at a good price.  I feed mine coastal Bermuda grown in this area by a trusted farmer.  It is hard to say how many bales you will need.  There are too many variables in play for me to give an estimate. Ask local farmers for a number.  Good luck.

>

>

> Sent from my iPad

>

> ------------------------------

>

> Message: 3

> Date: Wed, 11 May 2011 21:16:33 -0400

> From: Zach Oaster<zach at fattoaster.com>

> Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Question about Hay Type and Amount

> To: Marjorie Schafer<MHSchafer at oglecom.com>

> Cc: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

> Message-ID:<BANLkTimrjuCJjM-bX=NrL+TdD-tmV83Jkw at mail.gmail.com>

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

>

> 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.

>>

>> _______________________________________________

>> Jacob-list mailing list, sponsored by Swallow Lane Farm&  Fiberworks

>> Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

>> http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/jacob-list

>>

>>

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> Message: 4

> Date: Thu, 12 May 2011 06:43:33 -0400

> From: Linda<patchworkfibers at windstream.net>

> Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Question about Hay Type and Amount

> To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

> Cc: Marjorie Schafer<MHSchafer at oglecom.com>

> Message-ID:<4DCBB9D5.7030105 at windstream.net>

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

>

> I agree with Harry. Find a good local source for hay. We buy from two

> farmers. Russell Bermuda from one and mixed grass hay (orchard

> grass/timothy/fescue) from the other. Hay and soil is tested, so we know

> what we are getting. I do supplement with alfalfa cubes at times.

> You can't really estimate how many bales - you have to estimate how many

> tons, as bales vary so much in weight. A Black Welsh Mountain breeder

> who feeds no grain once said to estimate 4 pounds of hay per day for the

> days you will be feeding hay. Of course, if you are feeding grain, you

> won't need as much hay.

>

> Linda

>

>>

>> On Wed, May 11, 2011 at 6:45 PM, Marjorie Schafer

>> <MHSchafer at oglecom.com<mailto: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.

>>

>>      _______________________________________________

>>      Jacob-list mailing list, sponsored by Swallow Lane Farm&  Fiberworks

>>      Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com<mailto:Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>

>>      http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/jacob-list

>>

>>

>>

>> _______________________________________________

> Patchwork Farm Jacob Sheep<http://www.patchworkfibers.com>

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> ------------------------------

>

> Message: 5

> Date: Thu, 12 May 2011 07:38:01 -0700 (PDT)

> From: Joshua Bourget<fiercehornfarm at yahoo.com>

> Subject: [Jacob-list] Rejected lamb

> To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

> Message-ID:<530581.25791.qm at web121103.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>

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

>

> Hello everyone, I had a yearling ewe first time mom lamb yesterday with a great

> 2 horned ram lamb that she wanted nothing to do with. I was unaware of her being

> about to lamb, and threw hay to them quick then i noticed she was having it. I

> watched him come out, and then the mother ran over and started eating hay, didnt

> lick him off at all, and after i cleaned him and let him nurse a little off her,

> she still wouldnt let him neer. I brought him into the house, and gave him

> colustrum and a few bottles, and today my girlfriends taking him to a friend of

> ours who has goats, and they are going to raise him on a does milk from their

> farm. I have no time for a bottle baby working 55 hours a week,

>

> So my question is this...Will this ewe be a better mother next time around? and

> actually care for her lamb? or should i consider removing her from my flock. Has

> anybody had experience with bad first time moms that turned out to be great moms

> once they were older?? i hate to get rid of her but i only have room for

> productive members of the flock and if she isnt going to raise her lambs thats

> not what i want. I will try to re breed her this fall and see if she will

> support a lamb next year.

>

>

> Josh Bourget

> www.fiercehornfarm.com

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> End of Jacob-list Digest, Vol 84, Issue 2

> *****************************************

>