[Jacob-list] Feeding Question

[Linda]

I've supplemented with alfalfa pellets and cubes for over 15 years. When 
we first had sheep we had trouble finding good quality hay. We have a 
source of good hay now, which has been tested, but supplies can be limited.
Pellets - I've never had good luck feeding alfalfa pellets without 
mixing in some whole grain. They seem to swallow before they chew and 
then they choke. There are different sized alfalfa pellets. The ones 
that are the size of rabbit feed are the worst. The Standlee pellets are 
the best I've found. The Grainland pellets are mostly dust. I like the 
Blue Seal Hay Stretcher Pellets, but it's a long drive to get them and 
my donkey doesn't do well on them.
Cubes. I like cubes the best - the cubes that have clay as a binder just 
don't work for me or my sheep. My sheep have had to learn to eat cubes. 
I crumble them into tubs at first. I do not grain my rams after they are 
weaned. The rams are in a dry and clean area. I toss the cubes over the 
fence and they "graze" them. There is no fighting. I've been 
experimenting with offering the cubes free choice for the ewes.    ..
On 12/28/2012 12:17 PM, Marjorie Schafer wrote:

> Hello,

>

> We are relatively new Jacob breeders (this is our second year). We 

> live in northern IL, and the drought was very severe here this year. 

> We were lucky to get any hay at all, and paid almost twice what we did 

> last year. However--the quality is EXCEEDINGLY poor. Our year-old hay 

> looks much fresher/greener than this hay just cut a few months ago, 

> and the sheep much prefer it. The new hay is dried out and very 

> stemmy. It looks more like straw than hay.  But it was all we could get.

>

> We supplement our ewes with a little bit of grain each day, so I'm not 

> as worried about them--though they are very hungry right now. I worry 

> some about the pregnant ewes.

>

> But as for the rams--I've read they shouldn't be given grain at all 

> (risk of urinary calculi, among other things). And I'm wondering if 

> there is a way to supplement their nutrition. I've been told that 

> alfalfa pellets can be a good supplement, and we bought a bag of 

> dehydrated alfalfa pellets from our feed mill. But the sheep (and 

> llamas) seem unable to chew them and are not attracted to them at all.

>

> I know many Jacob breeders do not feed  grain to their Jacobs at all, 

> but given the very poor quality of our hay, I'm just wondering how 

> we're going to get through the winter nutrition-wise. Any thoughts?

>

> Thank you, and Happy New Year to you all,

>

> Margie

> Round Barn Jacobs

> Durand, IL

>

>

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