[Jacob-list] Grass vs. Grain

[Linda]

There is a Georgia Dept of Ag handout that recommends a 50/50 mix of alfalfa/whole 
corn for raising freezer lambs.  We don't have alot of pasture at this place, so 
save the grass for the ewes.  Freezer lambs get grass hay and the alfalfa/corn mix. 
Our butcher has commented on the quality of our lamb carcasses.

Linda
PS, Mary - I finished the Spahr Farm Lorraine sweater this week, after having put it 
on hold for the summer.  Soft and wonderful!

On Tue, 20 Nov 2001 11:40:43 -0500, Jim Spahr wrote:
>I have been wondering about hay vs. grain in  feeding lambs for the
>freezer.  It is a common belief among our Midwest  farmers that if
>you do not feed your animals some grain, the meat will be  tough.  I
>am getting ready to find out if that is true of our lambs.   We have
>3 crossbred (ram lambs) to take in tomorrow.  They were on grass
>until Sept., then a good quality alfalfa hay.  For 2 wks. they have
>been  eating hay and whole corn.  We grow the corn here on our farm
>and it is  economical for us to feed it.  The lambs need to get used
>to eating it, but  once they do they like it.  I do not know if only
>2 wks. of graining is  long enough to make a difference. 
>Our ewes are still on pasture, finding enough  grass to keep
>satisfied.  In the winter we feed them alfalfa hay  also.  I do not
>know if they eat more of it, but they waste less than they  did when
>we fed a lower quality hay.  They also get some whole corn to eat
>in the winter. 
>
>Mary Spahr
>
>