[Jacob-list] Hay woes

[Boxalls]

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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