[Jacob-list] corn gluten/ration

[Linda]

My experience, and the experience of our farrier (Pete Ramey 
http://www.hoofrehab.com/) is that alfalfa and grain are hell on a donkey's 
feet. We did just sell our last donkey last month (we had five at one time). I 
fed the sheep in an area with a creep gate and kept the nutritional tubs in 
there, away from the donkeys. The donkeys did vary as to how grain would affect 
hoof growth, but you sure see the difference on all of them when they had access 
to alfalfa or grain.

The hay in our area is of fairly good quality, although we don't have access to 
alfalfa. I do feed alfalfa pellets and will be adding grain soon. I feed alfalfa 
pellets and grain in order to stretch our hay supply, which can be iffy. This 
year, it looks like we have plenty, but if the drought continues into spring, we 
may end up short.

Linda




> I wouldn't feed something with questionable copper content no

> matter how good a deal it seems. Also, is this because hay in your

> area isn't of good quality? I feed hardly feed grain at all and my

> sheep are fat on alfalfa. I do buy a little bit of grain but I use

> if sparingly. During lambing season I mix a medium size bucket of

> half COB and half alfalfa pellets (cheaper) and I spread that out

> in all the feeders. But this is one bucket for 50-60 sheep and

> goats so you know that they're all getting only a very small

> amount. This is one way I have of checking to see who might not be

> feeling good (ready to lamb).

>

> Speaking of alfalfa, I just got a donkey and now I'm realizing that

> since I'll be feeding alfalfa all winter, the donkey will be

> getting that too unless I separate her. I didn't want to make life

> more complicated with this addition. Any advice from donkey owners?

> Robin Lynde

> Meridian Jacobs

> Vacaville, CA

> www.meridianjacobs.com

>> ----- Original Message -----

>> From: Linda

>> To: Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

>> Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2008 4:12 AM

>> Subject: [Jacob-list] corn gluten/ration

>>

>>

>> Does anyone have any experience/information with feeding corn

>> gluten? Our local hay supplier uses it for his cattle during the

>> winter. It's 1/2 the price of whole corn.

>>

>> From what I've been able to garner from the web, it wouldn't be

>> recommended as the complete diet. Also the copper content can be

>> variable. I didn't see the bag it came in, so didn't get a chance

>> to read the label.

>>

>> This year I'm going back to mixing my own feed ration. I did it

>> for about 8 years, but went to premixes when I got more sheep.

>> The sheep did very well on my mix. I liked the Blue Seal sheep

>> feed, but we just lost the Blue Seal dealer that was 35 miles

>> away in SC. The next closest is 65 miles in NC and the cost in

>> time and gas just doesn't make sense to me.

>>

>> My sheep mix consists of whole corn, whole oats, soybean meal,

>> wheat bran, and livestock molasses. I'd appreciate hearing from

>> others that mix their own feeds and what home made mixes have

>> worked for you.

>>

>> Thank you,

>> Linda

>>

>>

>>  

>> http://www.patchworkfibers.com

>> Registered Jacob Sheep, Handspun Yarn  

>>

>>

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