[Jacob-list] Question about Hay Type and Amount

[Linda]

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>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://www.pairlist.net/pipermail/jacob-list/attachments/20110512/61032192/attachment.htm>