Don't get me wrong. I am grateful I have hay to fee the animals, because there is a shortage of it this year as there was last year too. I hope that I have enough and am not scrambling to find more in the early spring.
The hay I have was supposed to be number 1 grass hay and is anything but that. The sheep eat it just fine, but the goats only eat the leaves, of which there are not many, so there is a tremendous waste. I am piling up what they do not eat and will take it to the horse. Hopefully he will munch on it. It is hard to fine a balance with the hay. Too much protein as in alfalfa or clover hay, and the sheep or goats can bloat and die, unless it is gradually introduced to them to allow the bacteria in their rumens to accustom itself to the rich feed. Too few leaves on the grass, and they waste the rest. This hay, which cost a premium price, has a lot of dead brown grass,likely last year's crop that did not fully get picked up. It has caused some of the hay to mould and that can cause severe illness in the animals, even death. Goodness! I had no idea the art of feeding hay was so specific. When I eventually find good grass hay, I am going to order it every year, even before it is cut! But, as I said, I am grateful that I have some hay. I have noticed that whole herds of animals are for sale, likely due to the hay shortage. Farmers are compassionate people. When they cannot adequately feed their animals, they will give them up, even it means a great loss to them, which it usually does. I just hope I do have enough to make it till the grass grows again.
The hay I have was supposed to be number 1 grass hay and is anything but that. The sheep eat it just fine, but the goats only eat the leaves, of which there are not many, so there is a tremendous waste. I am piling up what they do not eat and will take it to the horse. Hopefully he will munch on it. It is hard to fine a balance with the hay. Too much protein as in alfalfa or clover hay, and the sheep or goats can bloat and die, unless it is gradually introduced to them to allow the bacteria in their rumens to accustom itself to the rich feed. Too few leaves on the grass, and they waste the rest. This hay, which cost a premium price, has a lot of dead brown grass,likely last year's crop that did not fully get picked up. It has caused some of the hay to mould and that can cause severe illness in the animals, even death. Goodness! I had no idea the art of feeding hay was so specific. When I eventually find good grass hay, I am going to order it every year, even before it is cut! But, as I said, I am grateful that I have some hay. I have noticed that whole herds of animals are for sale, likely due to the hay shortage. Farmers are compassionate people. When they cannot adequately feed their animals, they will give them up, even it means a great loss to them, which it usually does. I just hope I do have enough to make it till the grass grows again.
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