Alfalfa question

[OneFineAcre]

No, it's $20 per round bale. It's really cheap because it's a byproduct of peanut production Good stuff. You can only get it east of 95, further east the better. My wifes' dad get's it delivered on flatbed, but he's in Wayne County. They grow peanuts in Nash and Edgecombe county, I think most of his is grown in Greene or Lenoir.

I've heard that some people have tried to grow alfalfa, but not very well

Have you ever heard of perennial peanut? Google it.

It's not a peanut, but a true legume hay they grow in S. Ga and N. Fla. I've seen it before when I went to GA this summer and bought some goats.

That's not bad. I may look into it but I can't go far for hay and I've got a ton of people right here with grass hay. Some have really good grass hay and some...well it's grass hay.

Yeah Alfalfa doesn't grow well here. More of a Western thing I think.

That's interesting but again, can't and really wouldn't go that far for hay. haha Rather use stuff fro around here.

The perennial peanut is just that "interesting" I know you are a curious guy. Thought you might be interested in something not available around here.


For raising goats, we can get grass hay at a good price, no reason to do different.

But, I know you and your partner are interested in grass fed beef. That's why I mentioned the peanut hay. If you are raising grass fed cows, the peanut hay is something to think about. Most people who raise beef cows in eastern N.C. get peanut hay in the fall, particularly if you have a large heard, because it' so good and so cheap. But, like I said, you need to be able to buy a large quantity. FIL bought 340 bales at one time for beef cows. He needed 400 bales, but couldn't line it up. He's got 75 cows though.

 

[daisyjack]

I just bought some alfalfa hay for 6.00 a bale. They loved it so much they passed on the grain today and when start for the hay.

 

[RemudaOne]

I pay about $21.00 to $23.00 per bale for three string square bales of alfalfa that weigh between 100 and 120 pounds. It's high but it's very,very good quality with tiny stems and lots of leaf. Nothing gets left for waste with it. If i had a tall enough barn id be buying the 3x3x8s or 3x4x8 bales at about $185.00, unfortunately i cant get my tractor or bobcat under the hay barn....... such a bummer. The quality is slightly less, but the savings......

That said, I am looking now for some decent coastal round bales for the sheep. I won't feed the horses coastal anymore, too many colics on it.

 

[mdavenport0121]

I got the three string 100-125 pound bale around Christmas for $23.00. The only time I feed alfalfa is right before and right after they kid. With grain, one bale can last me two weeks for two nannies. The grain I buy is cheaper than the alfalfa. I give mine free choice winter grass that was cut last spring. My dad runs a cattle operation, so I get round bales of hay for free when I do some work for him. A round bale of coastal hay will run about $100 here.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Dang, you guys are so lucky! That is SO cheap! We don't even have the option of big round bales here. They don't exist! I wish they did, I'd love to save money! I hate that Cali is SO expensive.

 

[Mossy Stone Farm]

Dang we are paying 350.00 a ton or 22.50 a bale or more..... grass mix is 20.00 or more, grass hay ( local stuff) 11.00 a bale...

The prices are sky high and don't look to be coming down!!!!

 

[babsbag]

I had someone offer to bring me round bales of timothy grass, but I have no way to feed something that big so I am buying Alfalfa - 10 bales at a time. Next summer when they cut again I have a line on some for 11.00 a bale, delivered and stacked. Hopefully I will have the money to buy about 5 tons and a place to store it. A bale lasts me 1.5 days so I go through alot of baled money.

Anytime I sell a goat the money goes to buy hay