Compacted Alfalfa

[norcal]

Another stupid question.

The last couple of bales of alfalfa we've bought have been very densely compacted. I have a hard time getting it apart. A large flake will come off, but usually is too much for the two wethers, so I have to try to split it apart. Also the last couple of days, they haven't been finishing it in the morning, even though I've been fluffing it. HOWEVER, they are grazing quite a bit on the new grass. At first they nibbled & then wouldn't eat the new grass, now they seem to be loving it (it's longer). ??

So, question : may there be something wrong with the alfalfa? I smelled it and visually inspected it and it's not moldy. Or doesn't appear to be. ??

Or are they just eating more of the new grass?



told you, stupid question...

 

[norcal]

Tried to delete it & move it to FEED, but couldn't delete it.

Sorry it's in the wrong spot moderators....

 

[cmjust0]

Another stupid question.

The last couple of bales of alfalfa we've bought have been very densely compacted. I have a hard time getting it apart. A large flake will come off, but usually is too much for the two wethers, so I have to try to split it apart. Also the last couple of days, they haven't been finishing it in the morning, even though I've been fluffing it. HOWEVER, they are grazing quite a bit on the new grass. At first they nibbled & then wouldn't eat the new grass, now they seem to be loving it (it's longer). ??

So, question : may there be something wrong with the alfalfa? I smelled it and visually inspected it and it's not moldy. Or doesn't appear to be. ??

Or are they just eating more of the new grass?



told you, stupid question...

Goats like grass.

Doesn't necessarily mean there's anything wrong with the hay.. In the summer, when the fescue's really growing around here, we don't go through very much hay at all. We put it out, but they like to get out in the sunshine and eat what nature provides them. In the winter, once they've clipped it down and it's not growing back, hay consumption starts to go up again..

Not a stupid question.. It's always good to get familiar and concern yourself with the quality of the hay you're throwing.

 

[norcal]

Thanks!

I think I just read here that it was a misnomer that goats liked grass. I assumed that I had to wait & see w/ my own goats. They started eating it when it first started sprouting, then went a couple weeks w/o touching it. Now they are REALLY enjoying it.

I guess all goats are different in their likes & dislikes and all grasses are different too.

That alfalfa is a pain in the butt though. Think I'll go back to the other feed supply store.