Hay requirements

[Oreo]

Hi, I'm trying to figure out approximate hay requirements for the winter. I think I should figure on needing to feed hay November through March, four months. I need to know how much decent quality hay the following species will need for average-sized adults, per day. In terms of either pounds or fractions of a square bale.

Donkey
Sheep
Goat

 

[jodief100]

I plan on 1 square bale for 8 goats/day. Mine are full sized meat goats. I also stockpile pasture and they get to go out and graze when the weather is dry. Pregnant and nursing does get 1/2 - 1 lb of grain a day. Dry does share a pound for about 8-10 of them.

 

[patandchickens]

what size donkey; what size sheep/goats, pregnant or not?

(e.t.a. - you need numbers in *weight*, not bales, because East Coast style small squares can vary from 35 to 75 lbs, and out in California you can get small squares of alfalfa that are pushing 140 lbs. Obviously half a 35 lb bale is a whoooole different thing than half a 140 lb bale )

Pat

 

[Oreo]

We're talking east coast square bales (50 lbs.), medium size donkeys, boer goats, small to medium size sheep, and round numbers, because I'm going to get more hay than I need. We bale it ourselves-- I just need to know how much of our hay to sell. Yes, some of these animals (maybe half or more) will be pregnant in all species, so if there's a major difference I should know. We will feed grain as needed, but I'm just looking for the hay consumption.

 

[jodief100]

The square bales I buy are 50-70 lbs. My goats are boer's, kikos, spanish and a savanna. The boers seem to eat more hay while the others prefer the stockpiled pature. So I would guess you would plan on 1 of your 50lb bales for 5-6 of your boers/day. If you have cool season pastures save some of it for winter grazing, unless you have snow on the ground for long periods of time.

 

[ksalvagno]

How many of each do you have? I would figure 1 flake a day per goat and sheep. I'm not sure about the donkeys.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I agree with Karen. Probably 1 flake a day for the sheep and goats. If the donkeys are around 400-500 lbs, I'd say 2 flakes per day. I'd up it to 3 if they're bigger than that.

 

[Oreo]

I'm not sure how much the donkeys weigh, maybe 500-600 lbs, though I just don't know. So maybe 1/3 to 1/2 bale per day for the donkeys, and 1/5 to 1/6 for the sheep and goats?

120 days

3 donkeys x .5 bales x 120 days = 180 bales
20 sheep / goats x .2 bales x 120 days = 480 bales

total = 660 bales?

Does this make sense?

 

[Oreo]

Any more thoughts?

 

[freemotion]

That seems like double hay for the sheep/goats, and a generous amount for the donkeys. It would allow for a lot of waste, though. Most of my bales are close to 10 flakes per bale. I used a half bale or so a day for a full-size, actual big, Arabian mare who was retired. I can't imagine the donkeys will eat as much, will they?

Better too much than too little, but it seems high to me. If you use the "deep litter" method for bedding in the winter, it can double as bedding, though. (Not being sarcastic!)