Last Year's Hay.....

[lupinfarm]

I'm still feeding last years hay, I bought 30 bales of alfalfa hay in/around November for the goaties (we have the 2 does) and we're probably down to maybe 15-20 bales. I may have to buy in May-June, but by then the girls should be out on pasture.

My horses on the other hand, are getting last years hay right now. Roundbales that I roll out and feed in swaths. It's a bit dustier now that its later in the year, and occasionally you find a little bit of a moldy area where the bale has been sitting but pull that out, and check over the rest and fluff it up to make sure to get the dust out and we're doing good. My horses are picky with hay, and if it is even the teensiest bit off, they won't eat it. Mylie just loves this stuff I've been buying, grass/alfalfa mix.

 

[Mea]

Or.. ..keep the courser stuff till winter. Course hay makes more heat. I like having really stemmy, stalky hay around when it gets really, really cold. There's something comforting about hearing the goats crunch eagerly through their hay when it's like 5 degrees outside.

Our goats seem to know what's best in regard to weather and what hay to eat, too.. When it's cold, they're prone to complain a little if you throw fine hay.. When its hot, they make tumbleweeds out of the stems of course hay.

Feeding finer grass hay in the summer and courser hay (heavy on timothy and/or red clover, for instance) when it's cold, though, seems to produce less overall waste...and less complaints.

That's just an offhand observation out of my own little herd, though.

That is a great observation ! It helps explain why during the cold part of winter... the girls did not attack the slightly finer hay that we got last summer. But boy-oh-boy would they go after the coarse stemmy stuff from the previous year ! Now with the weather moderating...( sometimes, other times it is Still winter !) they are diving into the finer hay.

I just figured they were being contrary ! as goats like to be....

I really enjoy Your insights. Thanks. Mea.

 

[cmjust0]

 

[oxdrover14]

no as long as it was stored right it should be fine.