Need help from a Math Whiz about Chaffhaye. =)

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

I just found a feedstore that sells Chaffhaye fairly close to me so I am wondering if it is cheaper.

Here is my dilemma:

A bale of Alfalfa is $17.99, but they waste A LOT. I think around 25% and my boyfriend says he thinks as much as 50%. They only pick out the leaves and won't eat the stems. They are roughly 100 pound bales and last about 3 days. (Roughly 2 bales a week).

The Chaffhaye is a 50 pound bag for $14.99. I'm not sure how long it will last because I haven't tried feeding it to them straight as I didn't want to give them upset tummies. I've been top dressing with it, and they love it.

So I can figure out that the alfalfa is .18 cents per pound, and the Chaffhaye is .30 cents per pound.... so it's more, but how do I take in to account the waste?

Also, I've heard it's more nutritional and better digested so it seems like they would be getting more out of the Chaffhaye?

I also LOVE the fact there is no waste!

Thanks in advance!

 

[SheepGirl]

Based on your situation (100 lb bale lasting 5 goats (you have 5 goats, right?) 3 days), each goat is getting 6-2/3 lbs of hay each day. I'm assuming the average Nubian goat weighs 150 lbs. So the goat needs 3 lbs of hay. Your goats are theoretically wasting MORE than 50% of their hay. I think you need a better hay feeder!

Based on this, your goats are wasting $0.66 each worth of hay every day (about $3.30/day or $9.89 for your entire bale). Basically for every $18 you spend on hay, you are pretty much throwing away $10 worth of it. That's a lot of waste!!

I think, even though chaffhaye is more expensive per lb, you will still be saving more money. You will still need to feed hay to keep their rumen working, so don't plan on cutting it out entirely.

 

[BrownSheep]

I am so glad Sheep girl popped up....all my brain said was noooooo moooore maaaaaaaaath.

I would also suggest cuttin down on the amount of alfalfa they get per day. If they aren't eating the stems then they are probably are getting more than enough.

I second her recommendation of switching to the Chaffhay....what is it exactly? I've never heard of it

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

I'm not a huge fan of Chaffhay but I'm not getting into it and don't want to either. My question is, why don't you just not feed either of those insanely expensive hays and feed grass hay instead?

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Wow Sheepgirl, THANK YOU!

Yes I have 5 goats. Correct on average weights.

They just won't eat the stems. They pick out ALL the leaves, very thoroughly. Some of the stems fall on the ground but most of them stay IN the feeder and I have to get out giant bundles of sticks that they won't eat. We've been using it in their barn, and also as mulch but it's SO darn expensive I HATE to throw it away.

Does the Chaffhaye not have enough fiber for the rumen? What if I up their browse?

I don't really want to cut down on their feed, they are dairy goats and pregnant right now and soon to be milking. I'd really like to give them as much feed as they will eat!

Chaffhaye is this stuff: http://www.chaffhaye.com/

Mine LOVE it.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

I'm not a huge fan of Chaffhay but I'm not getting into it and don't want to either. My question is, why don't you just not feed either of those insanely expensive hays and feed grass hay instead?

Grass hay is the same price as alfalfa here.

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

I'm not a huge fan of Chaffhay but I'm not getting into it and don't want to either. My question is, why don't you just not feed either of those insanely expensive hays and feed grass hay instead?

Grass hay is the same price as alfalfa here.

Got ya.

That's crazy. You're in a HOT climate right? May be why.

 

[SheepGirl]

I'm sorry, for some reason I thought that chaffhaye was a pelleted forage supplement. Nevermind, lol! It should be fine by itself. It does include molasses, though, which is a controversial goat feed ingredient. I feed my sheep feed which has molasses in it and I don't have any issues, knock on wood.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

I'm not a huge fan of Chaffhay but I'm not getting into it and don't want to either. My question is, why don't you just not feed either of those insanely expensive hays and feed grass hay instead?

Grass hay is the same price as alfalfa here.

Got ya.

That's crazy. You're in a HOT climate right? May be why.

Yes, So Cal... desert... about as hot as you can get! LOL!

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

I'm sorry, for some reason I thought that chaffhaye was a pelleted forage supplement. Nevermind, lol! It should be fine by itself. It does include molasses, though, which is a controversial goat feed ingredient. I feed my sheep feed which has molasses in it and I don't have any issues, knock on wood.

Thank you.

Yes it does have molasses but it's fermented so they state it actually has LESS sugar (<3%) than straight pasture. I would think this would be ok?