[Jacob-list] hay

[gf]

Do sheep like weeds, I guess I could buy that.

I recently expanded the fenced area into a plot of land that had 3 distinct
bands.
The first band. A nice mix of Fescue and Millet.
The second band, unplanted weeds.
The third band, hardwood stumps that sprouted, lots of tulip poplar.

Guess where they were ... in the weeds going to town.
Based on my past experience, the poplar is next, man
they love that stuff. When I bring down a big one
the herd is all over it like piranha on a cow. Nothing left
but limbs!

Are we sure these sheep are from England, maybe Tasmania?

G


 ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Linda Bjarkman" <patchworkfibers at alltel.net>
To: <stonecroft235 at juno.com>; <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 9:14 PM
Subject: [Jacob-list] hay


We don't see much alfalfa hay around here, but we used to cut alfalfa hay in
Michigan.  Here, in Georgia, we did use some alfalfa/orchard grass hay that
a
neighbor had brought in from Kentucky.  I believe the alfalfa was third
cutting.
Not one leaf was left behind!

We are in the "fescue belt" here. After raising sheep for 8 years, we were
told
about how bad fescue hay was - poor hoof and horn development, hard
placentas, etc.
We went and bought just great Russell Bermuda hay - tested at UGA at 17%.
The sheep
had to be starved to eat it. It was the worst horns we've ever seen on the
lambs -
we had used an unknown ram.  I kinda have to say that genetics played more
of a part
than the fescue.

Our sheep really seem to prefer a weedy hay.  We do feed grain besides, but
they
will fight over hay that is weedy and stemmy and wander off from second
cutting
bermuda.

I've got abit over an acre planted with an orchard grass/ladino mix and it
will be
interesting to see if the sheep like it - if I ever finish the fence!

Linda







On Thu, 24 Jul 2003 10:49:18 -0400, stonecroft235 at juno.com wrote:
>A question to everyone - do you experience more waste when feeding alfalfa
>than when feeding orchard grass?  And by alfalfa, I mean unchopped, regular
>alfalfa.......or do your sheep waste either way.  Those of you who feed
only
>orchard grass hay(plain w/o alfalfa), how do you supplement for extra
protein?
>Alfalfa is more palatable to sheep, right?..........so do you have a
problem
>getting them to eat only orchard grass hay?  (Yes, I know if they are
hungry
>they will eat it, but do you see it as a problem?)
>
>Thanks
>
>Sue Martin Stonecroft Lititz/PA
>
>
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