Just to be clear, in our location there is only one hay cutting. Very rarely do we get a second cutting, and for sure not this year either.
Does stemmier hay keep goats warmer?
Where I live it gets very cold in the winter (-22*F and often lower).
I usually have a variety of hay, and was always under the impression that the coarser, stemmier hay kept the goats warmer during those very cold spells. They also consume that kind of hay readily during those times, whereas other times they avoid the stalks.
We had a few dry years, with last year drought like conditions, so we didn’t have much to choose from in terms of hay.
This year is a wetter year. My grass hay farmer has lots of fine hay, which will be awesome. My alfalfa hay farmer doesn’t have any alfalfa hay at all.
I located a source of 35% alfalfa 65% grass hay, that is on the stemmy side.
My thinking is that will be good for the milkers and for the whole herd in the cold times.
But is that just my imagination, or does stemmy hay really keep them warmer?
With only 35% alfalfa, I will have to buy alfalfa pellets in addition to the hay anyway.
What would you do?
Get a variety or just the hay they love, and the pellets?
I usually have a variety of hay, and was always under the impression that the coarser, stemmier hay kept the goats warmer during those very cold spells. They also consume that kind of hay readily during those times, whereas other times they avoid the stalks.
We had a few dry years, with last year drought like conditions, so we didn’t have much to choose from in terms of hay.
This year is a wetter year. My grass hay farmer has lots of fine hay, which will be awesome. My alfalfa hay farmer doesn’t have any alfalfa hay at all.
I located a source of 35% alfalfa 65% grass hay, that is on the stemmy side.
My thinking is that will be good for the milkers and for the whole herd in the cold times.
But is that just my imagination, or does stemmy hay really keep them warmer?
With only 35% alfalfa, I will have to buy alfalfa pellets in addition to the hay anyway.
What would you do?
Get a variety or just the hay they love, and the pellets?
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
It does! I remember reading YEARS (probably over 20 years ago) about how most Animals it’s protein that keeps them warm but it’s actually roughage that keeps ruminates warm. Then it goes in to talk about how different types of hay are better then others. Alfalfa is slick so not as good as other types. Gosh it’s been so long but I remember a lot of people back East would feed wheat and supplement protein to cattle. I’ll have to see if there is another article out there that explains it instead of going off what I read and found fascinating so many years ago lol
I'm impressed with your observations, and stalwartness to the cold (1 cutting!! Even in WI we usually get 3) but I don't have much to add. I'd think the carbs would be especially attractive to ruminants in the winter.
I think it makes sense that their ruminating would help them stay warmer. So more roughage would mean more processing to be able to digest it…
Good luck getting your hay supply 🍀🍀🍀
Good luck getting your hay supply 🍀🍀🍀
Thanks everyone.
Sounds like I should go with some of that coarse hay with the 35% alfalfa in it. I always shake out the alfalfa leaves and use them separately on the milk stand, to keep the girls happy. So the coarse stuff will make for happy winter fibre.
@Jessica84 If you can find that article from 20 years ago that would be awesome.
Sounds like I should go with some of that coarse hay with the 35% alfalfa in it. I always shake out the alfalfa leaves and use them separately on the milk stand, to keep the girls happy. So the coarse stuff will make for happy winter fibre.
@Jessica84 If you can find that article from 20 years ago that would be awesome.
One cutting all the years that I have had goats, which is only 4 years. 3 out of these we had dry years, and this year spring started late. Maybe we will see a second cutting one day. 😊I'm impressed with your observations, and stalwartness to the cold (1 cutting!! Even in WI we usually get 3) but I don't have much to add. I'd think the carbs would be especially attractive to ruminants in the winter.
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
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