How to Supplement Poor Quality Hay

1073 Views 12 Replies 6 Participants Last post by laurelsh, Feb 17, 2022

laurelsh

Discussion Starter · Feb 17, 2022

Hello there Goat friends! Feed prices are sky high, and in California prices are sky high for very poor quality. I normally feed Alfalfa and this batch ($23/bale) is so dry and packed hard and so full of stems, the goats are only eating about 1/10 to 1/3 of it and leaving the rest. I'm trying to figure out how to feed them. They have no pasture, just what I give them.

Should I supplement the hay with Timothy pellets (I know Timothy is better for them than aflalfa overall, and I use it mixed with grain as a treat)? Or should I switch them to Orchard Grass if I can get it at $27/bale?

Or should I switch them to some kind of Goat Pelleted food to help make sure they get their nutrition?

Thanks!

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Calistar

· #2 · Feb 17, 2022

Ugh, I'm in the same boat. I can no longer afford orchard grass ($27 a bale here now too, maybe we shop at the same place lol) so I have switched to Bermuda which isn't as nice. I supplement with alfalfa pellets and my goats also get a 16% grower. I'd like to try Chaffhaye but cannot find it locally. I have tried Timothy pellets in the past and my goats will only eat them as a last resort, but I have spoiled Nigerians so YMMV.
Do your goats get a good loose mineral? I think if your minerals are good, the quality of the feed is less important.

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ksalvagno

· #3 · Feb 17, 2022

Why not grass hay and alfalfa pellets?

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HoosierShadow

· #4 · Feb 17, 2022

The alfalfa bales my husband picked up last week are definitely not great

The young does will eat it for the most part, but basically all stems. Our grass hay is also not great. I've bought good quality alfalfa/orchard mix in the past and goats wasted it, so I am very leary about buying anything until this summer and maybe try something else.
So... I am also supplementing with alfalfa pellets. The mama's love them. Everyone is on feed as well.

We were given a high quality compressed bale of Timothy hay from the horse feed company my son works for and the goats won't eat it! I had debated trying the compressed bales of alfalfa, but now I am afraid of wasting $$ as those are not cheap.

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laurelsh

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 17, 2022

Calistar said:
Ugh, I'm in the same boat. I can no longer afford orchard grass ($27 a bale here now too, maybe we shop at the same place lol) so I have switched to Bermuda which isn't as nice. I supplement with alfalfa pellets and my goats also get a 16% grower. I'd like to try Chaffhaye but cannot find it locally. I have tried Timothy pellets in the past and my goats will only eat them as a last resort, but I have spoiled Nigerians so YMMV.
Do your goats get a good loose mineral? I think if your minerals are good, the quality of the feed is less important.

I tried Bermuda hay last year and they had no clue it was edible LOL. I don't know how much hay pellets to supplement with. I will use Timothy pellets as I know Timothy hay is best for them, but I can't get Timothy hay here ever, and my goats love them now. Chaffhaye is not available here either.
Yes, good loose minerals. But the quality of the hay has to be enough that they will EAT it. They're only eating 1/10th to 1/3rd of it, the rest is waste! And Alfalfa is $23/bale!! Ugh.

Okay, let me know know HOW MUCH PELLETS TO SUPPLEMENT THEM WITH, and I'll continue to try to find a hay they will eat.

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laurelsh

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 17, 2022

ksalvagno said:
Why not grass hay and alfalfa pellets?

Yes, I'm going to try some grass hay tomorrow (I have a little bit) and if they eat it, try to trade-up bales of alfalfa for orchard grass. How much pellets would you give as a supplement per goat?

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laurelsh

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 17, 2022

HoosierShadow said:
The alfalfa bales my husband picked up last week are definitely not great The young does will eat it for the most part, but basically all stems. Our grass hay is also not great. I've bought good quality alfalfa/orchard mix in the past and goats wasted it, so I am very leary about buying anything until this summer and maybe try something else.
So... I am also supplementing with alfalfa pellets. The mama's love them. Everyone is on feed as well.

We were given a high quality compressed bale of Timothy hay from the horse feed company my son works for and the goats won't eat it! I had debated trying the compressed bales of alfalfa, but now I am afraid of wasting $$ as those are not cheap.

Definite extra challenges this year! How much alfalfa pellets per goat do you supplement? I've got 4 mamas who need their nutrition.

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HoosierShadow

· #8 · Feb 17, 2022

laurelsh said:
Definite extra challenges this year! How much alfalfa pellets per goat do you supplement? I've got 4 mamas who need their nutrition.

We have Boer goats, and honestly I am not sure in lbs. how much they get. We have 4 due between today and next Friday and they are getting about 5-6 large cups in a 24hr period. They eat a little, come back and eat more. The large cup I use is about 1lb of pelleted feed - it's one of those big, old style hard plastic coke cups if you know what I am talking about? We have another doe pregnant for April that is stalled at night and is out with them during the day and eats on the pellets too. I honestly am not sure what the preferred amount is, But in this stage of pregnancy our girls really are loving their pellets vs. their pelleted or sweet feed.

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ksalvagno

· #9 · Feb 17, 2022

You always want to start slow with a dietary change. Amount would depend on the type of goat and everything else they are eating.

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laurelsh

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 17, 2022

ksalvagno said:
You always want to start slow with a dietary change. Amount would depend on the type of goat and everything else they are eating.

Yes, thank you for the reminder, absolutely, which is partly why I'm inclined to stay with Timothy pellets as they are already used to that in their grain mix, it's the main component.

Does Orchard Grass pretty much have the same quality year round vs. the way alfalfa really varies?

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NigerianNewbie

· #11 · Feb 17, 2022

laurelsh said:
Does Orchard Grass pretty much have the same quality year round vs. the way alfalfa really varies?

The quality of Orchard grass varies according to which cut is being used. Unlike the majority of other hay, Orchard can be cut 3 times a season depending on the amount of rain and summer heat. Personally, I try to avoid the first cut of any type hay if at all possible, because of the nitrate content. I cannot vouch for the quality of 1st cut as so far, I've been able to wait a little later in the season until purchasing more. 2nd cut of Orchard is a beautiful bright green hay with virtually no stems, that is ribboned and light weight. 3rd cut will have some stems and a dull green color and the bales are heavier and more densely packed. I will mix flakes of 2nd and 3rd cut together just to add some stems into the hay ratios. This year, the 3rd cut was a lower grade more stem filled hay than it has been in the past. Not complaining, just an observation. We had a bit of a drought, and I was thankful a 3rd cut was available at all.

Orchard grass is lower in protein and extremely lower in calcium than Alfalfa hay.

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GoofyGoat

· #12 · Feb 17, 2022

I’m in the same boat with my nigies. I’ve been feeding both expensive junk alfalfa and costal hays free choice.To supplement, I give my goats a16oz sour cream container of alfalfa pellets every night and a 6 oz yogurt cup of purina textured life stages grain every morning. It’s been a bugger keeping some in condition. I’m going to be adding in calf manna for those struggling. I have two does due soon so I’m really concerned because one is putting everything into her kids but I can still feel her ribs ...they have free choice alfalfa pellets and hay.

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laurelsh

Discussion Starter · #13 · Feb 17, 2022

Yes, it is the most expensive alfalfa ever and almost worst in quality. So, I got 2 bales of Orchard to try, and will be continuing the Timothy pellets I give, as they are used to that in their grain mix, but increasing the volume of pellets. Then if it looks like the grass is going to work, I'll switch gradually over to alfalfa pellets as it has more protein/calcium. Thanks everyone and good luck!

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