[Alpacasite] Re: need good hay in California

Don't we all ...

It sounds like you're new to volume hay purchasing in California.
Sorry to tell you this but if you haven't gotten good grass hay by
about September, you aren't going to be getting any.

Last year right around this time it became apparent we didn't have
enough hay laid up to get us to first cutting in the spring. I'll
tell you what we did and hopefully you can get by.

To get through this it's a really good idea to test all the
different batches of hay you have or can get.

Ideally what you want is something near 12% protein. So you're going
to make custom blends. It's a real pain but better than the
alternative.

Buy some alfalfa hay! Good alfalfa hay is usually 16-18%. You're
going to use that to get the protein of your mix up to 12%. If you
mix it in good they will not be too successful picking out the
alfalfa.

If it's not too stalky, oat hay is good roughage to mix with the
alfalfa but they waste a lot of it.

Avoid the Bermuda if you can. We've tried giving it to our herd a
few times and universally, if there is anything else they won't
touch the Bermuda.

First find and segregate the best hay you have or can get your hands
on and ration that out to your pregnant dams. If that is not 12%
protein you will need to add some alfalfa.

Start giving everyone some grain along with whatever pellets you
normally feed. Phase the grain in gradually. What I ended up with
was one portion of pellets (one cup) and a grain portion that was
about ½ cup. One grain mix we've found works and didn't have any
adverse effect was 50% dry cob and 50% rolled oats.

It's expensive but buy fresh vegetables when you can get them at
semi-reasonable prices. Carrots (use a potato peeler to make very
thin slivers), cabbage, lettuce, kale, any other green leafy veggie,
apple peels. Don't give them this stuff every day but 2-3 times a
week in small amounts.

Also get some variety of early or winter grass seed. Plant it NOW
where they can't get at it. By March you'll be able to allow the
pregnant dams an occasional treat.

Good luck
Greystone Manor
Gary Epp

--- In Alpacasite@yahoogroups.com, "Wyatt Black" <wyattblack@e...>
wrote:
>
> Hi all,
> Sorry to blast all the sites like this, but I am almost ready for
a big load of hay. Anyone in CA getting a truckload of good, fresh,
high quality hay any time soon that we can get in on?
>
> We are currently buying small quantities of Bermuda and 3-way, but
I am seeing not enough weight maintenance on the stuff we are
getting. I am really unhappy with my hay, and am looking forward to
some good stuff in large quantities :)
>
> Would like timothy, oat, or orchard but will also consider good 4-
way.
> Thanks!
> Rachelle
>
>
> Wyatt & Rachelle Black
> Black Magic Alpaca Ranch
> Honesty, Integrity, Quality
> 6500 Digier Road
> P.O. Box 457
> Lebec, CA
> 93243
> http://www.blackmagicalpacaranch.com
> wyattblack@e...
> 661-248-6568
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

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