[Alpacasite] Re: Re: need good hay in California

Hi Dave,
Actually, I would be stark raving happy if I could get good orchard grass for $11 a bale.... wasn't me that said it.
I am currently paying $13.00 for 3-way, $12.50 for alfalfa, and anywhere from $17-19 a bale for good orchard or timothy. These are approx 100 lb bales.
I wish I could get some of your hay!!! Coming this way any time soon?? :))
Ciao~
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@earthlink.net
661-248-6568

Message: 11
Date: Sun, 04 Dec 2005 11:01:58 -0500
From: David Friedman <alpacas@adelphia.net>
Subject: Re: Re: need good hay in California

I am curious, Rachelle, how big the bales are that are costing you
$11. In our neck of the woods, a 30-40 lb. square bale of orchard
grass hay costs approx. $2-3. Quite a discrepancy, if the bales are
the same size! Of course, climactic conditions vary greatly.

Dave

David & Esther Friedman
Adirondack Alpacas
"From the Womb to the Loom"
9568 Old Stage Road
Remsen, NY 13438
www.newyorkalpacas.com
315-831-3040

At 10:45 AM 12/4/2005, you wrote:
>Hi Gary,
>Nope, I'm not new to buying volume hay, but thanks for the ideas.
>Actually in the six years we have been raising alpacas, last year
>was the only year we were unable to find good hay this time of
>year. Last year was a particularly terrible one due to all the wet
>conditions that ruined many crops here in CA.
>It's all in where you buy it and who is hiding the good stuff in the
>average year.
>Thanks to all who are giving me sources, both here and privately,
>keep them coming! :)
>
>Be careful with cabbage and alpacas, it can cause gas and a bit of
>bloating, especially with crias.
>Ciao~
>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>http://www.blackmagicalpacaranch.com
>wyattblack@earthlink.net
>661-248-6568
>
>
>Message: 23
>Date: Sat, 03 Dec 2005 23:57:17 -0000
>From: "gepp1" <alpacas@greystonemanor.biz>
>Subject: 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 ? 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

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