Re: [AlpacaTalk] Alfalfa girls

 

I was also told alfalfa was good for weight gain and I have a girl who has always been lean according to her former owners. She produces nice crias and I wanted her on alfalfa anyway but sure didn't expect the resistance to the orchard grass. I have gathered a mid bale sample for testing which I will drop today to be sure the protein isn't through the roof. Thanks!!!! dee

On Tue, Aug 24, 2010 at 11:28 PM, Laura A. Roberts <laura0554@hughes.net> wrote:

 

Dee,

            I am by no means an expert, having only been in the business for two years, myself. 

            I was advised by a long time alpaca owner/breeder to feed alfalfa hay in the winter to the pregnant or lactating girls or any alpaca needing a bit "extra".

 

            Our pregnant and nursing girls get orchard grass-all you can eat buffet and four of them share a flake of alfalfa hay every evening.  My underweight girls get some, too, as do any weanlings for a bit………to get them over the hump of no more mama. 

 

           

Laura

 

Laura Roberts

R Half Pint Farm

Spotsylvania, VA 

 

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From: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dee Garrett
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 9:15 PM
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AlpacaTalk] Alfalfa girls

 

 

I am having an issue with my girls. Five are pregnant and all come from an area where they  were given Teff grass, which is not available here. They have refused to eat the hay that is pretty much the standard hay given alpacas here. I got it from the farm of the man who provided several alpaca farms and my girls sniffed and left the barn, prefering to try to find grass in an area that is pretty much eaten down.

They do, however, eat an alfalfa, orchard mix that I got for them. I am going to have it tested but since I had nearly run out of hay I had little chance to do that before feeding it to them. They are perfectly fine eating this combination but  I know that alfalfa can contain way too much protein for alpacas.

What advice would anyone offer for this situation? I can't exactly let them starve. They have crias due from  Sept to Nov. if that information adds anything to this mess.

There will be an orchard grass/alfalfa cutting in about two weeks with the 30 days after that curing before I can give it to them...right around the time the middle crias are due. Any and all advice is appreciated! This is my first year in this business and I don't want to mess up right off the bat.

--
Dee
FutureAlpacas
Goshen, Virginia

--
Dee
FutureAlpacas
Goshen, Virginia

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