alfalfa pellets vs. hay (again)

Tracy in Idaho · #21 12/21/07, 08:35 AM

Heather, I didn't keep on without pellets long enough for it to go on official test. I tried to stop feeding pellets because I have 500 acres of alfalfa hay! I dropped the pellets, they dropped milk production by almost half. They got their pellets back....

Well, that Phoenix stable had over 100 horses there and the owners had several late 20 yr olds that had lived their entire lives on a pellet only diet. But, once folks make up their minds what they think is right, no one is going to talk them out of it, so I won't try.

Tracy

hoofinitnorth · #22 12/21/07, 09:43 AM

Fishhead - OHHHHHH! lol Thanks.

Tracy - interesting!! Anything else that could have caused their production to drop like that (natural lactation cycles, weather, seasons, heat cycles, moves, introduction of new herd members, other dietary changes, health, etc.)? Did they come right back up to where they were before when you added the pellets back, did it take some time, or did you just have to wait for the next lactation to see high numbers again? Did they produce above what their ancestors did with AND without the pellets?

Do you feed the pellets all the time or just at certain times? I hear a lot of folks say they add certain things (usually high fat grains) to the diet a few days before milk test to get production or butterfat up. Based on the literal interpretation of DHIA rules, though, that seems to me like a clear violation????? If they don't think/know they are breaking a rule, I wonder why they don't feed whatever they add all the time to always get good milk? Is it not a sustainable increase throughout the lactation, perhaps (as the body adjusts)? I'd rather not shock or stress their systems with constant changes in feed types and amounts and I want the milk so my diets stay very consistent but that's just how I am doing it and I'm still learning a lot.

Tracy in Idaho · #23 12/21/07, 11:04 AM

No, there were no other changes to their daily routine, and too early in the year for heat cycles. For that matter, it was herd wide. I'm sure the pouting they were doing over their pellets didn't help matters. I know other folks say their goats won't eat them if they have alfalfa hay, but mine eat them before they'll touch the hay.

Their production came right back up, but they were only without the pellets a few days. Yes, my production numbers have been steadily increasing, but that is also contributable to genetics. It is interesting to note that the last few years when I have brought new goats into the herd, they have actually increased their production. Normally, you should expect a new goat to drop in production after a move.

I feed pellets free choice all the time. IMO, I think it's a load of bunk if anyone thinks feeding something a day or two ahead of your milk test is going to make any difference in your numbers. High production is genetics and long term management.

Tracy

hoofinitnorth · #24 12/21/07, 10:16 PM

Great discussion, Tracy, thank you so much. It's nice to hear from someone that has done it with enough consistency to be able to definitively point to the cause and effect. Hopefully one day I'll be able to do the same, if I keep careful records and a watchful eye.

On the issue of bumping numbers by feeding additives a few days prior to test, I don't understand the thinking in this at all. Besides my opinions above about how it may adversely affect the goat's long-term health and production abilities, I don't see how it helps your long-term breeding and marketing. If the goats can produce as one likes (or claims), they should do it routinely without having to have things tweaked, right?

Mrs. Jo · #25 12/21/07, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoofinitnorth

mplatt4 -

Now getting back to my question at hand, *I am NOT asking about feeding exclusively pellets*. Not sure why folks keep reading it that way when I've already said it a few times.

I am talking about feeding hay and then adding a little *hay* pellets of the same hay type to help increase the goat's nutritional intake when they may be at a point in their life/breeding cycle that they need it. Again, the information I've read on pellets says pellets can be consumed in larger quantities than can hay of the same type simply because they are chopped up and compressed and are missing a lot of the fiber (in the form of long stems). Again, this may or may not be good for a ruminant in large quantities, so let's just talk "small" quantities in relation to the main hay diet.

I know several people that do this but haven't met one yet that has said they have actually seen a difference in the goats when they didn't do this vs. when they did do it. They just sort of hoped/assumed it was doing as they intended.

O.k. So you are asking about about feeding alfalfa hay and then also feeding pellets as a supplement?

I think if you read Sue Reith's article you will see that she says you should feed a small amount of carbohydrate concentrates (grain) to the animals at the same time if you feed alfalfa hay or pellets. If you have a good balanced hay then you may not need much in way of pellets.

My goats in the past have done very well on a alfalfa hay and a small amount of grain. Just lately I've been using the pellets more because we had such poor alfalfa hay. At least I can say they kept milking on it.

Some alfalfa pellets are obviously good feeds. If they weren't then we wouldn't be hearing from folks who use them, and have used them for so long with good results.
You are still going to have to try it with your herd and see how it goes. There is so much variable in the feeds and animals that no one can tell you for sure what is going to work or not.
I doubt I'd feed pellets along with alfalfa hay if the hay was good. Mine don't like to eat the pellets if they have hay to munch, so mostly it would be wasted.