Grass Hay Cost in Your Area and What you Does eat?

SJSFarm · #21 02/16/14, 06:16 AM

I didn't pay enough attention to the actual question; what is the hay I feed.

The hay I will be getting from now on is a mix- its orchard grasses, I can see clover, and it looks like alfalfa. I don't know what it is to be honest, but it is the sweetest smelling stuff I've had and the best looking - green not grey- so I'm going to keep buying his stuff.

He also sells whole wheat at$10/50lbs, whole oats $8/50lbs and boss $20/50lbs

sammyd · #22 02/16/14, 07:02 AM

The last stuff I bought was over 6 years ago and it was straight alfalfa that tested over 21% protein for 35 bucks per 4x6 round bale. We laid them on their side in the garage and peeled them to feed.
Last year I sold alfalfa small squares for 6 bucks a pop.
We go through a bale of alfalfa/grass a day with 6 milkers and a billy in the pen.
The girls get a dairy mix of grain on the stand. When we were buying the hot alfalfa we fed straight whole shell corn on the stand.
We also feed loose mineral and salt free choice and will even mount a mineral block on the wall as well.

crazy4equines · #23 02/16/14, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tango

Here in south TN they are often stored uncovered outside year round. If the grass was baled at the right time, the mold is only on the outside layer and can be peeled off. The inside will be fine. I wonder if there are round bale feeders for goats? Otherwise they'd waste the whole roll playing on it

I knew someone who built her own and one of her does strangled on the lines she used to hold it in place. Round bales would save a lot of work and money but only if they can be used safely.

They do make very small round bale feeders for goats but it looks like it only holds small rounds, but I am not 100% as I don't use rounds for the goats, The way I do my rounds I don't have any mold and hardly any waste, except for the year as I fed the horses crp hay and it was the 1st time the field was cut so their was a lot of brush in the hay.

Suzyq2u · #24 02/16/14, 08:30 PM

We had been going through a bale a day (about 75lb+ bales - heavy) of hay
from the local feed store for 9ish goats (it's been a fluid #, lol) and a cow.
Paying just under $10 a bale (bermuda) - we couldn't keep up.
We bought 2 round bales (net wrapped and barn kept) of prairie grass for $50 ea a few weeks ago. With very cold days recently we're 3/4 through the first bale and that was with putting the fallen hay from peeling back layers and the original outer layer in the bedding areas. Just fill 1-3 times a day depending on their appetite and who filled it before (the kids don't fill it very tightly) So far worth every penny - though I think I'll be looking into having it delivered in the future!

GoldenWood Farm · #25 02/16/14, 09:18 PM

I am paying $340 a ton for nice Eastern Oregon Orchard grass hay. Yeah my does are TOTALLY spoiled but it honestly is worth the price for me. Hay around here is in the $12-$18 a bale range and you have to hunt and peck right now to find good quality hay.

I trust my hay guys and have yet to get a bad bale. But I cry a little bit every time I pick up hay

.

Justine

CAjerseychick · #26 02/17/14, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenWood Farm

I am paying $340 a ton for nice Eastern Oregon Orchard grass hay. Yeah my does are TOTALLY spoiled but it honestly is worth the price for me. Hay around here is in the $12-$18 a bale range and you have to hunt and peck right now to find good quality hay.

I trust my hay guys and have yet to get a bad bale. But I cry a little bit every time I pick up hay

.

Justine

Same here with the spoiled goats (the only thing they really chow down is the alfalfa, I guess I am lucky we can make one large (90-100#) bale last a week... i cry too-- bales start at 16.99 and 19 mostly... although I may order ahead next yr to get a price cut...(but we want to move the goats into the barn, where is the only storage I have for hay...)....