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03/15/10, 11:22 AM
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Romans 8:28
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: N. GA
Posts: 1,098
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Don't mix alfalfa pellets with grain? Ozark Jewels
Just saw on another post Ozark Jewels says not to mix alfalfa pellets with grain.
How come? I learn something new every day, I love this board and my other favorite board!!
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Samantha,
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
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03/15/10, 11:25 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: WV
Posts: 1,618
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Ours is mixed in. . .Hmmm. The two big Alpine breeders 'kinda' in our area gave this mix to me because it is what they feed. .. and it has Alfalfa in the mix. I'm curious to know why, too!
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03/15/10, 11:35 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Missouri
Posts: 9,208
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If you are feeding alfalfa pellets as your hay(not a little as part of your grain mix), then you don't want to mix them for best results. When you mix grain with the alfalfa pellets, most does will push the alfalfa pellets aside in search of all the grain. Then the pellets get wet and slobbery and no one wants them. This is a huge reason so many people try alfalfa pellets and then say "my does won't eat alfalfa pellets". I started out mixing them with grain on the milkstand and I thought my does wouldn't eat them either.
A little mixed with your grain, of course they will eat. But if you want them to be consumed like hay(at least three pounds of alalfa pellets per day per doe), then its a much better bet to feed them separate from the grain.
I feed grain on the stand, then the does get their alfalfa pellets put out in a communal feeder and they eat on them all day. They are gone by the next morning. They also have access to good grass/clover hay of course.
Bottom line-if you are feeding alfalfa pellets in place of alfalfa hay, then its best not to mix with grain for best results.
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Emily Dixon
Ozark Jewels
Nubians & Lamanchas
www.ozarkjewels.net
"Remember, no man is a failure, who has friends" -Clarence
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03/15/10, 11:36 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Missouri
Posts: 9,208
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So no, its not that it will cause problems to do so, but for best feeding results for feeding pellets instead of hay, don't mix.
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Emily Dixon
Ozark Jewels
Nubians & Lamanchas
www.ozarkjewels.net
"Remember, no man is a failure, who has friends" -Clarence
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03/15/10, 11:43 AM
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Enabler!
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: CO
Posts: 3,865
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I mix it, 2 parts pellets 1 part grain and feed grass hay I do not use the pellets as a source of hay. But the weird thing is my goats go for the pellets first then eat the grain. I must have a bunch of nutty goats, lol.
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03/15/10, 11:45 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Missouri
Posts: 9,208
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Oh and yes, if you feed in a communal trough where there is competition, goats will eat *anything*.......including mixed pellets and grain. 
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Emily Dixon
Ozark Jewels
Nubians & Lamanchas
www.ozarkjewels.net
"Remember, no man is a failure, who has friends" -Clarence
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03/15/10, 12:30 PM
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Romans 8:28
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: N. GA
Posts: 1,098
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Thank you so much. This is very helpful. I will stop mixing it and put the pellets in the other feeder she has available. I am very interested to see the results. It's a never ending adventure with goats! I love adventure!
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Samantha,
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
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03/15/10, 12:33 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Missouri
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And of course there are always the black sheep of the goat world......maybe yous eat them better mixed.LOL!! But usually, its best unmixed.
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Emily Dixon
Ozark Jewels
Nubians & Lamanchas
www.ozarkjewels.net
"Remember, no man is a failure, who has friends" -Clarence
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03/15/10, 12:53 PM
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Enabler!
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: CO
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Communal feeding, let's call it what it really is, Goat Feeding Frenzy!! LoL
And let's face it the last place you put food down has the BEST food EVER!!
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03/15/10, 01:51 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Bellflower, MO
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Ive been wondering about adding some alfalfa pellets to the grain, during feeding frenzy I don't think they will care just as long as they get to it first. The few places I have found alfalfa hay is wanting about 6.00 a bale...so we not feeding that.
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03/15/10, 05:21 PM
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: West Tennessee
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ozark_jewels
Oh and yes, if you feed in a communal trough where there is competition, goats will eat *anything*.......including mixed pellets and grain. |
That explains why mine don't pick through it! 
Of course, even when I have them eating separately, they just HAVE to have what's in the bowl someone else is already eating out of. It must be better than the bowl I set in front of them! But probably not nearly as delicious as the keys I left hooked on the fence. 
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03/15/10, 05:43 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,222
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Only 6 a bale for alfalfa? That is cheap compared to here! I am paying 6 wholesale! I feed pellets like Hay if I don't have alfalfa. But here pellets are 9 dollars for a 40 lb bag! That is expensive!
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Sarah Patterson
M & L Farm
Lamanchas, lamancha cross, Sable and Sable cross
You can also find us on facebook! M&L Farm
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03/15/10, 06:33 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: NE Arkansas
Posts: 1,409
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I can't get alfalfa hay so I feed the pellets. I pay $16/50lb bag, They have free choice grass hay(bermuda) that I pay $5/square bale. I would gladly pay $6/bale.
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03/15/10, 07:31 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Missouri
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If I can find good alfalfa its $6.00-$7.00 per bale.
The pellets are $7.00 per 50 lb. bag.....with no waste. So at those prices the pellets are a better buy, easier to haul and store. Easier to feed too.
Only downside is all the paper bags as I go through a lot of pellets with my herd.
I do buy at least some really good hay every year though to start my little kids out on and in case of sick goats. Nothing tempts them more than sweet-smelling 4th cutting alfalfa!
So my herd gets free-choice grass hay and their alotted amount of alfalfa pellets.
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Emily Dixon
Ozark Jewels
Nubians & Lamanchas
www.ozarkjewels.net
"Remember, no man is a failure, who has friends" -Clarence
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03/15/10, 08:37 PM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
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The last locally purchased alfalfa hay I bought here in South Texas was $17.50 a square bale. It's grown in Arizona and trucked in. We can't grow alfalfa here at all due to heavy clay soil.
Alfalfa pellets are $11.50 per 50 pound bag.
Bermuda hay, if you are just getting a bale or two at the feed store, is $8 a square bale.
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Alice
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03/15/10, 10:29 PM
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Cris
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Arizona
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Wow it is amazing to see the price differances on hay. I would love 6$ a bale but am very thankful its not 15$ anymore!!!
I am in AZ and we purchase our hay semi local for 8-10$ a bale (alfalfa). I think the bag of pellets is about 10-12$ a bag (50lbs). We do hay mostly but have the pellets just incase and we use it as a treat durring grooming.
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03/15/10, 11:03 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 39
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Are pellets more standardized? I know bales vary in quality from different sellers.
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03/16/10, 12:10 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posts: 5,492
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We are fortunate to have a variety of pelleted feeds available to us:
Grass seed screenings 9% protein - $5.50 a 50lb bag
Alfalfa/grass 14% or Alfalfa 15% - $8.50/50lb bag.
Clover/grass 16% - $6/50lb bag
Whole oats - $6.25/50lb bag
Rolled Cob is $10/50lb bag.
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03/16/10, 06:06 AM
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Katie
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Twining, Mi.
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I always thought my girls didn't like alfafa pellets either but I mixed them in with there grain mix. I bet your right Emily & if seperate dish they may munch on them all day long.
I've tried alfafa pellets from just about every store around too!
I can hear dh already when I want to buy another bag since all the others went to the deer after I couldn't get the girls to eat them.
I do feed alfafa hay & alfafa/grass mix hay all year long too.
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03/16/10, 10:16 AM
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Enabler!
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: CO
Posts: 3,865
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If I had to pay that much for hay I would have to get out of goats.
I can get grass hay small bale for $4 to $5 but I prefer the 3x3x8 large 700 lb bales for $40 to $50 each. No mold, horse quality. I have seen some for more like certified grass hay small bales $8 to $9 each.
I have also lucked out when horse people think the hay is beneath their horses standard and get it for $2 a bale or even free.
Alfalfa pellets here are $11 for a 50 lb bag and 3 way is $9 a 50 lb bag.
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