Looky what I got in the mail today (pic)

LoneStrChic23 · #1 08/30/12, 01:12 PM

Lots of samples!!

Looky what I got in the mail today (pic) - Goats

I've been toying with the idea of switching to Chaffhaye |

I've heard lots of mixed reviews, though most of the negatives I've heard came from folks with theories, but no actual experience with the product..... Been back and forth with 3 dairy goat herds who use it and I'm liking what I hear. I tried a bag a couple years ago for a picky eater, but didn't have a reliable source & it was more expensive than alfalfa pellets....

Right now Standlee pellets are on sale until October for $10.49 a bag, then they'll jump back up to over $12 for 40lbs...... No other local brands that are good quality and affordable (generic, dusty pellets are $15.99 for 50lb right now).

Local dealer can get me 50lb bags of Chaffhaye for $12.50, & since it's compressed so tightly, it's supposed to equal a 90lb bale of good quality alfalfa...This dealer lives in my area & has been feeding his horses & cattle Chaffhaye for 2 years & says open bags keep well for at least 2 weeks in our dry climate.

So I called the main office, chatted with Kimber & my other concern was whether or not my group would even LIKE it, so she sent me a big ol' box of samples

She said for picky eaters, open the bag, let sit in open air for 20 minutes then offer it...... So in about 10 minutes I'll go take samples to everyone.

It smells YUMMY, but does NOT taste yummy (at least to me)....

If they like it, I'll be getting 5 bags from my local dealer after the 10th.

I don't plan to use this as a sole source of forage like some do..... I'll still have grass rounds out, but this may end up being a better route for me than alfalfa pellets after the price jumps.....

CaliannG · #2 08/30/12, 01:24 PM

I got two sample bags from my local feed store when they had a bunch out. Brought them home, opened them up, let them air out for a half an hour, them dumped one in the feed trough in the boy's pen, and one in the feed trough in the girl's pen.

It was still there the next day. ~sighs~

I hope you have better luck, and your goats are not as picky, than I did. I thought it was a great idea too. The stuff, sealed, keeps FOREVER, far better than hay. Doesn't get moldy and dusty, is cost effective, etc., it sounded like the answer to my hay prayers. LONG stemmed! I could replay hay AND alfalfa pellets with this stuff!

~sighs~ Until, of course, the stupid, finicky goats turned their noses up at it. Someone needs to explain economics, feed, etc., and how to be grateful for what they get, to the goats. After all, *I* sometimes have to eat Ramen so THEY get their pellets!

coso · #3 08/30/12, 01:34 PM

I fed a bag of it. My goats loved it. I got some waste with it because my hay feeders would let it slip through and my grain feeders weren't really big enough. In other words I didn't have a good way to feed, it. If you did find a good way to feed it, you could probably get pretty well zero waste like with alfalfa pellets. I liked it better then alfalfa pellets. But I ended up with some big squares of alfalfa, cheaper for me.

Donna1982 · #4 08/30/12, 01:50 PM

My goats hate it. We had a bag for 6 months and finally I just dumped the rest in Red's pen and hoped for the best. It finally got washed away with some rain we had.

LoneStrChic23 · #5 08/30/12, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliannG

I got two sample bags from my local feed store when they had a bunch out. Brought them home, opened them up, let them air out for a half an hour, them dumped one in the feed trough in the boy's pen, and one in the feed trough in the girl's pen.

It was still there the next day. ~sighs~

I hope you have better luck, and your goats are not as picky, than I did. I thought it was a great idea too. The stuff, sealed, keeps FOREVER, far better than hay. Doesn't get moldy and dusty, is cost effective, etc., it sounded like the answer to my hay prayers. LONG stemmed! I could replay hay AND alfalfa pellets with this stuff!

~sighs~ Until, of course, the stupid, finicky goats turned their noses up at it. Someone needs to explain economics, feed, etc., and how to be grateful for what they get, to the goats. After all, *I* sometimes have to eat Ramen so THEY get their pellets!

Well mixed results so far.......

Poor Ginger who comes from the land of honey coated pure, premium alfalfa (Soldier Mt. Alpines in Idaho) was MOANING as she grabbed huge mouthfuls..... lol Apparently she thinks it's a step up from the alfalfa pellets she usually tolerates ....

Bleuberry sniffed, walked away. Nibbled a bit, walked off again.... Watched Ginger for a bit, then went back to her feeder & cleaned it all up.

Star tried a bite, then went back over to the fenceline to flirt with the boys.

Took some to the bucks, got peed on while they were showing off for Star

Tricks is the only baby who would sample it.... She ate a few good mouthfuls, then got distracted by the barn kittens lounging in the baby pen..... She had to go shove them off HER play steps

Left a decent amount in each pen, it's too freaking hot to stand out there and stare at them, so I'll just go check feeders later. This evening when it's cooler, I'll offer it again & see who all actually eats it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by coso

I fed a bag of it. My goats loved it. I got some waste with it because my hay feeders would let it slip through and my grain feeders weren't really big enough. In other words I didn't have a good way to feed, it. If you did find a good way to feed it, you could probably get pretty well zero waste like with alfalfa pellets. I liked it better then alfalfa pellets. But I ended up with some big squares of alfalfa, cheaper for me.

I have several, deep, heavy duty fence feeders in each pen, I have no waste with the alfalfa pellets.... We'll see how this works, and if I need a different feeder, I married a dang good welder with a knack for design

I won't feed this free choice, I cut everyone back to rationed alfalfa pellets a long time ago, so if this works, I'll feed it the same way I do the pellets...

Found some very pretty 2nd cutting alfalfa from New Mexico..... It's not something I see often in these parts.... They only wanted $20 for the 65lb squares!

coso · #6 08/30/12, 03:10 PM

You need to feed the whole bag within seven days or so is what I was told or you can get some bad mold going on. I would not be able to feed it free choice for sure or it would cost more then alfalfa pellets. That is one reason I like feeding hay. (the free choice thing) I can stock it in the hay feeders and not have to refill for a couple of days.

LoneStrChic23 · #7 08/30/12, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coso

You need to feed the whole bag within seven days or so is what I was told or you can get some bad mold going on. I would not be able to feed it free choice for sure or it would cost more then alfalfa pellets. That is one reason I like feeding hay. (the free choice thing) I can stock it in the hay feeders and not have to refill for a couple of days.

Haha, I can't even afford to free choice alfalfa pellets! The pellets are still on sale until October, so I'm going to try and stock up...

I worried about mold..... A friend of mine near Houston had only 3 goats. Her Chaffhaye was getting mold about a week after opening.

They however have HUMIDITY, something we rarely ever have here in Noodle

We are in VERY dry west Texas....

The guy I may buy from (lives 30 minutes from me) has been experimenting & so far has gone 16 days without a bit of mold in an open bag (bag ran out, so he hasn't tested longer)..... Said the worst that happened was the top got a lil dry. He just stores in his barn, and rolls down the top after opening....

coso · #8 08/30/12, 06:09 PM

I couldn't afford to feed alfalfa pellets free choice either. I feed the alfalfa hay free choice though. I fed that Chaffhaye up in a week so don't know how it would actually last here before molding. I kept the top rolled up on mine too.

LoneStrChic23 · #9 08/30/12, 06:44 PM

I free choice fed alfalfa pellets for a while.... But when I started, they were $7 for 40lbs....... Now at $10.49 on sale, I just can't. So I feed a measured amount once a day, and top dress feed with a bit of calcium carbonate. Milk #'s & body condition are still about the same, so we'll stick to rationing

If I could get nice alfalfa hay, I'd definately go that route..... Looked into trucking some in, and it would be $385 per ton, but I don't have the storage room for that right now.....