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Pam Hunter is a published author and a Medical Terminology Specialist, as well as a Written English Professional. Pam has 20 years experience creating websites and writing content for her own 30 websites. Pam is the founder and owner of Pam Hunter Enterprises which includes this website, Iviehost.com and PHEhost.com
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• Poultry at Hunters Pony Farm
• Livestock at Hunters Pony Farm
• Pets at Hunters Pony Farm
• Just Fish at Hunters Pony Farm
• NW Fish Rescue
• Pam Hunter Enterprises
• Pam Hunter Design
• Pam Hunter Design Network
• Pam Hunter Design Blog
Hay Questions and Answers
Dear Bonnie,
You wrote: I just read your article on storing hay. Coule you please tell me why the 90 day waiting period before feeding alfalfa ? My farmer friend does not believe me when I tell him it should cure for 4-6 weeks when feeding to alapcas, similar to llamas.
Fresh cut alfalfa is too rich for horses to eat without curing. The 60 to 90 days was a recommendation from our farmer who has years of experience. He said it is ok to feed it to cows, but NOT horses as they will colic or founder. As far as feeding to alpacas, I don't know, they chew cud like a cow, but, they may be sensitive to the richness of the hay. If you must feed the hay uncured, perhaps you could just feed a little at a time instead of, say, a whole leaf. Hope this helps. - Pam Hunter
Her reply:
Dear Pam
Thank you so much for responding. My farmer friend laughs at me no matter what I say about feeding my alpacas. I have tried to explain that if he bought a cow for the $20,000 that I pay for my females, that he would want to feed them properly also.
My hay that I just bought is beautiful, 1/2 alfalfa and 1/2 brome but alpacas should only have 10% alfalfa. We here in Ontario Canada are having a real problem even getting hay so I took it when I could so I will just feed less of this hay. I never thought I would see the day when I was calling grass beautiful :))
Thanks again for your help.
Have a great week !
Sincerely
Bonnie
This article may be reprinted on your web site if you include this entire paragraph when copying it to your site. Copyright 2004 - 2010, Pam Hunter, Hunter's Pony Farm http://www.huntersponyfarm.com
Dear Bonnie,
You wrote: I just read your article on storing hay. Coule you please tell me why the 90 day waiting period before feeding alfalfa ? My farmer friend does not believe me when I tell him it should cure for 4-6 weeks when feeding to alapcas, similar to llamas.
Fresh cut alfalfa is too rich for horses to eat without curing. The 60 to 90 days was a recommendation from our farmer who has years of experience. He said it is ok to feed it to cows, but NOT horses as they will colic or founder. As far as feeding to alpacas, I don't know, they chew cud like a cow, but, they may be sensitive to the richness of the hay. If you must feed the hay uncured, perhaps you could just feed a little at a time instead of, say, a whole leaf. Hope this helps. - Pam Hunter
Her reply:
Dear Pam
Thank you so much for responding. My farmer friend laughs at me no matter what I say about feeding my alpacas. I have tried to explain that if he bought a cow for the $20,000 that I pay for my females, that he would want to feed them properly also.
My hay that I just bought is beautiful, 1/2 alfalfa and 1/2 brome but alpacas should only have 10% alfalfa. We here in Ontario Canada are having a real problem even getting hay so I took it when I could so I will just feed less of this hay. I never thought I would see the day when I was calling grass beautiful :))
Thanks again for your help.
Have a great week !
Sincerely
Bonnie
This article may be reprinted on your web site if you include this entire paragraph when copying it to your site. Copyright 2004 - 2010, Pam Hunter, Hunter's Pony Farm http://www.huntersponyfarm.com
Hay and Storage page 2