Re: Feeding alfalfa when it is cold

[Kirsten Price <kirsten@vermilion.reno.nv.us>]

Here in Reno, I am able to get good grass hay from my local feed store.  They keep
it stocked.  It is the same price as their alfalfa.  I also bought grass hay from
a local hay dealer last year.  The first batch was excellent quality, the second
batch was good nutritionally speaking, but had been baled a little dry and was a
bit more of a pain to feed.  All in all, I've been extremely happy with the grass
hay here (most of it comes out of Sierra Valley, CA... but some from the
Gardnerville and Smith Valley, NV area).  I feed grass exclusively, no alfalfa in
two years now.  Even when it gets cold, I simply make sure they have hay in front
of them at pretty much all times and I bump up the dose of beet-pulp and dry cob a
little bit.

I'm a complete convert.  Ok, I admit it though.... I own "air" Morgans.  All easy
keepers. They get fat on nearly nothing.

Kirsten

Susan Evans Garlinghouse wrote:

> ChacoL@aol.com wrote:
>
> > Susan, Dr. Bray, the speaker on nutrition at last year's AERC convention in
> > Sacramento, replied to someone who said that their dealer didn't carry good
> > grass hay that you have to demand it over and over.
>
> That's nothing.  You should see Dr. Bray when he's trying to get me to
> teach one of his classes here at Cal Poly for him---now THAT'S
> repetitious demanding.<VBG>  But, you're right, he usually gets what he
> wants!;->
>
>   It's certainly true that
> > any kind of retailer will stock only what he can sell.  So maybe we all need
> > to make more noise until we get what we want.
>
> Well, there's certainly plenty of good grass hay available in Southern
> and Central Ca, so it doesn't seem unreasonable for it to be available a
> little further north.
>
> Thanks for the info on getting a hold of the growers.  Hopefully the
> folks up north will be able to get some good quality hay.  Maybe some
> people can get together to buy a full load and get a better price to
> boot.
>
> Susan G



--
Kirsten Price
Vermilion Desert Ranch
Reno Nevada

http://www.eqwi.com/Ads/V/Vermillion/vermilion.htm