Hay

Spring through fall is hay season here.  Most people get 3 cuts from their hay fields.  When its cutting time all the fresh grass smells wonderful. 

Hay essentially is a field of grass or a certain type of grass that is cut, then left to dry in the sun and then gathered into bales or big rolls.

We need hay to feed the goats.  They do get hay now but most of the hay we purchased will be to feed the goats in the winter time when the pasture isn't so nutrients packed as it is now.

100 bales of hay kept out of the rain to stay dry.

We have to buy 2 types of different hay.  First we buy just regular grass hay for the boys.  It has plenty of nutrients for them and they love it.  I make sure to keep their hay feeder full at all times.  They do have access to pasture just not as much as I would like in my opinion.  Their area is considered very large to some people but no where what the girls have to pick from.

50 bales of grass hay.

We buy our grass hay from a local man, Paul who is wonderful and actually has delivered it to us both times to get the amount we want.  We have 50 bales of hay right now and that should be plenty to get just the 2 boys through the winter. 

Grass hay up close

Next we buy alfalfa hay for the girls.  We get this hay because its good for them but really for the milking.  Alfalfa hay gives the milk a sweeter more consist taste.  All the girls were raised on alfalfa hay at the breeders.  Since we have Priscilla in milk we continued to feed all the girls the alfalfa hay.  It would be way to difficult to try to give only Priscilla alfalfa and the other girls grass hay as all the girls are housed together.  After feeding the girls their grain portion in the morning I put in 2 flakes of alfalfa for them and then I do the same thing again at night.  We don't have to feed as much hay right now because we only have 1 doe and 4 doelings.

50 bales of alfalfa hay

We buy our alfalfa hay from someone about an hour away from us.  One of our main reasons for getting a hitch and trailer for our minivan was to be able to pick up hay for the goats.  We have done two separate trips, getting 25 bales each time.  We are hoping to have this last us through the winter with the 4 girls still being little.  Thankfully our alfalfa hay guy, Tim said that he usually has some stored in his barn all winter and if we need more to just give him a call. 

Alfalfa Hay up close

As you can see the difference in the up close pictures.  Grass hay is just grass, grown long and cut and bales.  Alfalfa hay is more of a plant.  It has thicker stocks and is very leafy.

One of the biggest differences in the hay besides the type is the price.  Grass hay is very common therefore it is fairly inexpensive.  Alfalfa hay is not grown very much here in TN so the price is double of what we pay for our grass hay.  The money spent for the alfalfa hay is well worth it in my mind.  It gives a better tasting milk to make all the wonderful cheeses I am learning to make.

The girls love the alfalfa more than anything and every once in a while I will give some to the boys for a treat.

Girls eating the Alfalfa Hay

As you can see in the above picture the girls love the alfalfa hay, even Matilda likes to chew on it.  Not sure if that's because she is still a puppy or if she thinks she's a goat.