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Shadyside Mike
34 Posts |
 Posted - 10/26/2009 : 8:39:05 PM
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My wife and I did lots of looking, talking and research related to keeping alpacas before we brought them home. We purchased them and boarded them remotely for a short time then boarded them a few months closer to home.
As we did this we paid lots of attention to everythings related to the whats and whens of care. It seems that the more you look the more you see that there is no perfect way to keep an alpaca and it becomes almost a challenge to come up with what works best for each farm.
With that said I have a hay related question which also bleeds into pasture grasses.
In talking with some of the farms we've worked with and visisted I've had completely different answers on seeding. Other than keeping out certain weeds and grasses that are known to be issues for alpacas one says it really doesn't matter to much what is in the pasture. The other farm has suggested that a 60/40 blend of orchard grass and brome. They said not to seed clover as it would show up on it's own. So what grass seeding should I really use if I have the chance to seed it from scratch?
Ok, now that may not be fair as it may depend on other things such as my hay type and other feed used. I use quality orchard grass hay and a blended grain with minerals supplements.
The question then extends to the hay which is orchard grass. Why orchard grass is my first question? I never really asked before I just saw healthy alpacas and said that works for me. ...but as I was reading a blog I saw someone talk about feeding alfalfa and I thought that was something to stay away from to control weight issues. So in the "perfect" world what mix of hay is best? Should a person change it up or supplement a special treat, like maybe alfalfa, on occassion?
Well, this is going to be a hard question to answer alomst for sure as again I think there are going to be 100 right ways to do it and the more important answers will be what not to do.
Mike of Shadyside Alpaca Farm
Auburn, Indiana
mike@shadysidealpacas.com
http://www.shadysidealpacas.com
http://shadysidealpacafarm.blogspot.com
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jillmcm
1546 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2009 : 8:58:07 PM
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Mike, I think you already answered your question in asking it. There are many different ways to keep alpacas healthy and happy, and what you do is going to depend on your particular situation - where you live, what your soils are like, what else you feed, etc. etc. I live in Maine, and I haven't planted a thing, simply mowed down the weeds that had taken over - my alpacas are thriving on whatever native grasses were already out there. They eat basically the same stuff all winter, although I believe my hay guy has also seeded in some orchard, brome and there's a little timothy in the mix, too.
I'd make a few general observations, the most important of which is that there seldom, if ever, is a black and white, clear cut answer in alpaca husbandry. There really are few hard and fast rules. You will always need to do your research and find out what works for you, and pasture/hay is no exception.
Remember that alpacas are browsers - not as much so as llamas, but more so than sheep. They'll eat just about anything growing in the pasture if they can, and unless there's something extremely toxic in the mix, this variety is good for them. Nothing evolved to eat a monoculture, and planting only one type of grass is bad for the health of your soil and the health of your alpacas. Feeding only orchard grass hay is not something I would recommend - I would look for a hay that has several grasses mixed in. Orchard grass is only one of many grasses on which alpacas will do well.
Keep talking to your neighboring farms and other farmers in your area. Find out what grasses do well in your area - some will thrive in cooler weather, others in late summer, etc. You need to combine a mix of these, so that there's always something growing. Have the extension agent out to tell you about what's already growing - maybe it's better than you think.
Jill McElderry-Maxwell
Bag End Suri Alpacas of Maine - ¡BESAME!
Benton, ME
(207) 453-0109
bagendsuris@roadrunner.com
http://www.alpacanation.com/bagendsuri.asp
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LL Alpacas
42 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2009 : 10:14:48 PM
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Mike,
to answer your question of why orchard grass, my best guess is because it contains around %14 protein that is recommended for alpacas.
Timothy grass is supposed to be good too, but I can't really get it in my area.
I think it's a good idea to test your hay, and or whatever you have growing in the pasture.
Goodluck to you!
LL Alpacas
9117 Dillard Rd.
Wilton CA 95693
(916)308-9430 |
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Shadyside Mike
34 Posts |
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jmathiason
120 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2009 : 08:21:26 AM
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Mike,
My pastures are a mix of Orchard/Timothy/native grasses. I also provide 2nd cut Orchard grass hay 24/7.
When I have skinny nursing dams I supplement them with alfalfa and monitor their weight and body score carefully. The alfalfa is not given free choice but measured out as part of their dinner. Once they have regained a good body score I remove the alfalfa from their diet.
The alfalfa is introduced to their diet slowly.
jmathiason
Alpaca Road LLC
Ridgely MD
www.alpacanation.com/alpacaroad.asp
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Heidi Christensen
3493 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2009 : 10:01:51 AM
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On the other hand, there have been times when I haven't been able to get good orchard grass and have only fed alfalfa for a month or so. I haven't had any problem.
I always have alfalfa on hand because of the horse and goats, and ususally give the girls and youngsters a bit of it daily. And when I want to let the LGD eat in peace, I give some to the my older boy Satchmo - he likes dog food just about as much as the dog 
Heidi Christensen
WingNut Farm
Graham, Wa
(253) 846-2168
http://alpacanation.com/wingnutfarm.asp
http://wingnut-alpacas.com |
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jillmcm
1546 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2009 : 10:24:06 AM
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Here's another caution - remember that nothing is hard and fast - orchard grass hay AVERAGES 14% protein. That is not a guarantee that your orchard grass hay will have that protein level. My native grass hay last year came in at 16% protein, which ended up being perfect for the weather we had - but the year before it was closer to 12%. When hay is cut, what grasses are in it, and lots of other factors affect the protein level of a hay.
Jill McElderry-Maxwell
Bag End Suri Alpacas of Maine - ¡BESAME!
Benton, ME
(207) 453-0109
bagendsuris@roadrunner.com
http://www.alpacanation.com/bagendsuri.asp
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artsalpacagrass
15 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2009 : 1:21:43 PM
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To Shadyside Mike:
You bring up many great questions, many have been answered very well. Sometimes we can over analyze a situation, especially when we have a fair investment in our animals. Jill was right about nature rarely developing a monoculture. Weather has a great influence on protein and other nutritional qualities of a hay or pasture. Management is the other major influence. One of the best suggestions is paying attention to your animals as you make ration changes.
One suggestion is to test all your hay/ feed. Make no assumptions. I saw "quality" hay samples test from 8-18% protein this past year. Looks can be deceiving!
Some grasses to consider...
Orchardgrass is usually recommended since it has such a large area of acceptance and is very palatable. It also has good production for both hay and pasture.
Meadow brome would also work better in your area since it is more palatable than its smoothbrome counterpart and isn't as aggressive. It will handle the summer heat better than many. Bromegrass in general is the least palatable of all the grasses.
Timothy is very palatable, but will probably be limited in production and persistence due to your hotter summers.
Forage bluegrass (There are only a couple varieties.)is also a great choice. Be sure you don't use a turf variety since endophytes may be an issue.
Native tall fescue will be found in your area and will have to be managed to limit the potential endophyte issues that might arise. Planting and managing an endophyte free variety will dilute the problem.
Clover usually will find its way into any pasture, especially after a wet spring and summer many had this past year.
Managing pasture grass height will also provide a more CONSISTENT source of quality grass. "It takes grass to make grass". If you allow animals to eat to close you will rapidly kill your pasture. Keeping it at 4-6" through out the year is the ideal height to maintain a quality pasture. If your soil tests show fertility is needed, add it in the fall and early spring with small amounts late spring and late summer.
Art Scheele
815.266.4010,c
Art's Alpaca Grass
art@artsalpacagrass.com
www.artsalpacagrass.com |
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Pasture and cut hay...
