Alfalfa Hay

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I have had my pregnant does on alfalfa hay, until this past week when we switched them to grass hay to stimulate release of calcium until they kid in mid-April.

Then we plan to switch back to alfalfa.

My question is: Does a steady diet of alfalfa hay, which is very easy for us to find vs. grass hay, taint the taste of the goat milk?

Thanks for your help!

Cynthia

-- Cynthia (blessmyown@yahoo.com), March 30, 2002

Answers

Where in the world are you if alfalfa is easy to find and grass hay isnt!? Really- I want to know!! In relation to your post, I dont htink alfalfa taints the milk (I never noticed anything). BUT alfalfa is pretty rich stuff- a 50 50 mix or less of alfalfa vs grass hays is better, In my opinion.

-- -Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), March 30, 2002.

I am not sure about the goats but can answer the other question about hay. Here in Eastern Washington much simpler to get alfalfa hay, it is quite a cash crop here. In my area hard to find "Good Grass" hay. Denise

-- Denise K. (Rabbitmom2@webbworks.com), March 31, 2002.

I'm no expert, but when we I was a child my mom fed our milk goat onnly alfalfa hay. Where we were from (So CA) it was about all you could find that was reasonable in price. Currently I live in CO and grass is getting harder & harder to find. Alfalfa is taking over. Farmers can get 3 or 4 good cuts off a nice alf field. With grass they get 1 or 2. I think alfalfa is very easy to find in the west.

-- ellie (Elnorams@aol.com), March 31, 2002.

Ok i have just checked the books i have on alfalfa and goats, and i cant find any reference whatsoever to alfalfa tainting the milk produced from any lactating animals. I hope this help you.

People it might help you to contact, they assisted me with some questions even though im from the UK, was the USDA. They are extremely helpful to all. A good place to check with, but like i said i couldnt find any information in any of the books to suggest a link between tainting milk and Alfalfa hay.

-- Craig Oliver (ruskie@absolutevodka.fsnet.co.uk), March 31, 2002.


Cynthia it is actually pretty common knowledge in the dairy goat industry that you either feed the alfalfa after milking or a couple of hours before. Keep your grass hay out once they kid, then just offer the alfalfa after milking. When feeding alfalfa you will be able to drop your protein in your grain mix, unless you are feeding a high protein grass hay, you will have to compensate for the poorer protein when you feed grass. Here a steady diet of alfalfa hay puts me in the poor house! Sounds like you already knew the answer to your question :) Hope you have a wonderful kidding season. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (Nubians) (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 31, 2002.


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