I have used both cubes and pellets for horses. After my experience, I would never use the pellets again. The alfalfa pellets made my horse founder terribly. The cubes are fine, when you soak them, but my sheep don't really like the wet alfalfa, which is what it winds up being.
Southern Stages and other supplies sell hay forage, which I used for my older horse who couldn't chew the long stemmed hay. It was the same hay, just chopped up so the horses who didn't have great teeth could get their nutrients. My sheep absolutely love the forage. Around here it comes in 40 pound bales, the bales are very compressed, when you empty it into a can, it fills up a Large trash can. They will get fat on it though, you have to learn how much to use, but it may be an option for you. Nancy L. Johnson imgr8a...@comcast.net cell: 301 440 4808 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carol Elkins" <celk...@critterhaven.biz> To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2011 7:03:34 PM Subject: [Blackbelly] Alfalfa pellets/cubes I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do when the hay supply runs out next spring before my pasture comes in. I can't find small bales anywhere locally and those that are farther away are going for up to $12/bale. So I'm wondering about alfalfa pellets or cubes. I know of only two sizes--pellets for rabbilts (1/4 in. diameter or so) and cubes for horses. I've learned thus far from a goat site that I trust that you can feed the cubes in conjunction with hay, but not as a total replacement. Sheep and goats need the long fiber in hay for their rumens to work properly. The cubes are too chopped up and processed to be a total replacement. The site also said that sheep will not be able to eat those hard cubes "as is"and that I should either break them up with a hammer or soak them in warm water. That's a lot of work I'd rather not have to do. Do any of you have any experience feeding alfalfa pellets and if so, what quantity and what size pellet and what worked? Carol Carol Elkins Critterhaven--Registered Barbados Blackbelly Hair Sheep (no shear, no dock, no fuss) Pueblo, Colorado http://www.critterhaven.biz _______________________________________________ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info _______________________________________________ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
