2021, Waiting on lambs!

secuono

Herd Master
Joined
Oct 16, 2010
Messages
8,551
Reaction score
11,735
Points
623
Location
Virginia is for Pasture Farmers!
4 of 5 paddocks are nearly out of green, so grass pellet feeding has started.
25 days left for breeding to happen!

Editing,
I forgot that I had started the season on the 15th instead of the usual 1st. So the season will continue until December 10th. 😅 sorries
Screenshot_20201105-181946_Video Player.jpg
Screenshot_20201105-181921_Video Player.jpg
Screenshot_20201105-181810_Video Player.jpg
Screenshot_20201105-181847_Video Player.jpg
Screenshot_20201105-181910_Video Player.jpg
 
Last edited:

Kusanar

Loving the herd life
Joined
Jun 9, 2016
Messages
497
Reaction score
934
Points
172
Location
Roanoke Area, Virginia
4 of 5 paddocks are nearly out of green, so grass pellet feeding has started.
I saw somewhere that ruminants and hay pellets don't mix well. You haven't seen that as an issue? I was thinking about when I get my sheep feeding them free choice with the normal mixed grass hay I have for the horses but then supplementing heavily pregnant or lactating ewes with a hay pellet for a bit better quality hay source but then I saw that info and was wondering if that was a good idea, but you are feeding hay pellets so... lol, too much conflicting info
 

secuono

Herd Master
Joined
Oct 16, 2010
Messages
8,551
Reaction score
11,735
Points
623
Location
Virginia is for Pasture Farmers!
I saw somewhere that ruminants and hay pellets don't mix well. You haven't seen that as an issue? I was thinking about when I get my sheep feeding them free choice with the normal mixed grass hay I have for the horses but then supplementing heavily pregnant or lactating ewes with a hay pellet for a bit better quality hay source but then I saw that info and was wondering if that was a good idea, but you are feeding hay pellets so... lol, too much conflicting info


I haven't come across that info before. It's the first time I'll be feeding the grass pellets heavily w/o much loose hay, so idk how it will go.
 

Kusanar

Loving the herd life
Joined
Jun 9, 2016
Messages
497
Reaction score
934
Points
172
Location
Roanoke Area, Virginia
I haven't come across that info before. It's the first time I'll be feeding the grass pellets heavily w/o much loose hay, so idk how it will go.
It was something about the lack of fiber in the pellets causing issues with the rumen. I still think if it is a supplement to hay it would likely be ok because the long stem hay would give them the fiber, but I don't know for sure.

I just found this: https://thriftyhomesteader.com/alfalfa-pellets-vs-cubes-and-hay/ that talks about it a little bit but based around goats.
 

secuono

Herd Master
Joined
Oct 16, 2010
Messages
8,551
Reaction score
11,735
Points
623
Location
Virginia is for Pasture Farmers!
🎉 30 more sheep are now also in BSSBA! 🎉

Total Count
4 rams in OEBSR, NABSSAR & BSSBA.
2 rams in OEBSR & BSSBA.
24 ewes in OEBSR, NABSSAR & BSSBA.
2 ewes in OEBSR & BSSBA.

2 were already in BSSBA & there's 1 ram to add after his OEBSR tag update comes in.

20201110_155738.jpg20201110_155751.jpg20201110_155813.jpg
 
Last edited:

secuono

Herd Master
Joined
Oct 16, 2010
Messages
8,551
Reaction score
11,735
Points
623
Location
Virginia is for Pasture Farmers!
🤔
I think, instead of making shelters & protected hay feeders n such for each paddock, I should buy panels and use the barn!
Still need to make a couple shelters w/hay, for the far pens, but rest could use the barn pretty easily.
Far side has 4 beams, other has one wall & 3 beams, so that one would be just 3 pens possible.
I'd need to actually use the aisle, which means clearing out the barn and the closed, raised room. Now that I have a tractor, I can put in 2 bales at a time to peel n feed. Use metal cans to store feed.
The panels splitting the barn & leading out need to be removable & hopefully long enough to not need posts in the ground to keep them up. Can't use the mesh panels, rams will destroy them, so I'm thinking custom 3ft, 4-5 bar panels. 🤔 Probably an expensive upgrade to the barn.
I'll need to remove the wood pallet mini walls & make one retaining wall.

I'll draw it up n look for panels n pricing. I'd guess it won't happen until next year or later.
 

secuono

Herd Master
Joined
Oct 16, 2010
Messages
8,551
Reaction score
11,735
Points
623
Location
Virginia is for Pasture Farmers!
Okay, found panels that I like, but freight may be a ton...

If anyone wants to split an order with me & you can pickup at my place, lemmie know. I have 10 months before I have to order them & install.

Why one long 20 foot section instead of two or 3? Because one only needs securing at the two end points! I don't want any tposts in the way the rest of the year.

5× 20' long, 7 horizontal bars, 37" tall.
6× 8' long, 7 horizontal bars, 37" tall.

Here's a rough idea of what I'm after.
20201120_181248.jpg20201120_182028.jpg20201120_181640.jpg

So, just the bottom paddock will need a shelter built with hay & pellet area. Rest will be able to connect to the barn, where hay & pellet feeders will be inside.
The fence made of feedlot panels will need to move inwards about 3-4ft to meet the 20ft panels.
I'll probably move in the feedlot panels at left & top inwards as well, since I don't need that much space doing nada most of the time.

I can reuse these panels later for work shoots! Would be nice to have them all lined up & ready for shearing or vaccines & hoof trimming. I'd just need to either get tiny gates to swing/divide sheep in the shoot or angle the 8ft gates in a way where they'll stop sheep. 🤔 This will be trial n error. Rather not buy fancy gates, using cut goat panels may work best, now that I'm thinking about it...

The last two on the bottom left in the barn, they can be left open or split incase a sheep needs isolation for some reason.
20201120_183327.jpg
 
Last edited:

secuono

Herd Master
Joined
Oct 16, 2010
Messages
8,551
Reaction score
11,735
Points
623
Location
Virginia is for Pasture Farmers!
I'd guess itll be 2k for these special panels delivered, if not more.

Rural king is great, a windy hour drive, but cheaper...

But they don't have 20ft, just 18ft. Hmm...
1k for them.

Do I wait & hope 20ft is offered at my store or get 18ft? I'll call them & see how often they're in stock.
Screenshot_20201120-215147_Chrome.jpgScreenshot_20201120-215159_Chrome.jpg
 
Last edited:
Top