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altivoStill waiting. Our regular provider of the last couple of seasons still says he will have hay for us, but not yet. As of this morning we had three bales left.
A supplier from Wisconsin, with whom we had some hard words three years ago, did promise at least 120 and perhaps 150 new bales this morning. He called at 10 am saying he had "equipment problems" and wants to reschedule. (The market price here this year is $8 per bale, more than double the price at this time last year.)
Fortunately, we took some action on Sunday anyway. Went to our local feed store and got 40 lbs. of sugar beet pulp (dried shreds) and 40 lbs. of alfalfa cubes. Worked out all the necessary proportions and math to substitute the beet pulp for part of the horses' essential roughage, which reduces our hay requirements by a third. Given that Tess can be on grass as long as the weather is good, the reduction is more than a third.
We can stretch those three bales for nearly a week. We can survive longer than that if we put the boys out on grass, but that has various logistic problems not the least of which is that they haven't been on grass this year and would need a very gradual introduction to it.
The alfalfa cubes can substitute for some hay, but they have a higher calorie content and really shouldn't be substituted one for one. I don't want to reduce the amount of roughage any further lest we have colic issues.
Beet pulp is funny stuff. It's the leftovers from pressing sugar beets to extract and refine the sugar content. That process is very efficient, so there isn't a lot of simple sugar left in the pulp. There are, however, some starches and minerals and a portion of the cellulose is digestible for horses as well. By weight, dry beet pulp is about one third as nutritious as dry oats, which is pretty good. Almost too good when compared to grass hay. So we soak the pulp in water to expand the bulk. A pound of dry pulp, which is pretty woody in texture, becomes seven pounds when soaked in three pints of warm water for 30 minutes or so. This can be substituted for three pounds of hay. Our horses are used to getting their hay moistened, so that's not a big change for them.
I tried a bit of the dry pulp myself. It reminds me of various 100% bran breakfast cereals. Faintly sweet, very chewy, with a bran-like texture. I've never fed it to horses before, and my nutrition books say some will refuse it at first. At least we didn't have that problem.
I offered a handful of moistened pulp to each of the boys. They nibbled at it, and apparently were quite surprised by the texture (which is like partly cooked oatmeal) and both of them reared up and bolted away from me. Then they came back sheepishly and asked for the rest, which they did chew and swallow. Tess was more sanguine about it, and may have had it to eat before. She sniffed it, tried a bite, made funny faces at me, and ate the rest. Then she licked my hand to get any leftovers. All three of them did completely eat last night's portion, and licked out their feed tubs. I guess even faintly sweet is still irresistible.
This morning I put Tess out on the grass, which can replace both hay and the beets for the morning. Made a portion of beets for the boys, who gave me a "What, again?" look when I dumped it into their feed bins, but resigned themselves to eating it once I added the small amount of grain they normally get. Then they went into the yard with their reduced quantity of hay.
With any luck, the hay guy will get his wagon (or whatever) fixed and still bring the load today. Tomorrow would be OK except that Gary has plans to be in Chicago and would have to change them.
A supplier from Wisconsin, with whom we had some hard words three years ago, did promise at least 120 and perhaps 150 new bales this morning. He called at 10 am saying he had "equipment problems" and wants to reschedule. (The market price here this year is $8 per bale, more than double the price at this time last year.)
Fortunately, we took some action on Sunday anyway. Went to our local feed store and got 40 lbs. of sugar beet pulp (dried shreds) and 40 lbs. of alfalfa cubes. Worked out all the necessary proportions and math to substitute the beet pulp for part of the horses' essential roughage, which reduces our hay requirements by a third. Given that Tess can be on grass as long as the weather is good, the reduction is more than a third.
We can stretch those three bales for nearly a week. We can survive longer than that if we put the boys out on grass, but that has various logistic problems not the least of which is that they haven't been on grass this year and would need a very gradual introduction to it.
The alfalfa cubes can substitute for some hay, but they have a higher calorie content and really shouldn't be substituted one for one. I don't want to reduce the amount of roughage any further lest we have colic issues.
Beet pulp is funny stuff. It's the leftovers from pressing sugar beets to extract and refine the sugar content. That process is very efficient, so there isn't a lot of simple sugar left in the pulp. There are, however, some starches and minerals and a portion of the cellulose is digestible for horses as well. By weight, dry beet pulp is about one third as nutritious as dry oats, which is pretty good. Almost too good when compared to grass hay. So we soak the pulp in water to expand the bulk. A pound of dry pulp, which is pretty woody in texture, becomes seven pounds when soaked in three pints of warm water for 30 minutes or so. This can be substituted for three pounds of hay. Our horses are used to getting their hay moistened, so that's not a big change for them.
I tried a bit of the dry pulp myself. It reminds me of various 100% bran breakfast cereals. Faintly sweet, very chewy, with a bran-like texture. I've never fed it to horses before, and my nutrition books say some will refuse it at first. At least we didn't have that problem.
I offered a handful of moistened pulp to each of the boys. They nibbled at it, and apparently were quite surprised by the texture (which is like partly cooked oatmeal) and both of them reared up and bolted away from me. Then they came back sheepishly and asked for the rest, which they did chew and swallow. Tess was more sanguine about it, and may have had it to eat before. She sniffed it, tried a bite, made funny faces at me, and ate the rest. Then she licked my hand to get any leftovers. All three of them did completely eat last night's portion, and licked out their feed tubs. I guess even faintly sweet is still irresistible.
This morning I put Tess out on the grass, which can replace both hay and the beets for the morning. Made a portion of beets for the boys, who gave me a "What, again?" look when I dumped it into their feed bins, but resigned themselves to eating it once I added the small amount of grain they normally get. Then they went into the yard with their reduced quantity of hay.
With any luck, the hay guy will get his wagon (or whatever) fixed and still bring the load today. Tomorrow would be OK except that Gary has plans to be in Chicago and would have to change them.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-20 07:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-20 07:55 pm (UTC)That may well be global climate change at work, though I do remember similar summers in my lifetime. Most particularly 1988, and also (I think) 1954. For a while they were comparing this year to 2006 but we have now far exceeded the high temperatures and low rainfall of that year. If next year is similar, then we really do have a new problem.
There are other pressures on the price of some feed. Corn is higher because it's in demand for things other than feed, such as ethanol production (fuel additive or complete substitute.) This year's corn crop is going to be greatly reduced. It remains to be seen what happens to soybeans, which may pull out of it if we start getting regular small amounts of rain now.
As far as the world food supply goes, if the wealthier nations just stop using grains and legumes as feed for meat animals, our ability to feed populations will increase by perhaps two orders of magnitude. Other problems than food supply would appear first. Clean fresh water is already getting tight.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-21 10:30 am (UTC)Awwwww. :)
no subject
Date: 2012-08-21 09:10 pm (UTC)All three are now eating their beets like good boys and girls. In fact, Asher (who was most suspicious about them) nearly dove into his feed tub when I put them down this morning. Of course, reducing their plain hay ration has something to do with that. According to my calculations and spreadsheets, all are still getting at least as many calories and as much roughage as before, so we should be good.
And a new hay delivery finally arrived this morning. I'd like at least 150 more bales, but this is enough to get us through the winter if we continue the present dietary regimen.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-21 09:17 pm (UTC)Nice to hear they've acquired a taste for the beets, too! I presume they just had to "acquire the taste" and get used to them (not that I'd know anything about horses).
no subject
Date: 2012-08-21 09:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-23 09:43 pm (UTC)I love reading about your farm adventures, and they often make me long for a simpler life. I've always wondered how well I would do in a rural setting, but at this point in my life I'm pretty unlikely to make that major a shift. Still, it's nice to enjoy vicariously, so thank you!
Light and laughter,
SongCoyote
P.S. Brief touch of maundering above aside, life is going pretty well for me right now. Just thought I'd mention that, and the fact that I think fondly of you :)
no subject
Date: 2012-08-24 03:41 am (UTC)I got to where I was just miserable crowded into the city. It was essential to my sanity to get out here. Thank the goddess it was possible for me to do.
Horses are special. Like dogs, they have personalities, expressions, and attachments. They learn things, and they never forget. Tess is pretty much mine now and we both know it. The boys just like almost anyone with food who isn't loud or jumpy.