i have heard of goats coming down with listeriosis from balage, i have never
had first hand experience using it , only hay. cathy leonard
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Fosher" <bill@sheepscapes.com>
To: <earlymorn@bci.net>; "(SRMARKETING-L)" <srmarketing-l@cornell.edu>;
"graze-1" <graze-l@witt.ac.nz>
Sent: Monday, April 05, 2004 2:34 PM
Subject: Re: Feeding baylage to sheep and goats
> In a message titled "Feeding baylage to sheep and goats" on 4/5/04,
> Early Morning Organic Farm wrote:
> >I'm wondering if anyone has experience feeding baylage, or haylage,
> >to sheep and goats. My father (an ag bag dealer) is trying to
> >convince me it is the best way to feed in the winter. Hay bales are
> >certainly more convenient for us, but if the feed quality is that
> >superior, I might be willing to consider it.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Laurie
> >Early Morning Organic Farm
> >Genoa, NY
>
> We have been feeding balage to sheep for about eight years now. As
> with any forage, there's the good, the bad, and the ugly.
>
> However, all things being equal, properly made balage will generally
> be better feed than dry hay, as there will be less leaf lost. It's
> not uncommon for grassy second cut balage to test at 18 to 20 percent
> CP.
>
> However, feeding any form of silage to sheep increases the risk of
> listeriosis. Any spoiled silage (black and slimey) should be rejected.
>
> Bill Fosher
> Amherst, Mass.
>
>
