- Good quality grasses (the pasture is always best), hays and other good “rumen foods” are what the camelid physiology is built for. The major issue we see on farms is overfeeding and fat animals. more »
- Bermudagrass is an excellent perennial hot season (southern) grass for grazing alpacas. It produces moderate protein levels, is tremendously productive, lives in marginal soils, and responds well to water and fertilizer. It is superb winter hay quite resistant to rot and mold. Here is some information on its history, cultivation and regional applications. more »
- Alfalfa (“lucerne” for those “down under”) is leafy forage that is a rich, highly palatable, perennial legume. This type of plant “fixes”atmospheric nitrogen in the root system, converting gaseous nitrogen into plant nitrogen (protein). Like bermuda grass, it is not native to the USA, but likely came in from central Asia and has been known for thousands of years as a superb animal and horse forage. Alfalfa grows almost everywhere in the USA, perhaps best in the mid-south and less so in the upper north. more »
- Here is the physiology of “rye grass tetany” or “rye grass staggers” and then you can decide how to control your forage choices. The confusion is that we are talking of at least two separate issues, but with similar symptoms. more »
- Often, nutritionists use terms such as NDF, ADIN and net energy when discussing forage test analyses. What do all of these terms mean? Read on and soon you will understand the significance of these terms and why the results are important to your production. more »