FAQs About Livestock
Below are some commonly asked questions that specifically relate to non-equestrian animal classes. If you have questions not covered here, feel free to contact us for more information.
- Is Chaffhaye Alfalfa right for Calves and Goats?
Chaffhaye represents an all-natural breakthrough in calf and goat raising operations, allowing ranchers to develop to the most healthy calves and goats at an economical price. With regard to rapid rumen development of weaning and growing calves and goats, Chaffhaye stands out for its unmatched levels of quality protein, digestibility and palatability.
Calf Operators can expect from Chaffhaye Alfalfa:
- Consistent, premium grade alfalfa
- High dietary fiber that assists in early rumen development
- Natural source of yeast that assists rumen development
- Rapid weaning of calves, replacing expensive milk and grains
- Rapid weight gain
- Weather-proof bag allows storage at the point-of-feeding
Goat Operators can expect from Chaffhaye Alfalfa:
- Consistent, premium grade alfalfa
- Higher weight gain and milk production
- Suitable selenium reduces risk of white muscle disease
- Less waste from goat throwing the feed around. Goats will eat Chaffhaye's fluffy leaves and soft stems alike. Goats consume 100%.
- Reduces "hay belly" look in show goats
- Improved cleanliness. Up to 50% less manure
- Convenience and portability of compressed product
- 2-year shelf life with no loss of nutrient value
- Reduced storage space of 60% vs. hay
- Best of all, Chaffhaye Alfalfa has demonstrated itself to be at least 40% less expensive than feeding good quality hay to goats. This advantage arises from Chaffhaye's reduced dry matter (DM) losses from storage and handling; high palatability leading to less than 2% waste; savings in bedding and cleanup; savings in storage and transport; and a reduction in veterinary services related to respiratory, digestive and immune ailments caused by dry hay.
These are just some of the reasons that so many goat and calf operators are choosing Chaffhaye Alfalfa over dusty hay, pellets and concentrated feeds.
(Top) - How much is in a bag of Chaffhaye?
Both Chaffhaye Alfalfa and Chaffhaye Grass are offered in 50 pound bags. A 50# Bag of Chaffhaye Alfalfa will feed an average 1100 pound horse for 3 days. That is, you will want to feed about 1.5 pounds of Chaffhaye Alfalfa for every hundred pounds of horse. For smaller animals, such as foals, goats or llamas, feed about 2 to 3 pounds of Chaffhaye Alfalfa for every hundred weight of animal.
(Top) - Is the feed value for Chaffhaye higher than dry hay?
Yes. Chaffhaye's feed value arises from a number of key factors, including its superior harvesting and packaging method; improved digestibility due to beneficial enzymes, yeast and microflora; and unmatched palatability. In the process of conventional hay making, a pasture is first cut and then typically left to dry on the field for several days after harvest. (The farmer then prays it doesn't rain during this critical drying period, lest the crop be lost). As the forage dries in the open air environment, it undergoes a respiration process that consumes and depletes its nutrients. Then, when nutrient losses from storage and transport are added, even a "Good Quality" hay can easily lose 20% to 30% of its nutrient value. The nutrient losses are exacerbated in the event of rain, mold, and leaf loss, to name but a few. By contrast, the harvest of Chaffhaye is closely timed to the optimal plant maturity. Then, within hours of cutting, it is chopped and compressed into air-tight packaging. Without oxygen in the bag, a beneficial fermentation is initiated, preserving more than 90% of the nutritional value of the crop. Because Chaffhaye retains a higher portion of its natural plant juices, its palatability is raised, resulting in higher feed intake. In addition to preserving nutrients, the fermentation populates the forage with beneficial enzymes and microflora that "pre-condition" the forage allowing greater assimilation (absorption) of nutrients by your animal when consumed. Finally, the Chaffhaye advantage is especially obvious when feeding 'finicky' eaters. Depending on the type of animal being fed, anywhere from 5% to 40% of dry hay can wasted by finicky eaters who prefer eating leafy matter rather than stem matter. Soft in the mouth and easy to chew, Chaffhaye fosters 100% feed consumption. For these reasons, a 50# bag of Chaffhaye equates to a nutritional value of 75 to 100 pounds of "Good Quality" hay.
(Top) - I found white patches on my Chaffhaye. What is this?
These patches have the texture and taste of yogurt, and are actually 'colonies' of yeast created as a by-product of the beneficial fermentation process. In fact, some of the most expensive probiotics on the market are yeast-based gels that are used to reestablish healthy digestion in animals and to bolster the immune system after stress, travel, wormers and antibiotics. These yeast cultures actually aid the digestion of certain nutrients and are generally readily eaten by the animal. If, however, the Chaffhaye bag has been torn for some period of time and air has been introduced into the product, mold can grow. Mold will have a brownish-gray look with a bad smell. There is no oxygen in a sealed bag of Chaffhaye. Mold can not grow without the introduction of oxygen.
(Top) - What is the shelf life of Chaffhaye in unopened bag? Once opened?
Unopened in its air-tight package, Chaffhaye will remain preserved and fresh for at least 2 years. In our own experience, we encountered no problems feeding our own horses using 10-year old Chaffhaye. Once opened, Chaffhaye acts like any fresh product. By opening the bag, the forage becomes exposed to oxygen and begins to lose its freshness. As a guide, Chaffhaye will remain fresh for between 7 to 14 days, depending on weather conditions. For this reason, an opened bag should be stored out of the sun and in an air-tight container to prolong freshness. Accordingly, we recommend finishing an open bag within the 7 to 14 day 'window of freshness.'
(Top) - Is Chaffhaye too expensive?
Chaffhaye is nearly twice as nutritious as "good quality" hay, and therefore, the amount of grain and expensive supplements can be significantly reduced. Chaffhaye is conveniently compressed down 2:1, leading to reduced storage and transportation cost. Chaffhaye squarely addresses common ailments that horses and other animals suffer, including digestive disorders, such as colic and impactions, respiratory ailments due to air-borne dust and mold spores, and other immune system disorders. Chaffhaye is particularly cost effective when offered to finicky eaters, such as certain horses and goats, that often sort out delicious leaves from the stems. With Chaffhaye, even finicky eaters will eat 100% of this soft-textured forage, substantially reducing wasted feed. Finally, as a main reason why we bought this company many years ago was that we were spending significant amounts of our own time trying to locate consistent quality forage for our horses and livestock. Many times, high quality forage was simply not available. For these reasons, we consider it far too costly not to use Chaffhaye in place of dried hay.
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