[New Riverside Farm]

Hello,

Went to my local feed store and apparently there's some difficulty getting hay? Anyway, they offered us 'seed hay'. I am not familiar with this - so hoped you lot would be and could tell me if this is ok for the goats?

Many thanks!

[Buttermilk]

This article explains the difference in types of hay
http://www.equine-world.co.uk/horses_care/horse_hay.asp

[pharnorth]

Probably worth asking the feed store to be sure. Either should be fine for goats. We have had some hay off our fields last year that the horses deemed 'unpalatable'. The fickle creatures will literally stand and starve rather than eat it. Happens about 1 year in 10. Various theory as to why. The goats and sheep however are lapping it up.

I have one field of meadow hay (permanent pasture, under seeded every 6 years) and one field of seed hay- ploughed and reseeded 3 years ago. But as Scarlet Dragon says, some people refer to late cut hay (gone to seed) as seed hay so whilst the definition Buttermilk sent in is correct and is probably what the feed store means it may not be.

[New Riverside Farm]

The feed store said it was fine for goats - but I like to check on a few things and use the resource of this great forum to do what's best for my goats. Not that I'd think a feed store would be so devious as to give incorrect information but in coming on here, I might gather more information as to if this unbalances their nutrition and needs to be corrected elsewhere, or if it might be ok but could give them an upset tummy. So thought it best to ask the experts and those who really love their goats!

I'll take a look at the article and also see what this 'seed hay' looks like.

Thank you for all your help and information!

[bj_cardiff]

Are you sure they didn't mean that it was hay that was cut from a field that was grown specially and cut with a combine harvester for its seeds?

I brought some a few years ago from my local feed merchant and it had never occurred to me that hay was made from a seed crop before then. It was totally fine, quite stalky though

[landroverroy]

Round here seed hay is the hay derived from the first year crop of newly seeded grass. It is nutritious but has little smell, unlike meadow hay, so I find that sheep are not attracted to it, although there is nutritionally nothing wrong with it. You might therefore find that goats also are not that keen on it merely because it doesn't have that lovely sweet smell of meadow hay.

[New Riverside Farm]

Are you sure they didn't mean that it was hay that was cut from a field that was grown specially and cut with a combine harvester for its seeds?

I brought some a few years ago from my local feed merchant and it had never occurred to me that hay was made from a seed crop before then. It was totally fine, quite stalky though

Not sure - it is quite yellow/green...does that indicate anything? My husband bought it thinking - we needed hay of some sort but knew we might not be able to use it and then if not, it'd be bedding for chickens or goats! So I have it here but not yet fed (or tried to feed to them).

[bj_cardiff]

Why don't you ring up the person selling it and ask what exactly it is as 'seed hay' seem to vary across the country! Does it have any seed heads in it at all?

[New Riverside Farm]

Why don't you ring up the person selling it and ask what exactly it is as 'seed hay' seem to vary across the country! Does it have any seed heads in it at all?

Tried calling this morning but they may be out due to Good Friday? Anyway, in asking my husband he said that they told him this was due to a bad summer for hay - so there is a shortage everywhere - so it's a slightly poorer version of hay but ok for them, just may not be so attracted to it.

[landroverroy]

Fascinating; it never occurred to me that different locations would have different interpretations!  Would never make hay from a first year grass crop around here.  It goes for silage; the ground wouldn't hold up to machinery for hay.

It's not a particularly regional interpretation. I was just being polite and didn't want to appear to dispute the other interpretations of "seed hay"
If you talk to a hay and straw merchant they will tell you that seed hay is that made from a crop of grass grown specifically as a hay crop - as indeed it also states in the link provided by Buttermilk.   Obviously whether it was made in ideal conditions without getting wet is another matter, but the main difference from meadow hay is that it doesn't have the assortment of herbs in it which give the meadow hay it's sweet smell, and for that reason may not be as attractive to the goats. Although well made seed hay should actually have a higher feed value than well made meadow hay.

[New Riverside Farm]

Hiya,

Tried them out on the seed hay. Two are fine, one is having gut issues and very runny poo...like water basically. Last night, I tried to give her a little apple and she did eat it to ensure that she still maintained an appetite. This morning she isn't eating. She's come out of the barn and is sitting in the sun but is definitely not interacting like the others, not eating, and I fear not drinking. I've given them fresh water so she doesn't dehydrate.

I called the vet first thing this morning but unfortunately 'they are out on calls' so do not know when to anticipate a call back, or if this is an emergency in which I say...ok, I'll find whatever vet, whatever distance, to ensure my goat is ok! Can anyone assist?

I am presuming it may be due to the seed hay - but obviously there can be other possible culprits, I do know that, it just seems a likely culprit as a new thing in their environment.

Please someone with some experience, please tell me if I need to jump ship and go elsewhere (not saying I will be able to, but at least try) or if there is anything I can do to ensure she is getting water, or anything to help, or if this is panic overload?

[honeyend]

I would imagine its upset her gut flora and may have gas. Some of the hedges are starting to break so I would look for some twigs. hopefully with leaves to give her some roughage.
  I have had a goat, loved to bits but a blumming nuisance, and just cut out anything watery when she had a dose of the runs and managed to find some oak leaves, which provided you do not give too many bung them up, which worked for her.
  Seed hay is rocket fuel, and is very high in nutrients, it may be worth trying timothy haylage if you can not find weedy hay.
http://www.efeed.co.uk/products/haylage

[harmony]

Hope your goat is ok 


I wouldn't jump ship with the vet. It is really busy at the moment, lambing and calving in full swing along with all the other call outs they will get. Keep monitoring but obviously if she gets worse call them back.