Monday, 21 December 2009

Feeding oats

We have had a little more snow today so the girls and weanlings have had a double ration of hay.

For the first time this winter I have begun introducing Oats into the main herds daily feeding routine. It is quite funny to see the reactions from the different girls, typically out of the three (Oonagh, LMI & Imala) that I am most keen to tuck into them only one so far is bothering.

Oonagh who is a bit of a fussy eater at the best of times is not in the slightest bit interested in these funny coloured things! She will only ever eat from your hand anyway and will never compete for food.

Imala usually eats anything and everything, sugar beet, carrots, apple but not oats. You can tell she really doesn't like the fact that some of the other girls are eating them and she feels like she is missing out.

Thankfully Irraquoy seems to like them so they will do her some good I'm sure. Feeding a cria this time of year really takes it out of the girls so anything I can do to help them is a priority.

If anyone has any top tips on how to introduce oats I would very much appreciate them.
Posted by Debbie, Barnacre Alpacas at 21:25

2 comments:

Rob @ Wellground said...

Hi Debbie,

We feed equal quantities of camelibra with rolled oats at this time of year. We notice a terrific difference in the body condition of the lactating females.

We mix it all in together before putting feed out. It not only improved body weight in the lacating mothers, but also aids digestion in our opinion. We notice improved dung quality.

Rob n Les

21 December 2009 at 22:11
Debbie, Barnacre Alpacas said...

Thanks Rob, I will give it a go. I didn't want to mix it in initially incase some of them didn't them eat the Camelibra

22 December 2009 at 23:16

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