FALL TRANSITION

 The Fall Transition will eventually impact all of our show lambs and goats. Cooler nights, shorter daylight period, and lower day time highs are all signs that Fall is approaching. Your roughage that you are currently feeding, should be for hot weather, with scratch factor and fiber your main concern. Rumen integrity and health is a must for maximum feed utilization. Hay grazer and bulky grass hays are best for current conditions. When we get a break in the heat and slowly start to cool off to more ideal feeding conditions, this is the period when your sheep and goats will start making BIG changes for the better. I don’t recommend alfalfa for summer feeding, due to its tendency to raise the core rumen temperature of your show animals, which will provide a more ideal environment for Coccidia to thrive. In addition to this negative effect, is the fact that a hotter feed may limit feed consumption and lend itself to loose stools. When we get to the Fall transition, alfalfa’s role becomes more of an asset. It is a great fitting and performance roughage for your tool box. The benefits of alfalfa hay are many; great source of B vitamins, vitamin E, and higher protein levels than grass or grain hays. When the transition begins, I like to start working a small amount of alfalfa along with my hay grazer or other hay, slowly working my way to a half and half mix, keeping my volume the same. 

Temperature wise the Fall transition generally starts: Sept. 1st: Plainview North Oct. 1st: South plains & West Texas Oct.-Nov.: Central Texas, South Texas, & East Texas The cooler nights and shorter days triggers a natural metabolic response in all livestock. This is when you can really gain some ground heading into tracking season. The shorter daylight interval is the primary trigger, not the temperature. It starts sooner than you think! Benefits: 1. All natural immune support and increased rumen function with the fiber and all natural vitamins. 2. Increased energy and vitality for the animals heading into tracking and tread-milling season. 3. Helps the lambs and goats get accustomed to the alfalfa prior to the Fall and Winter show season. 4. The subtle protein increase, works in favor of a leaner more expressive handle compared to other hay. 5. Alfalfa hay is a fitters dream on the road, while needing to balance fill with weight at the scales.