We use exclusively alfalfa here. It runs about $100 a ton here, sometimes up to $120 ton, delivered. It has a lot more protein than grass hay, it's pretty consistant and it's cheaper here than grass. Grass hay runs about $8-10 or $10.50 per bale here. In addition, grass hay here is really just filler.
Grass hay is basically a filler here too, and roughage. That's why everyone has to grain.
I've never really thought much about or figured if the alfalfa would be more economical. It's just not grown much around here.
Becky
Wow, it's hard to imaging alfalfa hay being cheaper than grass hay. Alfalfa is $8 or $10 a bale here while really good grass hay is $3 or less. I can get rolls for $20. I know that grass is just filler, but that's mostly what you need it for anyway so that's why I said what I did about putting a roll out for them to munch on. But I guess that would get a little expensive out where you live. It was just a thought.
Speaking of alfalfa, I thought I read somewhere that you had to be careful feeding it or the high protein was bad for their kidneys or something. Anybody else heard this before?
Do you ever worry about blister beetles in your alfalfa?