Feeding Farm Animals with Green Valley Grains Hobby Mix

Green Valley Grains Hobby Mix is a supplementary feed formulated from a blend of steam‑rolled grains and legumes (barley, maize, lupins, wheat, oats), lucerne chaff, vitamins and minerals, coated with molasses and vegetable oils. It is intended to complement — not replace — pasture and/or hay, and must be introduced gradually while ensuring fresh water is always available. Below is a guide to using the Hobby Mix with different farm species, and what to watch for in each.

Cattle (Beef or Dairy Cows)

• Cattle, being ruminants, digest fibre efficiently, but still need energy, protein, minerals and a bit of starch to maintain condition, especially during lactation or growth.

• Feed rate: up to about 0.5 % of body weight (as a supplement) when pasture is available.

• Provide high‑quality roughage (hay, pasture) to keep rumen function healthy. Since Hobby Mix does not contain a rumen buffer, care must be taken to avoid acidosis from rapid fermentation of grains.

• Monitor body condition, milk yield (in dairy cows), and signs of digestive upset (bloating, loose dung).

• In times of low pasture availability (drought, winter), the Hobby Mix helps supply extra energy and protein, but you may need to balance with additional minerals or buffers.

Sheep

• Sheep also are ruminants and benefit from supplementary grain when pasture quality is poor, during pregnancy/lactation, or for growth.

• As with cattle, the guideline is up to ~0.5 % of body weight (depending on other feed) for the Hobby Mix.

• Maintain access to adequate fibre (hay or rough pasture) to support rumen health.

• For ewes in late pregnancy or lactation, monitor for twin/triplet requirements — protein, energy and mineral needs rise significantly.

• Watch for acidosis or feed sorting; mixing small amounts with roughage can encourage more uniform intake.

Goats

• Goats share similarities with sheep, but they can be more selective feeders and possibly more sensitive to dietary imbalances.

• Use the Hobby Mix as a supplement (not sole feed).

• Ensure plenty of roughage (browsing, hay) so they can physically chew and maintain rumen buffering.

• Because goats may sort feed, ensure the mix is well blended and avoid letting them pick only the palatable high‑starch bits.

• Mineral supplementation (especially copper, selenium, zinc) must be suited to goats.

Alpacas (and Llamas / Camelids)

• Camelids have a somewhat different digestive physiology (three‑compartment stomach), and they tend to be more efficient in fibre use, so grain supplementation must be more cautious.

• The Hobby Mix may serve as a supplement particularly in dry seasons or when forage is poor, but should never dominate the diet.

• Overfeeding grain can lead to digestive upsets or obesity, since alpacas are generally low input in feeding.

• Provide good quality fibre (hay, pasture) continuously, and introduce Hobby Mix slowly.

• Ensure that mineral balance is appropriate for camelids (they have particular demands for calcium, phosphorus, trace minerals).

Pigs

• Unlike ruminants, pigs are monogastric (single‑stomach) animals and require a different balance of energy, protein and amino acids (especially lysine) for growth and reproduction.

• The Hobby Mix can be used as a supplementary or partial feed for pigs, but it is not a complete diet.

• Because pigs do not have rumen buffering, the inclusion of the molasses and oils in the mix helps palatability and energy density.

• Monitor for excessive starch or energy that may lead to digestive upset or obesity, especially in sows or non‑breeding pigs.

• Supplement or ensure adequate protein (especially essential amino acids), vitamins, and minerals to match the pig’s stage: growing, finishing, gestating or lactating.

Final Notes

Always introduce Hobby Mix gradually, especially when changing from one feed to another, to allow the animal’s rumen or gut flora to adjust. Because GVG Hobby Mix is a supplement, diet planning must account for other feeds (pasture, hay, silage, or other concentrates). Tailor feeding rates according to body weight, production stage (growth, lactation, maintenance), and forage availability. Always ensure clean fresh water is freely available.

Regularly monitor body condition, growth rates, health status, and fecal quality as feedback to adjust feed levels or composition.Used appropriately, Green Valley Grains Hobby Mix can be a flexible, palatable supplement across multiple farm species, helping support production or body condition when forage alone is insufficient.