Alpha Oil Question please!

[Maesfen]

When Bea arrived here she brought with her a bag of Alpha A Oil which she was used to. I've used normal Alpha A and Hi Fi but never the Oil one and it smelt gorgeous; I can understand why everyone has raved about it.
I've just bought a new bag, expiry date May 07 - and it doesn't smell of anything!

Nothing like the herby type smell of the other one, really disappointed, loved that smell!

So, my question is, are there different types of the Oil product or have they changed the formulae? My feed merchants say they sell loads of it and it's in the same style bag as the other which came from Sussex so why the difference, does anyone know?
Have to say, Bea still eats it with relish so don't know that it's affecting her - but it is me!

 

[Patches]

Does it look the same though Pat?

Youngs do a Herbi mollichop and I was wondering if it's been mixed with the Alfa Oil giving you the aroma.

As you know, I've used Alfa A Oil and I've never noticed a herb like smell from the bag at all.

 

[Maesfen]

Yes Clare, looks virtually the same, perhaps a little drier like normal Alpha A, (hence me checking the date, thought it might have been an old bag slipped through the net!) When you opened the old bag, the lovely smell would hit you, this bag smells of nothing! I must ask Annemarie if she added anything to that bag I think.
The bag that smelt lovely came from Sussex, this new bag, bought this week, from Corbett's in Malpas and they get a lot of their stuff which isn't delivered straight to them, from Young's so I wondered if the southerners have a different 'recipe' to ours! If so, I want theirs!

 

[Patches]

Maybe they do but I thought Youngs Animal Feeds in Somerford was where all Mollichop was made, Indeed it's the only manufacturers address on the bags I have.

Interesting though. Have you decided on a husband for Bea yet?

 

[Maesfen]

The Alpha A Oil is made by Dengie, the same makers of Hi Fi, etc., it isn't a Young's product at all although they'll sell it of course.

Hubby for Bea? Well, I've got Twiggy sorted out, fingers crossed! She's going to Aimbrey Chester but will be AI'd at The Twemlows near here, will save a big load on transport costs that way (tightarse that I am!) As for Bea, I am so divided it's untrue! I love KC but he's down in Cornwall; also have on the short list - Fulton, Grannusberg, Fairlyn Gemini, Mill Law, possibly Maurice Miner knowing how they turn out, it's so confusing - think in the end, all being equal, I'll have to put names in a hat or get the forum to vote!!

 

[Patches]

LMAO!!

Wake up Clare!


Do forgive me Pat. Having an alarmingly bad blonde moment and I cannot believe that it took you to write Dengie in a post before I woke up and realised what product we were talking about! PMSL! I blame the fact that the Alfa A doesn't come in a bale type bag like the Hi fi lite etc.

Sooo...back to your original point..yes there may well be regional variations and I've got a strange feeling that's been posted about before.

As for husbands for next year.....spoilt for choice aren't you? There's always a nice little colt we all know and love in the Cornwall area who may be available in a couple of years?

Picking names out of hat.....very good idea but open to "eeekkk...I didn't like that one, lets pick another name!"

Good luck deciding. Is Twiggy still in foal to Texas? Getting a podge on her yet?

 

[Maesfen]

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LMAO!!


Sooo...back to your original point..yes there may well be regional variations and I've got a strange feeling that's been posted about before.


Picking names out of hat.....very good idea but open to "eeekkk...I didn't like that one, lets pick another name!"

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Silly you! I meant - to put the names of the stallions I like in a hat, not names for any foals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Good luck deciding. Is Twiggy still in foal to Texas? Getting a podge on her yet?

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You'll get fed up with me saying it, but yes, fingers crossed it all looks well! She is blooming, as is Dolly, who must be having one of the longest sabbaticals to keep Miss T company and they both love being scruffy ponies with coats a mile long and thick! Thelwell isn't in it!!

I'm getting quite excited, only four months to go!!!!!!!

 

[Patches]

I knew you meant pick the names of stallions. What I meant was we all have some that are slightly more favoured than others and I can see you pick out "blah blah" and think...."but I prefer Yadder Yadder" so pick another stallion's name out of the hat.

Forum voting would be fabulous but would we all truly understand what you're trying to get out of the expected pairing? Personally I'd just look at pictures and pick who I think is most handsome! I'm so shallow!

Four months to go....it'll fly by!

 

[KatB]

Seasonal variations! The product changes throughout the year depending on the crop it came from! Varies in Colour ALOT too. Doesnt seem to effect the horses view on it though!!

 

[S_N]

Agree with Scrooge, BUT I must say in all the bags taht I have had I've never noticed a herby smell!

 

[KatB]

No neither have I TBH, Alpha Lite is the only one I have....

 

[S_N]

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No neither have I TBH, Alpha Lite is the only one I have....

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YES!!! H wasn't so keen on the bag of Alfa-A Oil I started him on, but he got used to it in no time, the Alfa-A Lite, took WEEKS for him to eat happily without a tonne of grated carrot!! Fussy begger!!

 

[idefixbis]

I have never noticed any kind of smell herby or other from alpha a oil. Mine wouldn't eat it at first and now loves it.

 

[Maesfen]

That's just it! As a rule I'm not too keen on any sort of chaff (perhaps mine pick up the vibes from me but they're not too keen either!) but the bag Annemarie sent with Bea really was an eye opener as regarding the smell of it - and all of mine wolfed it down straight away, no quibbling! To say that I was gob smacked is an understatement! Even said to the feed place that this one smelt gorgeous, could see why everyone was raving about it and then get the new bag home and - nothing!! Perhaps it is to do with seasonal or regional variations as someone's already said, haven't a clue; perhaps a normal Alpha A got shipped in an Oil bag, it will remain one of life's mysteries until I find out from Annemarie herself whether she had been doctoring it! Watch this space!

 

[EMZ]

never really notices a smeller i really like super mollichop!

 

[lilym]

dengie only make one type of alpha a oil, what i suspect has happened with your "herbie" ones is that the plant has switched from alfa a lite to alfa oil at some stage, and some mint has found it's way into the alfa a oil, dengie grow all their own alfalfa and make all their own stuff at their plant in essex, so it's highly unlikely to be mixed with another company's stuff, and it wouldn't matter wether you bought it in devon or kent!

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Was it hotter when you opened your last bag? I have noticed that the Alfa A Oil has a stronger/sweeter smell on warm days compared to cold ones. I like the smell of Good Doer myself (really minty especially in hot weather).

 

[PapaFrita]

I used to get alfa-a when I lived in Cambridge and it smelled almost chocolately (honest!) I suppose it might depend on the quality of the alfalfa; might not be consistent all year round (ours at the mo is crap!)

 

[Maesfen]

That's the best explanation so far, thanks! I knew they only grow their own and it's made only there which was what puzzled me in the first place - why was it different?! Looks like I might have to change to the 'Lite' in the future to get my fix and add my own oil!

 

[Baggybreeches]

Mine always smells gorgeous, so may be the smell goes if it has been stored for a while?