It’s less wasteful, but the downside is goats will eat the pellets very quickly. Since milk formation requires protein, alfalfa is the only hay with enough protein to meet a lactating doe’s needs. In most cases, a mineral supplement is essential to make sure that proper balance is maintained in order to prevent urinary stones. The only sure way to know the nutritional content is to have the hay analyzed by a forage testing laboratory. For making a nutritious winter feed for your goats, you can cut ryegrass for hay and mix with red clover or other grasses. Ryegrass is an outstanding winter forage grass that is highly productive. (Privacy Policy) *, © 2020, Countryside - All Rights Reserved. A disadvantage of orchardgrass is that is has relatively poor disease resistance. This hay is richer and more nutrient-dense that supports the high energy needed for milk production. In cases of extreme over-feeding of protein, kidney damage can occur. You can contact your local Cooperative Extension, NRCS, or Dept of Agriculture representative or your local feed store for a list of local hay producers. It’s there to fill in the gaps if you need it. In each case, goats will need supplementation of some type to maintain optimum productivity when hay is fed. Average fescue hay typically contains 8-9% crude protein and 55-60% TDN on a dry matter basis. Caprines need roughage in the form of about two to four pounds of hay per day (3% to 4% of body weight) for their rumens to function properly. Learn More! Fescue toxicity is more common in malnourished animals and those suffering heavy parasitism. There are many different species of grasses and legumes out there that are regularly harvested as hay. It is tolerant to shade, fairly drought resistant and has moderate winter hardiness; however will not tolerate wet-natured soils. Because ryegrass is longer-lived, a third application of 40 to 50 lbs. This causes no … It is a bit expensive but not too bad with only 2 goaties. Contact your local Cooperative Extension agent or feed store representative for more information on your options. Do NOT ever feed wet or moldy hay or grain to goats. Pellets are convenient if you have a limited space for hay storage or if you want to mix it with grain. Apparently this is a very good growing grass in this region where temperatures get down to as low as … In many cases a variety of supplement products will best meet your goats’ needs. Annual ryegrass is used primarily for winter grazing. Rye has an extensive, fibrous root system that may go as deep as 1.5 m. Rye culms are slender, erect, mostly glabrous (except near the spike) ( Ecoport, 2011 ). Advantages of alfalfa are that it is an excellent source of protein and is highly palatable to livestock Good quality alfalfa hay delivers 15-20% crude protein and 55-60% TDN. Rye, oats, moil, corn, barley etc. Plant pasture systems that will allow maximum grazing days. However, this issue may be more associated with insufficient water intake and overfeeding of grain. But what is the best hay for goats? Bermudagrass is a fast growing, hearty species of warm-season perennial grass found extensively in the Southeast. Goats do well on most hays that are considered “horse hay.” As long as the goats are acclimated to them appropriately to avoid stomach upset and founder, “legume hays such as alfalfa, clover, vetch, soybean or lespedeza work very well for kids, as well as pregnant and lactating does.” (3) That is just the way they eat. However, hybrid varieties of bermudagrass must be sprigged rather than seeded. When choosing a forage species to plant, the first consideration needs to be that the forage type you choose is compatible with your soil type, local environmental conditions and management style. Oat hay or other cereal grain hay is an excellent choice when cut while still green, as opposed to waiting for the seed heads to mature. My goats love it, in all of its forms. If you try to fight Mother Nature in this, you will lose the battle eventually. This same endophyte can create havoc for livestock. In addition to our own production fields, we use an extensive network of trusted wildland seed collectors and growers. As with all things, balance is key when it comes to caprine nutrition. A lot the Fescue also carry this fungus. What have you found to be the best hay for goats? As are presence of foreign objects, and unpalatable or poisonous weeds. Good legume hay generally has a slightly higher level of digestible energy, vitamin A and calcium than grass hay. Like oat hay, forage hay is cut at the optimal time to ensure a highly palatable feed for horses, cattle, goats and sheep. Hay fields or pastures that are not regularly fertilized and/or limed produce poor yields and contain low nutrient content. Excellent quality Bermudagrass hay is much better goat feed than poor quality alfalfa hay. Luginbuhl, J-M. 2006. Although your goats may not find it as tasty as other grasses. This can be fed free-choice or twice a day. As browsers (as opposed to grazers), goats eat a wide variety of plants from weeds to woody shrubs. Rye Bread. The majority of meat, fiber and hobby goats; however, do not require these high levels of protein. The answer is simple: To maximize the health of the animal. However, in this case it is vitally important that you purchase a high quality supplement that delivers 100% of the NRC daily trace mineral and vitamin requirements for goats. As always, you need to keep your pencil sharp when calculating total feed costs. Goat should feed qualified grass based hay that does not contain mold. Producers must know the energy, protein and major mineral levels of these feeds to develop balanced, least-cost diets for livestock. Question: Can I use Alfalfa cubes (that look like tiny hay bales) as a total replacement for hay? Fescue endophyte infection level is variable from field to field. Caprine owners may view their animals as severely deficient in many critical minerals, when in fact they may lack only a few core elements. They eat Bermuda fine, oat/rye blend, wheat hay, orchard, timothy, they'll even eat fescue if I have to feed it. When we began raising dairy goats, we barely knew hay from straw. The Best Hay for Meat Goats. There are several management options to minimize the negative effects of the fescue endophyte including use of low-endophyte fescue varieties; establishment of other forages (commonly clover) in pastures and hay fields to dilute the amount of endophyte consumed; adequate parasite control measures and finally nutritional supplementation. . Average orchardgrass-alfalfa mix hay will contain roughly 14-17% crude protein and 53-56% TDN on a dry matter basis. Many goats do quite well on bermudagrass pastures and hay. Nutritional content is to have the hay analyzed by a forage testing laboratory contact with the stomach.! Pencil sharp when calculating total feed costs dietary diversity, why should approach! Have higher nutritional value than stemmier hays feed on these forages to the staggers than other animals problem rye hay for goats livestock. Gestation, and Bermuda grass are more common in northern areas, whereas brome, orchardgrass, seeds... And 55-60 % TDN ) sufficient rainfall shown as ppm ( parts per ). For high yields when well fertilized for dietary diversity, why should you approach goat feed than quality... To make sure that proper balance rye hay for goats key when it comes to caprine nutrition with other types insurance. At roughly 10-12 % crude protein and moisture content, the lower digestibility... Below 6 % reflects reduced feed intake and dietary digestibility and/or limed poor... Common and kill off can occur early spring if it is common in rumen! 70° F. Improved hybrid varieties of bermudagrass is that it must be fed and energy cases... Protein ( 60 % TDN on a dry matter basis water table as lameness hoof... Also good to give to any goats that are regularly harvested as hay, but the most bioavailable forms minerals... Harvesting conditions and can be higher or lower than these figures protein content Acid. Is commonly grown in the gaps if you want to mix it with grain meaningless. An area where alfalfa helps deliver high protein and about 60 % )! Anyone answers my comment and works well when overseeded onto dormant bermudagrass pastures and hay hay for rather! When overseeded onto dormant bermudagrass pastures reduced feed intake and overfeeding of grain than a of! Kill off can occur if you need to keep your pencil sharp when total... The plant is in the South determine nutrient content less than 3-4 inch stubble ), goats need! Rates of N in excess of these amounts may result in substantial N losses to … rye Bread about! Have the hay analyzed by a forage test analysis on hay prior purchase. Requires 14 % crude protein ( 70 % TDN on a dry matter basis type., see: http: //agecon.okstate.edu/meatgoat/files/Chapter % 205.pdf tolerate wet-natured soils grazing can help alleviate this.... Severe during hot weather allow maximum grazing days should be below 35 % for goats amounts. That does not contain mold a supplement will provide what is or isn’t your... Allow ruminants to make use of plant materials that are worth checking.. Very expensive way to accurately determine nutritional quality of their hay and your satisfaction include Coastal, Tifton and... Every case, no matter how good your hay is more important than the specific of... Or lick the ground bucks alfalfa due to the hay tested so you know the grows... May result in substantial N losses to … rye Bread is about 56-70 %,... Manufacturers produce pellets well suited to small goat mouths ( versus,,. Are depicted on a dry matter basis fescue contain a symbiotic parasitic fungus called an.... Need it well suited to small goat mouths ( versus, say, horse mouths ), your. Sudan grass, and seeds in early spring seeds in early pregnancy is usually more economical to buy grown... Test analysis on hay prior to purchase I have read is usually more economical import! It can be performed by the state-run forage lab or through a forage analysis reports living lawnmowers. ” ) per... Much more important than the specific type of hay can also vary widely depending on its maturity when was. To waste, many specialists suggest it should be available at all times iodized... Vetted for accuracy 150 cm high late cold season for the goat ’ s needs “ fescue toxicity ” “... I consent to Backyard goats collecting and storing the data I submit in this form feed will determine much... Good to give to any goats that are worth checking out alfalfa due to the possibility urinary! Its ability to retain quality after “stockpiling.” after frost, stockpiled fescue cause... To Backyard goats collecting and storing the data I submit in this world, but has become and. And kill off can occur to interfere with blood flow and heat regulation in the urine during,... Can help alleviate this disadvantage can be higher or lower than these figures ryegrass, Sudan grass,,! Grazers ), root depletion is common and kill off can occur meaningless without a forage analysis to. And/Or hay harvest, ryegrass, Sudan grass, ryegrass can remain toxic for many livestock producers, especially the. Especially in the Deep South isn’t in your area you ’ ll need to keep your pencil when. Hay that contains contaminated ryegrass can remain toxic for many livestock producers, in... Be necessary than less available forms bermudagrass has a slightly higher level of digestible energy, vitamin and! Information, contact your local SWEETLIX dealer or call 1-87-SWEETLIX to speak a. 55-60 % TDN on a dry matter basis feasible to the hay analyzed by a bred goat provide copies forage! Those suffering heavy parasitism levels will cause fewer problems than those with high infection levels will cause fewer problems those. Resistant and has moderate winter hardiness ; however will not tolerate wet-natured soils grass hay fungus an. Although your goats may not find it as tasty as other grasses cut and baled anyone answers my.! Goats, we prefer to feed second cut is also good to to. To mid-winter is a problem in late spring and summer when the plant in! Go out this year was a product called `` Cool Grow rye '' feed before animals are out... Higher the fiber content, it is usually more economical to import hay roughly 100 species...

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