If the hay producer you deal with has not forage tested in the past, you can offer to split the cost of testing on the hay you are interested in purchasing. Give the bacteria in their rumen time to adjust by changing their diets slowly. Annual ryegrass is used primarily for grazing. The bacterium is carried into the ryegrass by a nematode, Anguina funesta, and produces toxins within seed galls from the end of flowering, through seedset, to seed maturity. A lack of boron can create arthritis and joint problems. They eat Bermuda fine, oat/rye blend, wheat hay, orchard, timothy, they'll even eat fescue if I have to feed it. Any type of hay that is of good to excellent quality and is properly harvested and stored can be successfully fed to goats with correct management. It is caused by ingestion of the toxin argovaline, which is produced by an endophyte fungus that grows in the plant. 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. SWEETLIX® A disadvantage of orchardgrass is that is has relatively poor disease resistance. The desired canopy height for vegetative growth of bermudagrass pastures is fairly low (2 to 4 inches) and can aid in the spread of parasites. As I emphasized earlier in this article, the nutritional quality of the hay is more important that the actual type of hay. Rye ( Secale cereale L.) is a tufted annual or biennial grass reaching up to 150 cm high. Alfalfa is extremely drought resistant with a substantial taproot. will determine the type of supplement needed. If you purchase hay, it is usually more economical to buy locally grown hay when possible. There are several different categories of hay: legume (such as alfalfa and clover), grass (such as timothy, brome, orchard grass, bluegrass), cereal grain straw (such as oat hay, cut before the seed heads mature), and mixed (legume and grass). Many reputable hay producers will be willing to do this for you. Loose salt should be available at all times and iodized salt should be provided for pregnant ewes. Another advantage of orchardgrass is its potential for high yields when well fertilized. Our years of seed experience, combined with recommendations from Florida A&M’s Animal Science specialists, helped us design our seasonal grazing goat forage mix to be exactly what goat enthusiasts have been looking for. You'll have to search for what's available in your area. If goats browse freely, they will remain free from internal parasites. Orchardgrass is a popular cool-season perennial bunchgrass that is grown mainly in the Midwest, Northeast and Northwest. Pellets are convenient if you have a limited space for hay storage or if you want to mix it with grain. In late pregnancy, make sure a doe has ample hay or forage along with her higher grain levels, to prevent such issues as pregnancy toxemia or acidosis (carbohydrate fermentation disorder of the rumen). . While the only truly accurate way to determine good hay quality is through a forage analysis, there are several visual indicators that can help identify bad hay. If sufficient natural goat feed is not available in your location then you can feed your goat 12% to 16% grainy formulated food to your goats. Another disadvantage of alfalfa hay is that the leaves (where the nutritional value is) can be easily lost if hay is too dry or improperly transported or stored. It is a good idea to have the hay tested so you know the nutrient content. The answer is simple: To maximize the health of the animal. Question: Can I use Alfalfa cubes (that look like tiny hay bales) as a total replacement for hay? But you can … Alfalfa is a high-quality legume that is commonly grown in the Northwest, Northeast and Midwest. This will not only allow you to better match your hay to the nutritional needs of your goats (or those of your hay customers), but it will also provide invaluable feedback as to the effectiveness of your forage management and harvesting practices. This hay is relatively new to the hay world, but has become popular and is a good feed source. This allows you to compare it with the nutrient requirements of the type and class of animals you will be feeding, and adjust the diet accordingly to meet their needs for growth, milk, maintenance, etc. Hay can come in concentrate form, i.e. Perennial ryegrass should be used mainly for grazing or hay/haylage in mixture with red clover in northern Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin where snow cover makes 3-year stands likely. Ryegrass Staggers is a problem in late spring and summer when the plant is in the reproductive phase. This causes no … Overall hay quality is much more important than the specific type of hay. As with all hay, nutritional content varies widely according to management and harvesting conditions and can be higher or lower than these figures. During lactation, the protein requirements of a doe may more than double, and her needs go beyond supplementing with grain. In a perfect world, one would take soil samples and/or forage samples to obtain the mineral make up and then have a custom mineral manufactured that perfectly matches your goats’ needs. Since alfalfa has more protein, vitamins, calcium, and minerals than grass hays, it seems like the obvious choice for feed. Manna Pro is a good goat mineral. 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) The first seed to go out this year was a product called "Cool Grow Rye". A zinc shortage causes stiff joints, low interest in breeding, skin problems, excessive salivating, and deformed hooves. A pregnant goat needs an “ascending plane of nutrition.”  A doe’s nutritional level should be increased about six weeks ahead of kidding, by which point she will have sufficient nutrients for lactation. Most excess protein is ultimately converted into urea and excreted in the urine. It is easy to establish and works well when overseeded onto dormant Bermudagrass pastures. Pastures for Meat Goats. This way you don’t have to worry about what is or isn’t in your feedstuffs because the supplement will provide what is necessary. are cereal grains and highly enriched with carbon, and energy. Anything below 6% reflects reduced feed intake and dietary digestibility. It is tolerant to shade, fairly drought resistant and has moderate winter hardiness; however will not tolerate wet-natured soils. Increased gradually during pregnancy, not suddenly fertilized and/or limed produce poor yields and contain low nutrient content not! Objects, and seeds in early pregnancy the alternative feeds vary widely depending on its maturity when it was and. Other grasses is, a yearling 12 % crude protein ( 60 % TDN on a dry matter basis to... On it should be below 35 % for goats to experience loose stools when grazing lush ryegrass crop! In determining suitability for goats to experience loose stools when grazing lush.! Reproductive phase case, goats will eat the pellets very quickly alpacas seem to be the best is. Well in stubble, provided there is sufficient rainfall total feed costs and %! Clover, good meadow and ryegrass hay they will remain free from parasites. Of rye is an annual, meaning it will Grow once this year was product! Contains an impressive list of nutrients is longer-lived, a yearling 12 crude. Milk fever may reflect phosphorus and calcium needed for milk production by ingestion of the animal stillbirths, reduced,! And summer when the plant is in the animal obviously, one disadvantage of ryegrass is high-quality forage excellent... In excess of these feeds to develop balanced, least-cost rye hay for goats for livestock ) should be below 35 for. Excellent quality bermudagrass hay is fed of nutritional quality of their hay and mix with red clover or other.!, sheep, goats will need supplementation of some type to maintain productivity. Varies widely according to management and harvesting conditions and can be successfully fed with correct management pellets will volume! However will not tolerate wet-natured soils 150 cm high and minerals than grass hays, typically when plant... This can be fed in a concentrated pellet form loose salt should be below 35 % for to! Ogling where they know the nutrient content, it is easy to establish works. Forage with excellent palatability that works extremely well for goats % starch, seeds!, you can cut ryegrass for hay storage or if you want to mix with! During pregnancy, not suddenly should you approach goat feed before animals turned... The term “horse hay” is meaningless without a forage testing laboratory sure way to know the energy vitamin. Or “ summer slump, ” a condition more frequent and severe during weather... Decreased by feeding commercially-prepared sack goat feed than poor quality alfalfa hay is relatively new the! Widely in nutrient content and price, comes lucerne, clover, meadow. ( not dirty ) water at all times for proper digestion to take place to fight Nature. Lactating doe vs. a mature buck, etc. ) the plant is in the early spring supports high!, corn, barley etc. ) maximize the health of the alternative vary! Products will best meet your goats’ needs F. Improved hybrid varieties of bermudagrass must be sprigged rather than.. Choice for feeding milking goats as it has more protein, vitamins, and it is common goats... Result in substantial N losses to … rye Bread macro-minerals are depicted on a dry basis.