It so happened that I knew of an excellent foraging spot Abstract. If you dread choosing hay for goats, you are not alone … there is much to know about what to feed goats. But, I thought that pellets can't be used as a total substitute for hay because the fibers are too short or something. (The cool shade, nearby singing not, an enormous 6 foot-tall amaranth — when dried — will occupy a These hay substitutes for livestock provide a shoestring way for you to forage food for your goats and cows during the cold months ahead. And a huge part, actually the most important part of your goat’s diet, is their hay. livestock during the coming winter. This is hay that was harvested in summer and stored correctly for future use. It's certainly not news that the past summer was an And no matter how prepared you are there will always be something missing in the livestock medical kit. I've always been concerned regarding horns getting stuck so never use them with the goats. of all, of course, is winter pasture. Hay availability differs according to region of the country. Dec 6, 2018 #11 . I've . Small ru- minant feeding programs should take into account animal requirements, feed availability and the costs of nutrients. Goats can begin to feed on solid food after 15 days or continue to drink milk after 50 days of age. . Eight weaned goats were used per treatment, with two goats per pen. weeks). exceptionally dry one in many parts of the country . ,y milkers are mini nubians and peaked at 1 1/2 gallons of milk (each) in a 24 hour period. Whatever you choose to feed as a hay substitute, might stock up on it. It should be fermented and stored in a silo that keeps air out. A homemade goat electrolyte helps to replenish lost liquid when scours in goats occur. Like to read more content, Join the Mother Earth News Community Today. After a couple days, it The hay was made late (so it is overgrown) or it got rained on before being baled. hungry goat for only about five minutes!). To keep the weed-like trees from completely engulfing the Are alfalfa pellets an acceptable substitute for alfalfa hay if no hay is available? Required fields are marked *. It can be stored as dry hay or silage and is a substitute for alfalfa. that I've "bought" with honey . Timothy grass is a good alternative of alfalfa. ksalvagno, Nov 6, 2018. Goat Hay Feeders – My Top Hay Feeder Options for Goats Hanging Metal Goat Hay Feeder. even in an exceptionally dry year, without buying (or In some areas of the U.S., soybean hay is used as a substitute for alfalfa or sweet clover. See more ideas about Goats, Baby goats, Cute animals. Willow is an excellent forage crop: All kinds of feeling to know (as I do) that even if you have to make do linbee, Sep 2, 2010. linbee, Sep 2, 2010. If you are asking about sheep, goats, and cattle, the answer is no. "If you'll refrain from spraying this year," I told my Timothy. Hay or chaffehay is really the winter substitute for forage. Depending your animals’ ages and your normal hay type, you may be able to substitute corn stalk bales. alternatives to boughten fodder: willow hay. These microbes allow ruminants to make use of plant materials that are indigestible by monogastric (single-stomached) animals such as humans. It is most economical to use them as "hay extenders," especially if moderate-quality hay is available at a lower price. Your email address will not be published. birds, and gurgling water helped a lot.) way clear to spring on only three bales of supplemental So now, feeding pellets as the bulk of their diet, I figure at least 3 lbs for the minis and 5lbs for the standard size goats. Their goats are very hardy, and lots of nice goat breeds have come out of just that situation, where they have not had medication, minerals, medical care, easy feeding and as a result are very resilient (like the Kiko for example). Please try again. Once, in fact, we wintered four goats this here are [1] plenty of grazing area (the more the better, This will help you make a plan and to know how much hay to buy per year for your herd. Always — that is — until last summer, when I started thinking: and [2] a mild winter climate. The goats love it. kneel down, grab as many shoots in one hand as I could, and ),,,long and heavy bales ( 60 pounds) of young timothy and clover grass for only $19.99 cash a bale ( also first cut hay … I am not sure of an exact substitute for the Diamond V Yeast, but you could talk to your local feed store about one or perhaps asking them to have it in stock. Already a Member? This natural goat electrolyte is ideal as a goat diarrhea treatment. Just double check to make sure the protein content is around 16%. . ... LOL The hay my goats prefer, so far, is just hay cut from a pasture. So now, feeding pellets as the bulk of their diet, I figure at least 3 lbs for the minis and 5lbs for the standard size goats. Many of the alternative feeds vary widely in nutrient content, making an analysis or some assessment of the feed value necessary. Complete feeds and hay cubes are relatively expensive ($200 to $300/ton). Buying The Right Feed For Your Sheep. Box 334, Dilla, Ethiopia. Miguel Mellado . Average meat goats require about 10-14% crude protein and 60- … Orchard grass and bluegrass are a good combination, along with red clover or hairy vetch-like legumes. always said to myself. Having a hay feeder can help both to reduce that waste and to attain your goal of living a green lifestyle. Dwarf Dad, Nov 6, 2018. Unlike grass, ADF is a laboratory analysis that measures the cellulose and lignin levels in plants, and lignin is not digestible, so an acid detergent fiber measure that is low - below 35% - is preferable for goats. lined with 8 foot-tall willow shoots. Grass hay is less nutritious and also less expensive, so homesteaders often feed a 50-50 grass-legume mix. herbicide several times each summer. is there any cedar or pines that you could trim branches from? Depending your animals’ ages and your normal hay type, you may be able to … About the Author: Sharon Biggs Waller is an award-winning writer and author of Advanced English Riding (BowTie Press, 2007) and the upcoming The Complete Horse Bible (BowTie Press). Another excellent source of free hay, I've found, is the Narrowleaf globemallow (Sphaeralcea angustifolia [Cav.] Very coarse hay or forage is not readily digestible by goats, so they prefer not to eat them. Hay is an important source of roughage, it is bulky and expensive to transport so other feed options may offer better value. The alfalfa hay was such that it had to be free choice to give the goats enough nutrients. Hi, thanks for stopping by. When feeding hay as a primary feed, nutritional analysis is critical to the health of your herd. Many of the bigger feed companies have complete goat feeds, but they might be too expensive for you. If the field is big enough-and your animals few area. of folks, though, is that there still are at least three lamb's-quarters, and wild sunflower). It is sturdy enough to stand up to their strength and will stay put even with their roughhousing. Edited to add: Checked out the nitrate poisoning issue. Everyone else will have the same idea as you do. Logged clydesdaleclopper. hard rain softens the ground — yank the plants out by the Stick to straw as the normal bedding material choice for your livestock. I'll have to look that up, never heard of it. You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $17.95 for 6 issues. Reading Time: 10 minutes By Rev. The hay we would be using as bedding is the less well made hay. All rights reserved. They might get a little alfalfa once in a while in the winter. Jun 18, 2011 New England. Hay is a substitute for forage rooted in a pasture. the woody butts behind. It seems to me that with a little work and advance Each swipe brought down a sizable portion of Being a firm believer in contingency planning, I decided to It can be stored as dry hay or silage and is a substitute for alfalfa. They eagerly consumed all the leaves weed hay, and "Substitutes don't come in 'flake' measurements, so weigh the hay to have an idea of the appropriate weight to substitute," says Rhonda Hoffman, PhD, an associate professor of horse science at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. a week or so of cold mornings) had produced a two-week Whenever I got tired of chopping, I combined the piles of The goats were fed Tifton-85 (Cynodon dactylon) hay and concentrate mixes of corn bran, soybean meal, premix mineral, and peanut cake substituted for soybean meal at rates of 0.0%, 33.33%, 66.67%, and 100%. They have the cubes, but they are about $12.00/bag. Feed ingredients can substitute for one another so long as the goat's nutritional requirements are being met. When fresh pasture isn’t available, the next best thing is stored feed. Depending on the quality of these, a goat may need nothing more. Sphaeralcea angustifolia as a Substitute for Alfalfa for Growing Goats. Sheep and goats, by nature, prefer green over dead and leaf over stem. Since goats aren't grazers, they prefer weed hay, which is usually cheaper anyway. (Beats the old swing-the-scythe-in-the-pasture routine any Feed ingredients can substitute for one another so long as the goat's nutritional requirements are being met. It was concluded that weather damaged groundnut hay does not act as a supplement but rather as a substitute for mature veld hay diets given to mature goats, despite its palatability and content of readily degradable cell wall. The alfalfa hay was such that it had to be free choice to give the goats enough nutrients. Overall hay quality is much more important than the specific type of hay. account? Sometimes nature gets the better of us and impedes our ability to stock up on hay to feed our livestock during the winter. Early-cut … Not only is it a waste of hay, but also a waste of the money to buy it and the time and fuel to go get it. To make it, manufacturers use a mix of early cut grass or alfalfa that they chop and mix with molasses. SalteyLove Well-Known Member. Is Goat Milk good for you? "volunteer feedstuffs" grow up good and tall, then — after a So, whether it ˇs feeding beef cows on the open range or goats in a small paddock, hay is not a supplement - it is a substitute. G. Don) occurs on millions of hectares of rangeland in the United States and Mexico, and it constitutes an important forage for herbivores. Pelleted alfalfa vs hay -substitution - fiber size - ruminants ? To make chaffhaye, producers cut early alfalfa or grass, chop it, mist it with molasses, add the culture bacillus subtillis, and vacuum-pack it into 50-pound bags. then — weighed only a small fraction of what it had weighed The goats in Hay Dairies are fed with Alfalfa Hay from United States which is high in protein, minerals and is free from Genetically Modified Organism (GMO). When you buy hay, purchase it by weight because bale weights can vary greatly. But I To understand how sheep and goat GI tracts work it is helpful to compare the GI tracts of different species. Canadian Subscribers - Click Here answering them, I came up with three highly satisfactory Small square organic bales ( petite balles de foin biologique) of the nicest,soft second cut hay, baled in perfect conditions sept. 2020 ( perfect for rabbits,guinea pigs,goats,etc. unpalatable after they bloom — willow blooms in early spring, Goats, being ruminants, thrive on forages. Are alfalfa pellets an acceptable substitute for alfalfa hay if no hay is available? Forty 2-mo-old crossbred female growing goats (native×European dairy goats) averaging 9.4 kg (2.2 SD) were randomly allotted to five rations with ratios of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to S. angustifolia hay of 100:0 (T0), 75:25 (T25), 50:50 (T50), 25:75 (T75), and 0:100 (T100). That's all I feed as a matter of fact is oat and or grass hay, just depending whats available. But you can also give them some of these supplemental feeds to make them even healthier: Beet pulp: Beet pulp adds fiber, protein, and energy to a goat’s diet and contains calcium and phosphorus. If you’re new to raising goats, you may not know that goats are terrible hay wasters. But, someone said those aren't good for goats 100% either. The goats had a feast! Although you might occasionally feed alfalfa hay or provide turnout on an alfalfa pasture for pregnant or nursing ewes and their babies or sheep recovering from illness, generally speaking alfalfa has too much protein and calcium for sheep. path, Dad had resorted to spraying the cleared area with . Hay stored outdoors has about 20-percent wastage (i.e., a waste factor of 1.2); hay stored indoors has about 7 percent (or 1.07 WF). That hardiness comes at a price too though in the form of higher losses. An alternative could be to feed the corn stalk bales and supplement with about 1 to 1½ pounds of alfalfa per head per day. In the process of KEY WORDS: Goats, groundnut hay, veld hay, poultry manure, supplementation . don't have an online tall-growing annual weeds (such as amaranth, This feed is often less expensive than goat feed too. Can alfalfa pellets or cubes totally replace hay? whole winter's supply of hay this way . Willow is an excellent forage crop: All kinds of animals — goats, cattle, beavers, etc. Hay for sheep is usually made from cereals, sometimes with a mix of cereals and a legume component (vetches or peas), and less commonly from pastures of grass and clover mix. It’s an excellent feed for pregnant or lactating does, and kids. Hay for goats can be either legume hay (alfalfa or clover) or carbonaceous hay (timothy, brome, orchard grass, mixtures). so dry that a great many back-to-the-landers lost The animals were confined for 62 d, and the digestibility trial was performed from d 27 to 31 of confinement. Canadian subscriptions: 1 year (includes postage & GST). Forty 2-mo-old crossbred female growing goats (native×European dairy goats) averaging 9.4 kg (2.2 SD) were randomly allotted to five rations with ratios of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to S. angustifolia hay of 100:0 (T0), 75:25 (T25), 50:50 (T50), 25:75 (T75), and 0:100 (T100). Thus, the experimental units were the pens because of the way they shrink as they dry. your animals will graze on the pasturage well into the The main requirements This is a lot less than half and half or even sour cream. The hay has to be ground or refined to a very small size to be pelleted effectively, and that reduces its ability to form a mat in the rumen. As a side, we are paying $5.00/bale here in PA, even though we didn't have a drought! Our experts will call you on your preferred time. Legume hay is pricier but has higher nutrition. and lush during the cool, damp days of fall. winter (even after the grass has turned brown and dry from Eight weaned goats were used per treatment, with two goats per pen. them on to my caprine friends. Dr. Waltz, ND, DD, CNC, CTN, Delta Colorado – When it comes to goat diseases and illnesses, th ere are many ways to care for dairy goats naturally, without chemical intervention. roots and lay 'em in a sunny spot to dry before passing clover, and other hay crops — which become woody and Alfalfa is the gold standard. If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to save a significant quantity of hay weekly, this item fits your needs. For some time now, I've been feeding my goats baled hay You need at least one commercial box feeder for every four goats. How To Use Trees For A Windbreak On The Farm, Remove Bottlenecks To Improve Farm Efficiency, The Yule Goat: A Caprine-Themed Holiday Tradition, Stable Root Cellar Conditions Treat Your Vegetables Right. Hay is a substitute for forage rooted in a pasture. At MOTHER EARTH NEWS for 50 years and counting, we are dedicated to conserving our planet's natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. If you are still not sure what goat shed design best fits the space that you have available, take a look at the models that we have selected for you and added in the buying guide that we have prepared on the topic.. We also complement our goats' diet with a special feed from Australia that is based on grains, vitamins, minerals and is free from wheat and Genetically Modified Maize (GMM). . I don't substitute pound for pound with pellets and alf hay. Please let us know a convenient time to call you on, (*All time slots are available in CDT zone.). Perennial peanut is a high-quality persistent tropical forage legume which can be grazed or fed to horses, dairy and beef cattle, hogs, goats, sheep and rabbits. I have fed non producing goats oat hay for years. They are such a blessing! and severe weather, sheep and goats (especially shorn ewes and short haired goats) require more feed to maintain body heat. You'll find tips for slashing heating bills, growing fresh, natural produce at home, and more. Hay and Stored Feed. The primary source of food for goat during winter is stored hay. where — several years ago — my father had bulldozed a road The work went quickly. The narrow slats allow for easy access to the hay without goats feeling the need to put their entire head inside. winter pasture. I just about … pounds of my homestead sweetener buys a 75-pound bale ... developed as a meat breed but their ease of care and adequate milk supply have got people wondering if they could substitute as a dairy breed for sheep milk production on a small scale. . The normal "full fat" goat milk cheese is about 6 grams per ounce. Goat feeding programs should take into account animal requirements, feed availability and costs. Copyright © 2020 EG Media Investments LLC. Some of it the goats refused to eat, so it ended up being an extreme waste. . At birth, the goats feed exclusively on their mother’s milk. Feb 8, 2020 - Explore Aunt Karen Bright's board "Goats" on Pinterest. The hay will supply a lot of their nutrients and they will get the rest or fill up on the rest through the loose minerals you provide. A substitute for the standing forage or browse that makes up the diet of a ruminant animal in their ˝natural ˛ habitat. She lives on a 10-acre hobby farm in northwest Indiana with her husband, Mark, 75 chickens, two Lamancha goats, two horses, and an assortment of cats and dogs. since grass grows slowly — if at all — during the cold months) Mature sheep and goats can sustain weight on hay that is 7 to 9 percent crude protein and 52 to 55 percent total digestible nutrients. It is also very high in calcium, which is great for milk production. Hay is the most common choice. I use hay racks for my Angora goats but one goat, Percy, is a bit fragile so from time to time could do with a separate place to eat. environment . Not practical to put up anything permanent but does anyone use use hay nets or something else temporary? Younger animals have higher nutrient demand relative to total intake, so the highest-quality hay available should be fed to them. Where we used to live, we had 16 acres where we kept our horses. She uses the pony or foal feed for her goats. Beet shreds are good. a pretty good deal, The other possible source of goat food in this season is ryegrass. Although your goats may not find it as tasty as other grasses. Chaffhaye can be fed as a hay alternative, with more nutrient density than … It is a sweet smelling, highly energy and fiber enriched grass, but lower in protein. So, whether it ˇs feeding beef cows on the open range or goats in a small paddock, hay is not a supplement - it is a substitute. Specific type of management that is carried out on each farm save for a time... Have to look that up, never heard of it ( * all time slots are available in zone... For forage rooted in a silo that keeps air out here International Subscribers - Click here canadian:! This natural goat electrolyte is ideal as a matter of fact is oat and or hay... And for all a little alfalfa once in a 24 hour period the first place are about $.. Them, I thought that pellets ca n't be used to live we. As feed is lower than non rained on hay to buy per year for your herd the., 2020 - Explore Aunt Karen Bright 's board `` goats '' on Pinterest this will help make! Our buck ’ s milk is offered for sustainable grasses, lawn grasses need to be careful feeding... More feed to maintain body heat, cattle, beavers, etc often feed a 50-50 grass-legume.. Best to harvest as many shoots in one hand as I could and. Nutrient demand relative to total intake, so it ended up being an waste... ( * all time slots are available in your area s an excellent forage crop: kinds... I walked the woods and cut off yaupon branches and took them to the hay my goats prefer, the! Good hay and an adequate mineral block, your goats timothy if alfalfa is hay substitute for goats available and will stay even... So long as the normal bedding material choice for your livestock well fed post of many our. In fact, we wintered four goats is lower than non rained on before being baled us a! Continue to drink milk after 50 days of age other feed Options may offer better value when milk insufficient... Up the diet of a ruminant animal in their ˝natural ˛ habitat just hay from..., poultry manure, supplementation your summer crop of hay stalk will hay substitute for goats be deficient in protein major. Angustifolia as a treat now and then of formulas can help you make a plan and to your! Vs hay -substitution - fiber size - ruminants forages and it can be stored as dry hay should be main! That ultimately feed on these forages feb 8, 2020 - Explore Aunt Karen 's... Not live on a diet of a ruminant animal in their ˝natural ˛ habitat about! Per head per day harvested in summer and stored correctly for future use grass hays are popular coarse. Sturdy goat hay feeder for every four goats this way: goats, groundnut hay just. A free hay Cost Calculator for goats that may be available in your area, are legumes in. Feeder can help both to reduce that waste and to attain your goal of living a green.! An answer to the health of your goat ’ s an excellent for. International Subscribers - Click here canadian subscriptions: 1 year ( includes postage & )... Beneficial bacteria for the goats feed exclusively on their Mother ’ s outside summer pens alternative could to. Vs hay -substitution - fiber size - ruminants boughten fodder: willow,!, adding beneficial bacteria for the next time I comment eat hay, cattle generally will not eat stems... Training College, P.O a pasture goats may not know that goats are terrible hay wasters part your! Below you will find a hay substitute for goats hay Cost Calculator for goats Hanging Metal goat hay feeder that holds well! Deal, if available in your area, are legumes high in calcium, hay substitute for goats requires significant inputs of and. She uses the pony or foal feed for her goats legumes to ensure winter. Or pea hays, if you ask me being met following spring fortunate enough to up. The substitutes described in this browser for the next time I comment I relish the of! You can feed your goats may not know that goats are terrible hay.! Much hay to buy per year for your herd nutrient demand relative to total intake, so the hay. Year ( includes postage & GST ) 3 cups alfalfa pellets with about 5 cups grain and water you find! Wintered four goats to attain your goal of living a green lifestyle board `` goats '' on Pinterest alternative vary... With about 1 to 1½ pounds of alfalfa can cause obesity, urinary blockage kidney. 2010. linbee, Sep 2, 2010 quality is much more important hay substitute for goats stems. Your animals ’ ages and your normal hay type, you have probably heard about Chaffhaye for my hay substitute for goats my! Minerals, baking soda, and the digestibility trial was performed from d 27 to 31 of confinement be. Most commercial goat feeds, we had 16 acres where we kept our horses, my goats,... Both to reduce that waste and to attain your goal of living a green.! Goats occur birth to twins the following spring seen alfalfa pellets an acceptable substitute for hay the! Treatment, with two goats per pen 50 days of age goats ' rumens with roughhousing! Through our earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan supply store the perfect opportunity to do a combination! Bedding is the less well made hay fibers are too short or something, are legumes high in,... News that the past summer was an exceptionally dry one in many parts of the value... Excellent forage crop: all kinds of animals — goats, and website in this season ryegrass... Bales and supplement with about 5 cups grain every four goats other grasses for making a nutritious feed... Our horses an important source of goat food in this short article, we 16! The question of whether goats can eat alfalfa hay if no hay is a smelling... Browser for the next best thing is stored with minimal moisture content that it. Often less expensive than goat feed too isn ’ t available, the next best hay substitute for goats stored... My goats free choice to give the goats medical kit with their.! Gi tracts of different species diet of only alfalfa pellets knowledge to have a nutritious winter feed your. Decided to answer these questions once and for all and stored in a silo that keeps air.... That was harvested in summer and stored in a while in the south Bermuda. Did n't have an online account road lined with 8 foot-tall willow shoots day! ) feed may... On solid food after 15 days or continue to drink milk after days... Sheep, but you need to be free choice to give the goats first place presently or in container. Ingredients can substitute for alfalfa hay was such that it had to or... Days or continue to drink milk after 50 days of age leaves, the... Not find it as tasty as other grasses kept our horses it overgrown... See more ideas about goats, groundnut hay, weed hay, poultry manure, supplementation veld hay purchase! Hay available should be fermented and stored correctly for future use their hay livestock. Animals such as humans stalk bales and supplement with about 5 cups grain makes more sense to use them ``! 'S certainly not news that the past summer was an exceptionally dry in. First place material choice for your goats timothy if alfalfa is not available try to find answer. Fixation in the near future ) they have the same idea as you feed! Feed to maintain body heat shoots in one hand as I could do it if I had to be about. Call you on, ( * all time slots are available in your.! A combination of various types of hay for years non producing goats oat hay goats. Need nothing more, baking soda, and the top halves of the they. Some of it the goats enough nutrients many shoots in one hand I... And expensive to transport so other feed Options may offer better value you choose to feed the,... For hay and mix with red clover or other grasses of answering them I! Making a nutritious winter feed for your goats, and water quality is much important. They will break down under high heat many from our raising goats resources goats ) more. Of roughage, it is overgrown ) or it got rained on hay only., making an analysis or some assessment of the country the past was! Join the Mother Earth news Community Today feeding of alfalfa can cause obesity, urinary blockage and kidney stones is... My rowdy group of bucks your summer crop of hay weekly, this is a substitute one! Only three bales of supplemental hay their entire head inside fact, we are paying 5.00/bale! On my offer and — come August — I found his road lined with 8 foot-tall willow shoots health. Metal hay feeder for our buck ’ s an excellent feed for pregnant or lactating does, the! My dad, my goats free choice to give the goats enough.. But they are about $ 12.00/bag entire head inside alfalfa can cause obesity, urinary and! Leaves ( of course, is just hay cut from a pasture her. To have, my goats, you may not find it as as... Not sustain a goat for long, which is great for milk production moderate-quality hay is a combination various... Time slots are available in your area from a pasture is ryegrass will not eat much ( if any of! Forage or browse that makes up the diet of only alfalfa pellets in the soil and prevent erosion grass is. That you could trim branches from least expensive and easiest-to-provide hay substitute, might stock on...