In the whole lifetime, a goat mostly depends on the hay and pasture. First-cut alfalfa can be stemmy, but only if it is too mature when harvested. With hay prices soaring, its tempting to look for cheaper alternatives. Either way, the question 'can goats eat hay' is an . Straw, on the other hand, is used more in gardening and landscaping because it does not contain the seeds of the plant. we reseed our pastures with a good quality orchard/rye mix. . As long as hay does not contain toxic plants, a few weeds in the hay can be acceptable when feeding goats. Goats need some long-stemmed hay, every day, to keep their rumen functioning at its best. In addition, the extra nutrients in the oats will help increase the milk quality. Your hungry goats wont mind! It is important to know the best hay for your specific animals in order to ensure their overall health, growth, and milk production. So, can goats eat oats? The grain specifically refers to the edible seeds of oat grass. Orchard tends to take over so we don't have that much. A rainy season usually means less hay and that can drive the price of second cut pretty high. Some years the alfalfa will do better, some years the grass or clover. The higher the fiber content, the lower the digestibility (even if the protein level is high). Complete Guide to Feather Loss In Hens, How to Start a Diesel Tractor That Ran Out of Fuel | All-In-One Guide, 11+ Weeds With Purple Flowers | With Photos for Identification. As long as its free of dust and mold and harvests early, it makes an excellent fodder. Edited to add: Checked out the nitrate poisoning issue. As long as oats are included as part of a versatile, balanced diet, goats can eat oats. However, just like with hay, you want to feed it when its green and free rather than dried. Contents show. Good-quality grass hay is both nutritional and digestible. These nourishing oats have undergone minimal processing and are, therefore, more relaxed for goats to digest. Most of the meat goat farmers supplement their goat's diet with grains. The price may be higher for these cuts but the quality will need to be examined before you commit to bringing any bales home to your goats. [Whole Rolled, Steel-Cut or Quick Oats?]. Apparently this can occur in any type of forage/hay that is grown in area's with an overload of nitrates. Just saying. As the protein content is not high it could be fed to all types of goats irrespective of age . 55% cracked corn. As with any changes to your goats diet, oats should be introduced gradually so as to not upset their digestive system and to give their rumen, (their first stomach), the time to adjust. In most cases, hay will make up a large part of your goat's diet. Oat hay can be an alternative to legume hays which are more expensive. You can either offer second cut exclusively or add it to your first cut to help promote eating. Coastal hay is one of the most popular grass hays. You may even find yourself wondering, is straw or hay better for goats? You're awesome for doing it! Straw is generally ready to buy off the field in August (sometimes September). Its also more palatable than other grasses and is great for young kids during winter when the feed may not be as tasty as theyd like it to be. . Ultimate List of 134 Foods Hens Can, Backyard Beekeeping [Complete Guide for Beginners], 71 Practical Homesteading Skills and Ideas You Can Learn, Best Goat Milking Machine to Make Farm Life a Little Easier, 15 Dog Run Ideas [Free DIY Plans and Tips for a Backyard, How to Keep Chickens Warm In Winter Without Electricity, How to Incorporate Oats Into Your Goats Diet, Goat Treats Made With Oatmeal | Manna Pro, 10 Best Goats for Beginners [Top Breeds for Dairy, Meat, and Pets!]. Thats why everybody does it, I suppose. The goats rumen acts like a furnace when in use which helps to keep them warm in the cold weather. The animals digestive tracts must adjust to the different type of feed. Avoid giving goats hay that is moldy or has been stored in a damp place, as this can make them sick. Either pick it up or drag the pasture to spread the manure so it will decompose more quickly. Heads up: This article may be a bit boring to read but it is one of those important parts to homesteading that needs to be understood from start to finish. The nutrient loss makes it hard for pregnant and lactating deers (does) to maintain their weight and get the vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy.If you need to add some grain to your goats diet, feed around400g per dayfor adult goats and a little more for the pregnant ones. At Goat Milk Stuff, every goat always has access to the following: free choice grass hay. Vegetables can help to add variety to the diet and provide additional sources of nutrients. When it comes to the choice of hay, Alfalfa is the best, as it contains . Well, my herd of Dwarf Nigerian cross Boer goats doesnt. Oat hay is a great source of protein useful for goat breeding. Goats are versatile creatures often used for milk, meat, or fiber production. As high as 2.5:1 or 3:1 has also been reported to be safe. Oat hay can provide goats with carbohydrates, proteins, and some minerals. We admit that in America you hear more about hays like alfalfa, orchard grass and timothy for rabbits and livestock. Hay. Hay is particularly important if milk production is the main purpose of your goats. Ideally, your goats will have pasture to roam and forage for food, in which case you don't need to feed them as much hay. you can usually get away with 3-5 lbs per 1000 sq feet if you are reseeding. If you create a ridgepole roof effect (using a row of bales down the center of the top of the stack, so that your tarp slopes off each way), the tarp will shed water better than a flat-topped stack. Since the girls have this pretty well browsed over, I'll be getting some seed to cover the pasturerye, as well as alfalfa and timothyor even just an orchard mix :shrug: Oat hay is a real balancing act- it gets really fibrous as the oat heads mature so it needs to be cut at just the right time. Oct 4, 2004. There is no single magic "right way" to feed dairy goats. I went to the feed store yesterday and bought Crimson Clover (there was another kind, White Dutch?). Mature sheep can get by on good-quality grass hay, but lambs do . Thank you! Legumes have also been added to provide a good source of protein for your goats and a natural fertilizer for the soil. An Earth Day Guide To Renewable Energy & The Farm, Use A Cold FrameTo Jump-Start Your Growing Season, Sheep Facts: More To Ovis Aries Than Meets The Eye, 6 Ways To Grow More Food In A City Landscape, Recipe: Fermented Taqueria-Inspired Carrots, All Hay Is Not Equal: Choose Your Livestocks Carefully. Oats are a healthy and nutritious food for goats and can easily incorporate into their diet in several ways. Grains such as corn and oats are the easiest and quickest way to help your goat to gain weight because they have a high carbohydrate amount. if you are throwing down a new pasture you will want to cover it with straw or a thin layer of peat moss. Early bloom alfalfa (cut before the blossoms open) has about 18 percent crude protein, compared with 9.8 percent for early bloom timothy (before seed heads fill), 11.4 percent for early bloom orchard grass, and lower levels for most other grasses. (Yikes!). I weigh 2 single bales when I returned home. . Eating oats can also help goats to stay warm in cold weather. If it smells sweet its good to go, if it smells spoiled or sour then you will not want to feed it to your goats. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Also, it important to always consult your goats veterinarian when introducing any new food to your goats diet. Digestible Energy: 1370 kcal/lb. When changing an animals diet, do it graduallyespecially when changing from a grass to a legume. Grains are a vital part of a goats diet, but some grains can be bad for goats. Chaffhaye is premium bagged, Non-GMO Alfalfa. Hay should be stored in a spacious, well ventilated building- poor storage can turn good hay into useless hay. Second cutting is generally the preferred hay for goats. If youre a farmer or homesteader, youve probably got a few goats on your property. Chemical weed sprays can be extremely harmful to livestocktheir use is not recommended by some vets. Oat hay is not suitable for all horses. 1. One way to assess the maturity of alfalfa hay is the snap test. Once ewes lamb and begin to lactate, they should receive 5 pounds of good quality hay and 2 pounds of 15 percent crude protein grain mix a day. Yes. You can also feed oats to your goats by themselves! Since goats will not eat straw because they prefer hay, you can keep bedding intact. This means they pick and choose the best parts of a pasture. 4 oz (or 4 scoops) MannaPro Goat Balancer Pellets (OPTIONAL: Would replace kelp and brewer's yeast) Molasses (just enough to coat ingredients, I use about 1/8 - 1/4 cup molasses + 1-2 Tbs . Oat hay is an excellent alternative to legume hays during the winter because of its ability to keep through frosts without withering away as grass can do. Peanut hay is rare hay but is one of the best hay for goats. What's the benefits of rye grass? A goat's diet normally consists of mainly bulk foods such as hay and pastures such as clovers, but grains are also an important part of their diets (about 20%). Check for weeds, mold, dust, discoloration due to weathering, heat due to fermentation of wet hay (if the cut hay was rained on before being baled and stacked), and foreign material in the bales such as rocks, sticks, baling twines or wire. Good grass hay is the most ideal feed for mature horses; it is the most natural feed, and contains the proper calcium/phosphorus ratio (preferably 1:1 to 2:1). It was rewarding but also hard work, and as your article illustrates, not simple at all. If livestock are on a good winter pasture they may need only a little supplementation, such as 5# of alfalfa hay a day for an adult cow. You can offer them free choice or mix them in with their grain. Goats are known for their ability to gorge on many plants and other food sources. if you are looking to reseed you will want to do that pretty quick, and just throw some more seed down over your existing pasture. Though grains are not a natural . 2 pounds of grain=95% dry matter. Adult goats can feed 2 to 4 pounds of hay per day. 5: Adding grain. While it is true goats can eat a great variety of foods, it doesnt mean all of them are good for them. [Kidding, Lactation, and Recovery], Why Is My Chicken Losing Feathers? 6. This product is manufactured in Texas but more and more states are carrying it as well. Good quality dust-free hay should be used to provide at least 40% (by weight) of your goat s total feed and should be . Although there are differences between cuttings, quality is most important. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. . The palatability of orchardgrass is good and goats readily consume it. If you know those things you will not only provide your goats with a healthy diet but you will save your homestead money as well. If you don't raise alfalfa, but you want your goats to get that extra protein, then feed them alfalfa hay twice per day while they forage too. Second cut is also good to give to any goats that are bred. There are so many things to know about hay from growing it to cutting or mowing it down. Again encouraging nutrients to support the energy needed by a bred goat. Thanks for stopping by :D. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Outdoor Happens is reader-supported. The milkers should not be getting grain any other time except when on the stanchion. Oats are highly palatable for goats and can get included in the grain ration in both a rolled or ground format. Nowadays, turnips are probably not the best choice for feeding dairy goats over the winter since any plant in the crucifer family can impart an unpleasant flavor to the animal's milk. Mature beef cattle can get by on rather plain hay of any type but lactating cows will need adequate protein. We don't really have harsh winter weather here, we barely get snow (if any at all). Oats hay for goats. By providing additional energy, the doe can maintain her milk production levels. Oats are a cereal crop, the oats hay is a farming byproduct with high protein, starch, and fiber content with less digestible energy for goats. She has a witchs knack with herbs and supplements everything, from her beloved Australian Cattle Dog to the occasional passing zebra with the fruits of her labor. Darrell L. Rankins, Jr. and D.G. It's fortified to help support your goat's appearance, growth, and reproduction. At the other extreme, overly stemmy alfalfa that is well past bloom stage may be too coarse for horses. so it really depends on what you are wanting to do . I recently paid 160 for a 3x3x8( really its only 3x3x7). The answer is a resounding yes! In many geographic regions that get only two or three cuttings of alfalfa per season, first-cutting alfalfa might be the preferred hay for horses. A hay shed is ideal because you can build up the floor with gravel for good drainage so the entire haystack is kept dry. With this in mind, following the feed ratio below will help to keep goats in prime health. Hey Terry! READ: DAIRY GOAT BREEDS CHOOSING THE BEST FOR YOUR FARM. Basically, there are three types of goats. You're awesome for doing it! Is this the case? Hay is basically a grass that is cut green, then dried and baled. Oat hay should be fed when the seed heads are small or green because this means that it has a higher nutritional value and is easier for goats to digest than mature oat hay which can be covered in seeds. They are an excellent source of antioxidants, which can help to protect against diseases and promote overall health. Nothing is bought unless Nicky fails to MacGyver it out of scraps of broken bridles, baling twine, or wire. SLCG PRO TIP: Did you know that most goats can live their entire life without any supplemental grain? 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