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Second cutting is generally the preferred hay for goats. It has less weeds, is finer-stemmed, fertilized, and grown during the optimal growing season. In areas with longer growing seasons, a third cutting or even higher may be available. Late season cuttings have the highest leaf to stem ratio.4 days ago.
What is the best kind of hay for goats?
Alfalfa hay is also popular for feeding goats and has more protein, vitamins, and minerals than grass hays, typically. It can be a good choice for feeding milking goats as it has more protein, energy and calcium.
Is first cutting alfalfa good for goats?
How to Introduce More Protein to Your Dairy Goat’s Diet. Alfalfa pellets are a great option to offer to your goats that will give them a good supply of protein. You can offer them free choice or mix them in with their grain.
How many bales of hay does a goat need?
One rule of thumb says 1 square bale per goat per week. Again, there are a lot of factors, but if you have absolutely no idea how much hay you need, start there and keep track. I’ve said it before, write it all down, because you will forget how many bales you had and how long they lasted.
What hay gives goats?
When keeping domestic goats, hay is essential for two reasons: It provides both nutrition and dry roughage to balance the moisture and fiber content in the rumen. I often hear the terms “hay” and “straw” used interchangeably, and I cringe.
Are goats picky about hay?
Their diet consists mainly of timothy grass hay with a bit of alfalfa. “They are super picky about eating any grass that falls on the ground,” Snowbird said. Instead of timothy, they typically feast on a blend of orchard hay with a little alfalfa. “My goats would rather starve,” she said, “than eat timothy hay.”Apr 14, 2015.
Do goats need hay in summer?
Goats need the extra nutrition that comes from feeding hay. They get a good deal of protein and energy from hay, especially in the winter months. You will use less hay in the summer than you do in the winter months if your goats have access to pasture and a lot of forage.
Is 3rd cut hay OK for goats?
Legumes can have as much as twice the protein and three times the calcium of grass hays, so they are the preferred hay for goat kids and lactating does. Grass hay, such as timothy, orchard, brome, and bluegrass, is a suitable maintenance hay for goats. Hay is sold as first, second, or third cutting.
How much alfalfa pellets should a goat eat per day?
For a lactating goat, feed one pound of the pellets daily for every three pounds of milk produced. If you have gestating goats, feed one and a half to two pounds of these pellets per goat per day.
What is hay belly in goats?
If a goat’s belly has looked unusually large for several days, it is probably a hay belly, which is most likely caused by parasites. A goat with a heavy load of parasites may be “starving” because the parasites are either causing anemia or consuming the nutrients in the goat’s digestive system.
Do goats need hay in winter?
During the winter, goats need more energy to help maintain body temperature. They will also need roughage which can be supplied in grass, alfalfa, or mixed hay. Alfalfa hay can be a great source of both energy and protein, although care should be taken when feeding bucks and wethers because of urinary calculi.
Are alfalfa pellets good for goats?
Goats need some long-stemmed hay, every day, to keep their rumen functioning at its best. When goats chew, they produce bicarbonate. It is simply ground up hay. Keep in mind that just as with baled hay, you should only feed alfalfa pellets to milkers, does in late pregnancy and fast-growing kids.
Do goats need hay at night?
In winter months, goats should always have hay available to them in their shelter. On cold nights they will munch on their hay throughout the night and generate their own heat to stay warm. Salt is another important aspect to a goat’s diet, especially for wethers (neutered males).
How many goats can you have per acre?
How Many Goats Per Acre? Goats are similar to sheep in that you can support about six to eight goats on an acre of land. Because goats are browsers, not grazers, it will be important that the land you have will supply them with the sort of forage they like to eat—see below.
Can goats live on hay alone?
Grain – (0-10% of their diet) – Goats don’t need grain to survive, in fact, they can live happily on pasture or hay, or a combination of both.
What should you not feed goats?
But, just like other animals, goats shouldn’t consume things like garlic, onion, chocolate or any source of caffeine, to name a few. Although most goats wouldn’t eat leftover meat scraps, they shouldn’t be offered them either. Citrus fruits should also be avoided, as they can really upset the rumen.
Is orchard grass hay good for goats?
Orchardgrass is well adapted to inter-seeding with legumes such as alfalfa, clovers and lespedeza. Another advantage of orchardgrass is its potential for high yields when well fertilized. The palatability of orchardgrass is good and goats readily consume it.
Is Coastal hay good for goats?
Coastal is a good, maintenance grass hay that gives all of the additional nutrients horses need. Sheep and goats can eat every type of hay. Coastal or hay-grazer will be the most sufficient types of hay as a maintenance. Alfalfa is a good forage if they need additional protein added to their diet.
Is wheat straw good for goats?
I have used wheat straw several winters as an addition to alfalfa pellets. It is really the only kind of hay that the goats will eat with gusto. It is just for roughage, though, as I feed the alf pellets for the protein and other nutrients.
