Full of questions today... Pasture question

[porkchop48]

My little herd of nine goats and one Angus/ herford steer ( about 350 lbs) have 7 acres of pasture. There is some woods and browse/ shrubs as well.

The pasture is about 5-6 inches tall right now ( some higher). They had hay all winter but being that it was a mild winter also had browse and grass to eat.

When can I stop feeding them hay and grain? or can I?

They were grained all winter ( goat feed, boss, alfafa pellets and beet pulp pellets). I have slowly been decresing the amount of grain they get due to the pasture coming in nicely. IS this ok?

Maybe it is just the lack of sleep from stressing about Super goat not kidding yet that is just making me not think straight. or first spring with the goats. ... Ya Ya lack of sleep that is it

 

[20kidsonhill]

We keep ours on grain until they are about 2 years of age, otherwise our adult herd only gets grain starting 5 weeks before they are due to kid and then through their lactation, which is normally 10 weeks. I may put an adult on grain that was sick and needs to put on weight.

otherwise we only feed pasture or hay year round.

my does are still on some hay, plus the pasture and grain, but they are nursing right now.

We are phasing out the hay and grain as they are weaned in the next couple of weeks, and the adults over the age of 2 will be getting pasture only for the summer unless we don't get enough rain. Animals under two will be weaned into a separate group and all of them will get around a pound of grain a day and pasture, no hay.

We also keep out loose minerals and sometimes we purchase a goat protein tub to put out with them.

 

[elevan]

We've already pulled hay completely here. I do give alfalfa pellets when we drop to freezing temps but other than that they are completely on browse right now.

 

[porkchop48]

Thank you both.

The outside ones who have the run of the pasture are no longer going to be getting any hay. Super goat who is locked up into a smaller area is going to still be getting hay as well as SGS who sleeps inside at night with Tut.

I am going to go with giving them grain but giving them less grain than normal. Except for the preggos and milking moms.


Again thank you both for your help.