Growing Forage for the goats

[that's*satyrical]

So with the price of feed going up and up we've decided to take the plots that the heritage pigs turn over for us on our wooded land and plant forage for the goats. I grabbed a bag of no til deer forage last time I was at TSC to give it a shot and it is coming in very well. It's a mix of winter rye, clover, and I think hairy vetch? The third thing could be something else, not sure. I would like to seed over it again with something else this spring. What could I seed over it with in the spring? Also, how long do I need to let everything grow before I can let the goats forage on it? How long can I let them forage before I should move them back off of it too? I know horses are harder on pasture than cows are I'm not sure how goats "graze" I know they are more browsers but will graze too if there is not a lot of browse available. I was thinking I'd also like to plant some lespedeza somewhere for the goats. Would this need a separate plot or is this something that can be seeded over the forage already planted? This is working out pretty well so far because after we move the pigs out we still have the electric around the seeds & sprouts to keep the deer etc. out.

 

[that's*satyrical]

I think the third item is actually brassica.

 

[Renegade]

So with the price of feed going up and up we've decided to take the plots that the heritage pigs turn over for us on our wooded land and plant forage for the goats. I grabbed a bag of no til deer forage last time I was at TSC to give it a shot and it is coming in very well. It's a mix of winter rye, clover, and I think hairy vetch? The third thing could be something else, not sure. I would like to seed over it again with something else this spring. What could I seed over it with in the spring? Also, how long do I need to let everything grow before I can let the goats forage on it? How long can I let them forage before I should move them back off of it too? I know horses are harder on pasture than cows are I'm not sure how goats "graze" I know they are more browsers but will graze too if there is not a lot of browse available. I was thinking I'd also like to plant some lespedeza somewhere for the goats. Would this need a separate plot or is this something that can be seeded over the forage already planted? This is working out pretty well so far because after we move the pigs out we still have the electric around the seeds & sprouts to keep the deer etc. out.

The best sericea lespedeza seed is AU Grazer. The only thing you have to keep in mind is lespedeza has to be rested. It does not do well under heavy grazing pressure. If grazed too short it will not come back.
We have used different deer plot seed for years now and the goats really like them.

Donna

 

[that's*satyrical]

Bah! It's sold out everywhere. Know where to find it???

 

[Southern by choice]

It will be sold out for a while. Recently at a conference... it was going for $200 for 50 lb bag of seed. It grows wild here.
It is great for parasite control, yet not an actual dewormer.

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

If that's what I'm thinking it is then we have it all over the place here and the goat LOVE it!

 

[that's*satyrical]

It will be sold out for a while. Recently at a conference... it was going for $200 for 50 lb bag of seed. It grows wild here.
It is great for parasite control, yet not an actual dewormer.

Holy moly that is expensive for a bag of weeds! Or is it just me???

 

[Southern by choice]

Yes it is! The great thing about this plant is it kind of "coats" the barberpole, rendering it unable to reproduce and also doesn't allow it to "attach". So it's not a de-wormer so to speak but keeps the load and damage down. That is how it was exp;ained by the PHD that did the study. He spoke at a conference I went to.

Check out the "Fact Sheet" on

http://www.sheepandgoat.com/ACSRPC/Resources/sericea.html

 

[that's*satyrical]

What do you all think of seeding with oats for the spring forage? I'd love to do the lespedeza at some point but it's so pricey I'm hoping maybe next year or the year after it will go down in price and maybe increase in availability.

 

[goodolboy]

I was thinking rye or wheat. Never delt much with oats.