Is hay a must?

[helmstead]

When we have adequate growth, my animals (goats and sheep and cattle) live off pasture and browse ONLY, and do very very well on it.

I think this might be a regional issue. Here in the US so many breeds are so domesticated that they do not thrive in 'natural' conditions. This is an ongoing debate here, even more so in the meat goat circles (who have tried importing Kikos for their natural resistances without a single thought to the fact that those resistances were developed in a completely different climate).

So, yeah, whatever works for you.

One rule of thumb - NEVER expect any goat to eat old hay. If it's over 24 hrs old, toss it to compost or the neighbor's cows. Only put out enough at one time for one day...goats are too picky for that. I liked Freemotion's notes to this nature.

 

[username taken]

but Kate, are there not herds of cattle in the US that are grass fed? I dont mean over the winder, obviously in those situations when you dont have feed available, you need to hand feed, but when you have good pasture available, and the key word there is GOOD pasture, they usually can obtain everything they need from that pasture. I guess maybe the problem is that most people dont have the real good pasture, that we can grow in a decent year?

oh, I have to laugh at the way the US folks love the Kikos ... the Kiko is nothing more than a feral goat ... ours here have now been given the name 'Australian Rangeland'. Your Spanish goats are exactly the same as a Kiko, but adapted to a different country/environment.

 

[alba]

A lot of horses eat only from the field too except during winter.

 

[mully]

While having hay available while the goats are able to browse may not be a "necessity" I think that having something for them to chew on give them peace of mind. Goats are always looking to eat something. I keep hay in a hay rack for them to snack on and they will come in from pasture just to munch some hay.

 

[haviris]

I'm with Username Taken on this one, they get hay in the winter and pasture in the summer, I have hay set aside for certain circumstances (like an animal that needs to be put up for any reason). That goes for my goats, horses, and cows.

 

[cmjust0]

We keep our goats' haybunk full pretty much all the time...there's never a time when they don't have hay available.

That said, we can tell when the grass and browse are coming on by the number of bales we go through in a given period of time.. Very quickly, with our nine, we go from throwing three or four flakes a day in winter to a fresh flake every few days to keep it full in spring and summer. If they can eat the real stuff, they won't bother with hay -- unless it rains!

If it rains -- even just a little -- they stand in the barn and eat hay all day.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

generally we tell 'em all to get out there and free range b/c its FREE!

however,

one of my spoiled former-show-diary gals will NOT walk the 20 feet to the most lovely pasture with plenty of delectable browse. now if *** I *** go and cut it and bring it to her she pushes everyone else away to hog it all.

darn goats! makin' me nuts!

in generally is pasture is best (provided you have it) but in bad weather they want hay inside. we feed best quality hay for the dairy gals and, as above, try to get them to get off their haunches and browse!

what is best for you may depend on your region, your pasture, and your herd.