Trying to avoid feeding hay

[PotterWatch]

I would like to feed my does as little hay as possible. We have a good deal of pasture that I hope to utilize. The goat pen where they will spend their nights and a good deal of their days is about 6000 sq ft. I would like to use temporary fencing out in the big pasture to move them around there during the days. We will have three or four does as well as any kids they have until the kids are sold. The pasture and the goat pen is currently planted with rye grass and has a good deal of mallow and nettles growing in there as well. I do plan on graining any lactating does while on the milk stand. Is it possible for them to do well on pasture only? I know goats are browsers, not grazers, but I would love to try and make it work!

 

[The Old Ram-Australia]

G'day, this is a very interesting question,the first consideration is, what is your goal?..If your goats are "well bred" Dairy goats they cannot produce on(what a friend of ours in the U.S.,describes as" sticks and stones") a full lactation basis , "poor" quality feed.Remember that the "value" of the grass vary's over the season.If she is a well bred type,she will shed "condition" in an effort to keep producing for you until she is exhausted....It does sound "on the face of it"that you would like them to replace your "lawnmower"?..

Grazing animals ,are just that "grazers" ,not lawn mowers...A healthy pasture should, look a bit" rough and ready",with plants at "various" stages of growth,"diversity equals health".How large is your "big pasture"?

You can use Alfalfa cubes to "dilute" the need for excessive grain inputs,while still maintaining a sufficient level of protein to ensure both the animal's health and production is maintained.I would suggest that you offer Seaweed Meal in a mix of salt/limestone(my own preference is to use Dolomite lime"CalMg(co3)2") .I'm sure you will get a lot of "comment " on the subject from the forum......

....................................................T.O.R........................................

 

[PotterWatch]

Thanks for the information. Our large pasture is about 7 acres. I do want to keep them in decent condition, of course. If hay is needed to supplement, then I will certainly do so. I am trying to avoid feeding non-organic or GMO hay. Getting organic hay is pretty much an impossibility, hence my hope that they can be fed mainly on pasture.

 

[ksalvagno]

No reason why you can't as long as the grass is good. I would be careful with the rye. Rye grass staggers can happen if the grass gets to a certain stage (can't remember what that is at the moment). If you have a drought or something, then you would have to supplement with hay. I guess you will see how that affects their milk and condition and then adjust accordingly.

 

[jodief100]

It can be done if you have a good variety of cool season and warm season grasses. Plants and weeds that goats like grow back more slowly than grasses but if you are diligent with a good rotation it could work out well for you. You have the advantage of a warmer climate in Southern CA so I think with some research about goat nutrition needs, what they like to eat and determining how that varies through the seasons it can be done.