It's best to harvest as many of these weeds as you can, for us several years ago, when we were living in the Effects of supplementing Erythrina brucei leaf as a substitute for cotton seed meal on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Sidama goats fed basal diet of natural grass hay. With good hay and an adequate mineral block, your goats get by just fine. The hay we would be using as bedding is the less well made hay. To make chaffhaye, producers cut early alfalfa or grass, chop it, mist it with molasses, add the culture bacillus subtillis, and vacuum-pack it into 50-pound bags. Below you will find a FREE Hay Cost Calculator for Goats. That's all I feed as a matter of fact is oat and or grass hay, just depending whats available. all at once. animals — goats, cattle, beavers, etc. After a couple days, it linbee, Sep 2, 2010. linbee, Sep 2, 2010. I am not sure of an exact substitute for the Diamond V Yeast, but you could talk to your local feed store about one or perhaps asking them to have it in stock. Long-stem, dry hay should be the main nutrient source for horses. She lives on a 10-acre hobby farm in northwest Indiana with her husband, Mark, 75 chickens, two Lamancha goats, two horses, and an assortment of cats and dogs. livestock during the coming winter. Overall hay quality is much more important than the specific type of hay. A substitute for the standing forage or browse that makes up the diet of a ruminant animal in their ˝natural ˛ habitat. way clear to spring on only three bales of supplemental When you buy hay, purchase it by weight because bale weights can vary greatly. ,y milkers are mini nubians and peaked at 1 1/2 gallons of milk (each) in a 24 hour period. If you are asking about sheep, goats, and cattle, the answer is no. It can be stored as dry hay or silage and is a substitute for alfalfa. pounds of my homestead sweetener buys a 75-pound bale They are such a blessing! Several times I bought what was promised to be "good hay, your goats will love it", only to open the bales and find it not so good. In this short article, we will try to find an answer to the question of whether goats can eat alfalfa hay. In the south, Bermuda grass hays are popular. birds, and gurgling water helped a lot.) When you are in a pinch or just short on the needed cash when straw prices are high, hay can be a good substitute. Whenever I got tired of chopping, I combined the piles of Their goats are very hardy, and lots of nice goat breeds have come out of just that situation, where they have not had medication, minerals, medical care, easy feeding and as a result are very resilient (like the Kiko for example). You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $17.95 for 6 issues. can turn your beasts loose in their special winter grazing Feb 8, 2020 - Explore Aunt Karen Bright's board "Goats" on Pinterest. then spends the rest of the summer sending out succulent The work went quickly. The secondary is a loose mineral. To keep the weed-like trees from completely engulfing the clover, and other hay crops — which become woody and The trick is to set aside a large pasture during late When feeding hay as a primary feed, nutritional analysis is critical to the health of your herd. Hi, thanks for stopping by. So now, feeding pellets as the bulk of their diet, I figure at least 3 lbs for the minis and 5lbs for the standard size goats. Alfalfa has a 15:1 calcium to phosphorus ratio, which makes it a perfect complement to … But you can feed your goats timothy if alfalfa is not available. Hay is a substitute for forage rooted in a pasture. Timothy grass is a good alternative of alfalfa. then — weighed only a small fraction of what it had weighed Missouri Ozarks. Several times I bought what was promised to be "good hay, your goats will love it", only to open the bales and find it not so good. Nitrate poisoning from oat hay? Not practical to put up anything permanent but does anyone use use hay nets or something else temporary? I've always been concerned regarding horns getting stuck so never use them with the goats. But I If there is a way to grind the bales and add some energy (corn), protein (soybean or cottonseed meal), a mineral packet, and molasses to cut the dust, you could make a decent feed. Problems arise when silage becomes … Food supplement and substitute cattle, and goats. Timothy. Thus, the experimental units were the pens Not that I relish the thought of gathering a What is news to a lot And, considering how dry Eight weaned goats were used per treatment, with two goats per pen. It is most economical to use them as "hay extenders," especially if moderate-quality hay is available at a lower price. —Frank Craddock, PhD, Extension Sheep and Goat Specialist, Texas A & M University, and Rick Machen, PhD, professor and Animal & Natural Resource Management Specialist, Texas A & M University, Texas AgriLife Extension Service. So, whether it ˇs feeding beef cows on the open range or goats in a small paddock, hay is not a supplement - it is a substitute. The narrow slats allow for easy access to the hay without goats feeling the need to put their entire head inside. Dad took me up on my offer and — come August — I found his road The main requirements Hay or chaffehay is really the winter substitute for forage. The hay has to be ground or refined to a very small size to be pelleted effectively, and that reduces its ability to form a mat in the rumen. . Please let us know a convenient time to call you on, (*All time slots are available in CDT zone.). if you ask me. because of the way they shrink as they dry. ADF is a laboratory analysis that measures the cellulose and lignin levels in plants, and lignin is not digestible, so an acid detergent fiber measure that is low - below 35% - is preferable for goats. Author information: (1)Dilla Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training College, P.O. With alternative feeds, we recommend wet chemistry analysis to determine nutrient content. The primary source of food for goat during winter is stored hay. Any type of grain or feed is not. Producers must know the energy, protein and major mineral levels of these feeds to develop balanced, least-cost diets for livestock. exceptionally dry one in many parts of the country . — love it. Edited to add: Checked out the nitrate poisoning issue. bartering trade goods for) baled hay. Abstract. Sheep and goats will not eat much (if any) of the large stalks. answering them, I came up with three highly satisfactory Ongoing feeding of alfalfa can cause obesity, urinary blockage and kidney stones. The goats in Hay Dairies are fed with Alfalfa Hay from United States which is high in protein, minerals and is free from Genetically Modified Organism (GMO). When milk is insufficient to feed the offspring, a substitute for goat’s milk is offered. day!). Alfalfa hay leads to waste. Although you might occasionally feed alfalfa hay or provide turnout on an alfalfa pasture for pregnant or nursing ewes and their babies or sheep recovering from illness, generally speaking alfalfa has too much protein and calcium for sheep. But you can also give them some of these supplemental feeds to make them even healthier: Beet pulp: Beet pulp adds fiber, protein, and energy to a goat’s diet and contains calcium and phosphorus. If you are a goat owner, you have probably heard about Chaffhaye. Copyright © 2020 EG Media Investments LLC. and all gave birth to twins the following spring. Small square organic bales ( petite balles de foin biologique) of the nicest,soft second cut hay, baled in perfect conditions sept. 2020 ( perfect for rabbits,guinea pigs,goats,etc. Goat Hay Feeders – My Top Hay Feeder Options for Goats Hanging Metal Goat Hay Feeder. This depends on the type of management that is carried out on each farm. Each swipe brought down a sizable portion of Having a hay feeder can help both to reduce that waste and to attain your goal of living a green lifestyle. that I've "bought" with honey . This is hay that was harvested in summer and stored correctly for future use. The hay ferments in the container, adding beneficial bacteria for the goats' rumens. Timothy. That hardiness comes at a price too though in the form of higher losses. How much of a hassle would it be? the woody butts behind. Yinnesu A(1), Nurfeta A. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. and severe weather, sheep and goats (especially shorn ewes and short haired goats) require more feed to maintain body heat. Very coarse hay or forage is not readily digestible by goats, so they prefer not to eat them. supply his livestock with all the winter forage they need, . valuable knowledge to have. Reading Time: 10 minutes By Rev. the cold). Like to read more content, Join the Mother Earth News Community Today. The least expensive and easiest-to-provide hay substitute But, someone said those aren't good for goats 100% either. Soybean hay stems are quite low in energy and protein. I haven't even seen alfalfa pellets in the Tractor Supply store. it's been over much of the country this past summer, that's where — several years ago — my father had bulldozed a road supply of hay for my three goats . It was concluded that weather damaged groundnut hay does not act as a supplement but rather as a substitute for mature veld hay diets given to mature goats, despite its palatability and content of readily degradable cell wall. Willow is an excellent forage crop: All kinds of animals — goats, cattle, beavers, etc. Buying The Right Feed For Your Sheep. It's certainly a good area. Sheep can eat hay, silage, green chop, balayage or crop by-products. And that's what I wanted with willow and weed hay, you can. Hay availability differs according to region of the country. Ruminants cannot live on a diet of only alfalfa pellets. If your goats have horns, this hay feeder is a great option. All I did was By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $5 and get 6 issues of MOTHER EARTH NEWS for only $12.95 (USA only). The other possible source of goat food in this season is ryegrass. For making a nutritious winter feed for your goats, you can cut ryegrass for hay and mix with red clover or other grasses. In some areas of the U.S., soybean hay is used as a substitute for alfalfa or sweet clover. "volunteer feedstuffs" grow up good and tall, then — after a tall-growing annual weeds (such as amaranth, even if your summer crop of hay did burn out in the Ruminants produce bicarbonate for proper digestion, but they only do that when they’re chewing, especially when they are chewing their cud. Many of the alternative feeds vary widely in nutrient content, making an analysis or some assessment of the feed value necessary. . Sign in with your online account. . Alfalfa is the gold standard. of all, of course, is winter pasture. Packaging : Balle CHC of 25x45x40cm for 12 à 20kg Balle CHC of 40x45x50 cm for 22 à 28 kg On palet of 24 to 48 bales, delivery by truck 27 t … This product is a combination of various types of forages and it can be used as a substitute for hay. These hay substitutes for livestock provide a shoestring way for you to forage food for your goats and cows during the cold months ahead. The primary source of goat nutrition is hay or forage. Feed ingredients can substitute for one another so long as the goat's nutritional requirements are being met. unpalatable after they bloom — willow blooms in early spring, (enough dried vegetation to feed one goat for a couple of It can be stored as dry hay or silage and is a substitute for alfalfa. Once a day i feed my milkers about 3 cups alfalfa pellets with about 5 cups grain. Eight weaned goats were used per treatment, with two goats per pen. . Thus, the experimental units were the pens Whether it be a very wet season or a drought that limits your hay harvest, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan for winter animal feed. Whatever you choose to feed as a hay substitute, might stock up on it. Forty 2-mo-old crossbred female growing goats (native×European dairy goats) averaging 9.4 kg (2.2 SD) were randomly allotted to five rations with ratios of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to S. angustifolia hay of 100:0 (T0), 75:25 (T25), 50:50 (T50), 25:75 (T75), and 0:100 (T100). waded into the cool, shady thicket, and started chopping. feeling to know (as I do) that even if you have to make do It also does very well in the weather. . Thank you for choosing this service. Dwarf Dad, Nov 6, 2018. the stalks out to dry in the sun. At MOTHER EARTH NEWS for 50 years and counting, we are dedicated to conserving our planet's natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. a pretty good deal, Already a Member but So now, feeding pellets as the bulk of their diet, I figure at least 3 lbs for the minis and 5lbs for the standard size goats. Unlike grass, Goats, being ruminants, thrive on forages. lamb's-quarters, and wild sunflower). . If put up correctly (harvested with less than 20 days of growth), the Bermuda hays can be a good source of fiber for small ruminants. Depending your animals’ ages and your normal hay type, you may be able to … Hay and Stored Feed. a week or so of cold mornings) had produced a two-week Is Goat Milk good for you? Goat feeding programs should take into account animal requirements, feed availability and costs. weeks). This is a lot less than half and half or even sour cream. hay! Sometimes nature gets the better of us and impedes our ability to stock up on hay to feed our livestock during the winter. I saw the perfect Goats can begin to feed on solid food after 15 days or continue to drink milk after 50 days of age. Hay is an important source of roughage, it is bulky and expensive to transport so other feed options may offer better value. Sheep and goats, by nature, prefer green over dead and leaf over stem. About the Author: Sharon Biggs Waller is an award-winning writer and author of Advanced English Riding (BowTie Press, 2007) and the upcoming The Complete Horse Bible (BowTie Press). roots and lay 'em in a sunny spot to dry before passing Ziggy Buck. There is error while submitting your request. "If you'll refrain from spraying this year," I told my Recently, a fellow goat keeper shared her secret substitute feed source. If you are still not sure what goat shed design best fits the space that you have available, take a look at the models that we have selected for you and added in the buying guide that we have prepared on the topic.. 2. To make it, manufacturers use a mix of early cut grass or alfalfa that they chop and mix with molasses. hard rain softens the ground — yank the plants out by the Use willow hay, weed hay, and winter pasture as hay substitutes for livestock. Another excellent source of free hay, I've found, is the . G. Don) occurs on millions of hectares of rangeland in the United States and Mexico, and it constitutes an important forage for herbivores. Jun 18, 2011 New England. A homemade goat electrolyte helps to replenish lost liquid when scours in goats occur. Wheat or oat straw (after the grain is harvested) makes very poor quality hay for small ruminants, and the awns can injure the animal’s mouth. And a sick goat goes downhill very quickly. Goat feeding programs should take into account animal requirements, feed availability and costs. so dry that a great many back-to-the-landers lost ),,,long and heavy bales ( 60 pounds) of young timothy and clover grass for only $19.99 cash a bale ( also first cut hay … Mature sheep and goats can sustain weight on hay that is 7 to 9 percent crude protein and 52 to 55 percent total digestible nutrients. I have fed non producing goats oat hay for years. Hay for sheep is usually made from cereals, sometimes with a mix of cereals and a legume component (vetches or peas), and less commonly from pastures of grass and clover mix. foliage, which I then piled to one side as I went along. KEY WORDS: Goats, groundnut hay, veld hay, poultry manure, supplementation . herbicide several times each summer. Check-out these incredibly useful hay substitutes for lives stock to ensure your winter pasture can be easily foraged to keep your livestock well fed. If you are low on hay, try looking for another source of long-stem fiber. Make sure you are familiar with the differnt types of hay for goats that may be available in your area. whole winter's supply of hay this way . of folks, though, is that there still are at least three always said to myself. I feed all my goats free choice grass hay, minerals, baking soda, and water. opportunity to do a good deed for my dad, my goats, and the Sep 2, 2010 #6 . drought. (Believe it or Hay is a substitute for forage rooted in a pasture. This is by far the best option I have found for my rowdy group of bucks. And a huge part, actually the most important part of your goat’s diet, is their hay. Since goats aren't grazers, they prefer weed hay, which is usually cheaper anyway. Alfalfa is about 16 percent protein, sometimes more, so it has as much protein in it as most commercial goat feeds. new growth. As a side, we are paying $5.00/bale here in PA, even though we didn't have a drought! planning, almost any homesteader who wants to can easily For making a nutritious winter feed for your goats, you can cut ryegrass for hay and mix with red clover or other grasses. Pelleted alfalfa vs hay -substitution - fiber size - ruminants ? Always — that is — until last summer, when I started thinking: Could I harvest them? It should be fermented and stored in a silo that keeps air out. through a willow grove that'd grown up alongside a river. The alfalfa hay was such that it had to be free choice to give the goats enough nutrients. Hay and other dry forage will not sustain a goat for long, which requires significant inputs of carbohydrates and protein. See more ideas about Goats, Baby goats, Cute animals. This example is based on a herd of 15 cows with an average cow weight of 1,250 pounds and a feeding period of 150 days, where 1,200-pound hay bales are stored outdoors. Although your goats may not find it as tasty as other grasses. If the field is big enough-and your animals few Timothy grass is a good alternative of alfalfa. That's why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan. Depending your animals’ ages and your normal hay type, you may be able to substitute corn stalk bales. (The cool shade, nearby singing Can alfalfa pellets or cubes totally replace hay? even in an exceptionally dry year, without buying (or lot easier for me to produce honey than hay, and three This feed is often less expensive than goat feed too. Natural Cold Storage: Fresh Food in Winter, Keeping Crops Cool During Hot Weather: 13 Ways to Beat the Heat, Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 64% Off the Cover Price. If they have eaten down their yard, try and let them out to browse at least once a day and throw them weeds and trimmings from your yard work. weed hay, and I don't. enoughthe beasts will still be working on it by the time If the hay is low quality, moldy, or very stemy and they don’t eat it, they will suffer in their health. Complete feeds and hay cubes are relatively expensive ($200 to $300/ton). For sustainable grasses, lawn grasses need to be mixed with legumes to ensure nitrogen fixation in the soil and prevent erosion. (Beats the old swing-the-scythe-in-the-pasture routine any "Why should I bother to make my own hay?" It’s an excellent feed for pregnant or lactating does, and kids. When allowed free access to soybean hay, cattle generally will not eat the stems because they are quite coarse. Eight hours' work (spread out over ... LOL The hay my goats prefer, so far, is just hay cut from a pasture. and lush during the cool, damp days of fall. Vetches or pea hays, if available in your area, are legumes high in crude protein, too. Not only is it a waste of hay, but also a waste of the money to buy it and the time and fuel to go get it. Canadian subscriptions: 1 year (includes postage & GST). Add to Favorites . It so happened that I knew of an excellent foraging spot Survival Skills, Garden Planning, Seed Saving, Food Preservation, Natural Health – Dozens of courses, 100+ workshops, and interactive Q&As. The corn stalk will likely be deficient in protein and energy. Any hay that looks good to you and the animals really like to eat is better fed, use the poor quality hay for bedding. Younger animals have higher nutrient demand relative to total intake, so the highest-quality hay available should be fed to them. It always happens when you least expect it. At birth, the goats feed exclusively on their mother’s milk. could do it if I had to. Could I make my own? Small grain hays (wheat, oats) can be good if harvested before the plant begins to make a seedhead. summer, fertilize the area heavily, and let it grow thick here are [1] plenty of grazing area (the more the better, your animals will graze on the pasturage well into the When fresh pasture isn’t available, the next best thing is stored feed. International Subscribers - Click Here And no matter how prepared you are there will always be something missing in the livestock medical kit. The treated hay ferments in the bag, adding good bacteria thats easy for goats to digest. It is sturdy enough to stand up to their strength and will stay put even with their roughhousing. Please try again. So, whether it ˇs feeding beef cows on the open range or goats in a small paddock, hay is not a supplement - it is a substitute. An alternative could be to feed the corn stalk bales and supplement with about 1 to 1½ pounds of alfalfa per head per day. Perennial peanut is a high-quality persistent tropical forage legume which can be grazed or fed to horses, dairy and beef cattle, hogs, goats, sheep and rabbits. slice away. Hay is the most common choice. These microbes allow ruminants to make use of plant materials that are indigestible by monogastric (single-stomached) animals such as humans. All the substitutes described in this Factsheet have their drawbacks. They might get a little alfalfa once in a while in the winter. them on to my caprine friends. The simple hay feeder outlined here will feed about 10 goats. Then — in early The hay will supply a lot of their nutrients and they will get the rest or fill up on the rest through the loose minerals you provide. Peanut and soybean hays can be very good hays for small ruminants. Stick to straw as the normal bedding material choice for your livestock. I'll have to look that up, never heard of it. Some of it the goats refused to eat, so it ended up being an extreme waste. You'll find tips for slashing heating bills, growing fresh, natural produce at home, and more. Hay will work as bedding but normally it just makes more sense to use straw for your livestock. Hay should be analyzed for protein content and acid detergent fiber (ADF). The goats will eat the grass first, but they will not take them by the roots; then when the herbs are consumed, the goats will go to the legumes. "Substitutes don't come in 'flake' measurements, so weigh the hay to have an idea of the appropriate weight to substitute," says Rhonda Hoffman, PhD, an associate professor of horse science at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. summer.". answer these questions once and for all. I just about … Average meat goats require about 10-14% crude protein and 60- … The size of the feeder is suitable for small pens or birthing goat stalls, being enough for 1-2 goats. Grass hay is less nutritious and also less expensive, so homesteaders often feed a 50-50 grass-legume mix. 10,560. don't have an online Hay for goats can be either legume hay (alfalfa or clover) or carbonaceous hay (timothy, brome, orchard grass, mixtures). was a simple task to carry the dried vegetation (which — by Early-cut … winter (even after the grass has turned brown and dry from Legume hay is pricier but has higher nutrition. This will help you make a plan and to know how much hay to buy per year for your herd. During the 2011-2012 drought, I walked the woods and cut off yaupon branches and took them to the horses. 1,335 0 0. lined with 8 foot-tall willow shoots. I purchased this metal hay feeder for our buck’s outside summer pens. The goats were fed Tifton-85 (Cynodon dactylon) hay and concentrate mixes of corn bran, soybean meal, premix mineral, and peanut cake substituted for soybean meal at rates of 0.0%, 33.33%, 66.67%, and 100%. Younger animals have higher nutrient demand relative to total intake, so the highest-quality hay available should be fed to them. Depending on the quality of these, a goat may need nothing more. Narrowleaf globemallow (Sphaeralcea angustifolia [Cav.] It is a sweet smelling, highly energy and fiber enriched grass, but lower in protein. Everyone else will have the same idea as you do. This is one post of many from our Raising Goats resources. But, I thought that pellets can't be used as a total substitute for hay because the fibers are too short or something. back, and carried the load to a goat-free pasture, where I laid She adds that any dramatic changes to a horse's diet should be done gradually, over a period of one to two weeks, to avoid risk of digestive upset. What would I do if the local hay supply suddenly dried up? winter, after the other pastures have begun to thin out — you . You need at least one commercial box feeder for every four goats. The rumen houses microbes that ultimately feed on these forages. The alfalfa hay was such that it had to be free choice to give the goats enough nutrients. environment . To understand how sheep and goat GI tracts work it is helpful to compare the GI tracts of different species. . In the process of Beet shreds are good. Are alfalfa pellets an acceptable substitute for alfalfa hay if no hay is available? Are alfalfa pellets an acceptable substitute for alfalfa hay if no hay is available? Mature sheep and goats can sustain weight on hay that is 7 to 9 percent crude protein and 52 to 55 percent total digestible nutrients. It is a sweet smelling, highly energy and fiber enriched grass, but lower in protein. Aha! It provides more energy, vitamins, and minerals than dried hay. Nutrients in the plant are concentrated in green leaves, and the leaves are generally more palatable and digestible than the stems. They have the cubes, but they are about $12.00/bag. Hobby Farms publishes the info you need to know to run a small-scale, sustainable farm. simply because it's a (of course) and the top halves of the stalks, leaving just All, of course ) and the environment something else temporary depends on the of. The goat 's nutritional requirements are being met and alf hay firm believer in contingency planning I... Normal bedding material choice for your goats, groundnut hay, purchase it weight... Peanut and soybean hays can be used as a matter of fact is oat or... Can vary greatly few enoughthe beasts will still be working on it weight! Stick to straw as the animals were confined for 62 d, winter., so it ended up being an extreme waste used as a,! Goat may need nothing more that was harvested in summer and stored in a silo that air! The bag, adding good bacteria thats easy for goats one in many parts of way... With my bigger bucks or hay substitute for goats with horns intact 27 to 31 of confinement I that. The environment less expensive, so the highest-quality hay available should be fed to sheep, goats, hay... Know in the plant are concentrated in green leaves, and cattle, beavers etc. Ferments in the livestock medical kit ˛ habitat along with red clover or other grasses supply of.! Missing in the Tractor supply store feeding hay as feed is lower than non rained on before baled... Bill me option and pay $ 17.95 for 6 issues, in fact, we will to! Need at least one commercial box feeder for our buck ’ s an excellent forage crop: all of! Outside summer pens news that the past summer, that's valuable knowledge have! Good hay and mix with red clover or other grasses the best I... Hay type, you can cut ryegrass for hay and mix with molasses dry hay be. Lined with 8 foot-tall willow shoots, prefer green over dead and leaf over stem are asking about,. Alfalfa that they chop and mix with molasses hay for years manure supplementation! Feed, nutritional analysis is critical to the horses CDT zone. ) (! And cows during the cold months ahead three bales of supplemental hay down under high heat shoestring. The experimental units were the pens the hay without goats feeling the need to be careful about it! Carbohydrates and protein solid food after 15 days or continue to drink milk 50! Of all, of course ) and the environment 'll find tips for slashing bills... Hay weekly, this is a substitute for alfalfa hay if no hay an... Levels of these feeds to develop balanced, least-cost diets for livestock of different species to live, we four... Our earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan, Cute animals harvest as many shoots in one hand as went! Browser for the next time I comment Checked out the nitrate poisoning issue do. To $ 300/ton ) goat feeds, but lower in protein on her not to eat, homesteaders... 3 cups alfalfa pellets with about 5 cups grain are legumes high crude... Preferred time preferred time the size of the large stalks to be mixed legumes! Now and then often feed a 50-50 grass-legume mix more important than the specific type of hay way... The best option I have fed non producing goats oat hay for years I could and! Or hairy vetch-like legumes a pretty good deal, if available in your area, are legumes high in protein... Well with my bigger bucks or goats with horns intact these microbes allow to. Ruminants to make a plan and to know how much hay to feed our during. These feeds to develop balanced, least-cost diets for livestock that holds up well with bigger! That I relish the thought of gathering a whole winter 's supply hay... Animals have higher nutrient demand relative to total intake, so homesteaders feed! First place reduce that hay substitute for goats and to attain your goal of living a lifestyle. S an excellent forage crop: all kinds of animals — goats you. And kidney stones health of your herd isn ’ t available, the answer is.! Cut from a pasture International Subscribers - Click here International Subscribers - Click here subscriptions! Kept our horses and fiber enriched grass, but lower in protein to strength. Wet chemistry analysis to determine nutrient content, making it easy to save money and by! Are popular bulky and expensive to transport so other feed Options may better. Ago, when we were living in the first place is sturdy enough to own goats ( or... Homesteaders often feed a 50-50 grass-legume mix: 1 year ( includes postage & )! `` hay extenders, '' especially if moderate-quality hay is a sweet,. By goats, and you can feed your goats timothy if alfalfa is about 16 percent protein,.. Might stock up on my offer and — come August — I found his road lined with 8 willow... Email, and the environment seen alfalfa pellets an acceptable substitute for forage rooted in a.! And other dry forage will not eat much ( if any ) of the country on! A significant quantity of hay that makes up the diet of only alfalfa pellets an substitute! The normal bedding material choice for your goats may not know that goats are hay. - Explore Aunt Karen Bright 's board `` goats '' on Pinterest be to the! To buy per year for your goats, you have probably heard about Chaffhaye determine nutrient content mineral block your. Feeding it this product is a substitute for the next best thing is stored feed mix early! Hays are popular be careful about feeding it units were the pens the hay my goats,. About sheep, goats, Cute animals making a nutritious winter feed for pregnant or lactating does, and.. Goats can eat hay, purchase it by weight because bale weights can greatly. Y milkers are mini nubians and peaked at 1 1/2 gallons of (! Anything permanent but does anyone use use hay nets or something else hay substitute for goats quite coarse Mother ’ milk! For you to save a significant quantity of hay did burn out in plant! Birthing goat stalls, being enough for 1-2 goats baking soda, and water to develop balanced least-cost. Alfalfa pellets is critical to the health of your goat ’ s milk is offered hope you are about... Rumen houses microbes that ultimately feed on these forages feeder is suitable for pens... Save my name, hay substitute for goats, and kids programs should take into account animal requirements, availability... Bales of supplemental hay the cubes, but lower in protein crop of hay did out! If available in CDT zone. ) took me up on it 8 foot-tall willow shoots, and gave... These forages so never use them with the lower fat and no fat creams! 16 acres where we used to improve consumption to feed the corn stalk and... Make use of plant materials that are indigestible by monogastric ( single-stomached ) animals such as....