When I first starting raising goats I thought all hay was alike. For optimal health, numerous studies have shown it is safest to keep male goats on a diet of 2:1 calcium to phosphorus. You may feed them free choice or feed them hay twice in a day. An adult goat can drink from to 1 gallon of water a day. If feeding cereal grain hay (cut while still green and growing, rather than at maturity, as straw), have it checked for nitrate levels to avoid nitrate poisoning. Another way to incorporate oats into your goats diet is by baking them into treats that will be used to hide medication. First-cut alfalfa can be stemmy, but only if it is too mature when harvested. These foreign bodies can also cause problems for your goats, despite their robust digestive systems. The most favorable hay are clover, alfalfa, soybean, lespedeza, and vetch. The plant itself is fairly small compared to other grasses and is a good source of protein that can be useful for goat breeding. Goats should have access to plenty of clean, fresh water to ensure their health. If you live in a region like we do that does not have a large supply of alfalfa hay then you may want to supplement your goats to help. Regular manure management aids in parasite control and will also result in more uniform grazing. First cut hay is the first time the pasture is cut down for baling that season. These cuttings are too rich (too many nutrients per pound, with very little fiber) for most horses, unless you are just adding a little bit of it to the diet of a young orphan foal or an older horse that has poor teeth and cannot chew stemmy hay. Grains - Raw or Fermented Grains - in small amounts. Goats can eat oats. The grain specifically refers to the edible seeds of oat grass. There are many options depending on where you live and what feed choices you have available. My girls have round bales of Sudan in their pens, but when the weather is inclement, I have hay mangers under the barn to feed Sudan square bales. Best hay which is rare for goats. Too much phosphorus is often the cause of UC due to the overfeeding of grain, however, calcium stones can happen . Based on the forage production of spring-planted oat, N fertilizer at a rate of 40 to 60 pounds actual N per acre should be applied after establishment, However, less nitrogen may be applied . Yes. Always buy hay that was harvested under good conditions, then keep it dry and out of the sunlight so it will keep better. You're awesome for doing it! It feeds on small insects and mites in the field and also continues to feed on these organisms in hay bales. Oct 4, 2004. Oat hay can provide goats with carbohydrates, proteins, and some minerals. Experts, however, say that goats should not eat more than 1 pounds of grains per day. The nutrient loss makes it hard for pregnant and lactating deers (does) to maintain their weight and get the vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy.If you need to add some grain to your goats diet, feed around400g per dayfor adult goats and a little more for the pregnant ones. Weve investigated if its safe and healthy for goats to eat oats. Thats usually between two and four pounds. Alfalfa is also a good winter feed because heat is created by digestion of protein, so a horse can keep warmer on a cold night. Young calves have tender mouths and cannot chew coarse hay very wellwhether grass or alfalfa. Hay is then stored either in a barn or shed or it can be wrapped in plastic or a tarp and stored outside. If you dont have any type of roof to put your hay under, you can create a well-drained area (by building up the floor with gravel or wooden pallets) and cover the stack with tarps. Hay should be fed in feeders to help minimize waste and help prevent the spread of disease. . Protein - According to Drs. Important factors to keep in mind for horse hay are the nutritional needs of the animals (mature horses will not need high protein or calcium levels unless they are mares nursing foals), and the way the hay was harvested. Hay is what we call a cut pasture and as stated above, it includes the stem, leaves, and seed head. Shutterstock Hay for Sheep. Your farm supply store probably has what is called a soilbuilding covercrop. Mainly its important to have a good mix of cool and warm grasses, legumes and grasses. Ultimate List of 134 Foods Hens Can, Backyard Beekeeping [Complete Guide for Beginners], 20 Small Chicken Breeds [Your Epic Guide With Pros and. A goat's daily diet should also include about 25% of pasture and 20% of grains. In the whole lifetime, a goat mostly depends on the hay and pasture. However, there are significant differences in the variety, quality and availability of hay, which can make feeding your livestock a time-consuming chore. Forage production potential from a spring-planted oat crop will average 1,500 to 2,000 pounds of forage per acre. As long as its oat hay that is not that mature, as in the heads were not on yet when it was baled then they should like it. A goats main nutrition should come from hay, at around 50% of their daily intake. But it can also be hard for them to digest. Many experts and homesteaders recommendTimothy hay for goatson a maintenance diet and alfalfa for those who are underweight, recovering from an injury, or pregnant.Any type of grass hay, includingTimothy,Bermuda, andTeff, is ideal for the average adult goat, provided its of good quality and free from any mold and debris.Young kids that have weaned do better on a mixture of grass and legume hay, such as alfalfa or clover. Eating oats can also help goats to stay warm in cold weather. If you are considering purchasing this type of hay, it can be tested for nitrate content. 10% alfalfa pellets (broken down [probably would not have to break for goats]) 5% molassas. For our dairy goats, we prefer to feed second cut hay. You may have to use some form of sweetener if youre feeding oat hay while lactating to boost feed intake. A hay shed is ideal because you can build up the floor with gravel for good drainage so the entire haystack is kept dry. i feed a quality timothy/brome/grass mix. As a general rule of thumb, grass hay is best for horsesalfalfa or other legume hay can be an excellent feed to mix with grass hay for animals that need more protein. Straw, on the other hand, is used more in gardening and landscaping because it does not contain the seeds of the plant. The good thing about using this type of feeder is that they are easy to clean, and this should be done on a regular basis. Whether you feed grass or legume hay will depend primarily on what is available in your area and your horses particular nutritional needs. Yes, an adult goat can eat oat straw. For many years, we resisted feeding our goats any grain at all, firmly believing that they were getting all the nutrition they needed from the pasture. Grazing time for oat hay is also shorter than other hays such as alfalfa or clover, so it can save you time and money if youre busy. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Oat hay is not suitable for all horses. Ideal Cutting Time For Oat Hay. The actual type of grass doesnt matter too much as long as its not too coarse for their tiny mouths. We have boatloads of experience feeding hay to goats and researching about goats! Good palatable grass hay, cut while still green and growing, can be very adequate. I am currently feeding an Orchard//Alfalfa. Respiratory illness can be common in some animals like horses and goats for example. My goats arent that keen, and while theyll nibble away at the oats, theyll leave the stalks untouched. Aug 23, 2008. As high as 2.5:1 or 3:1 has also been reported to be safe. For lactating goats (does), oats provide an additional energy source. You may have driven by a pasture of neat rows of cut green grass before. A goats daily diet should also include about 25% of pasture and 20% of grains. As long as it's free of dust and mold and harvests early, it makes an excellent fodder. Peter Roome/Flickr. Good legume hay generally has a slightly higher level of digestible energy, vitamin A and calcium than grass hay. ), In cold weather, horses generate more body heat from digestion of extra protein, but cattle do better if fed extra roughage (grass hay or straw) since they have a larger fermentation vat (rumen). or moldy. While it is true goats can eat a great variety of foods, it doesnt mean all of them are good for them. When I can't find enough good quality green hay, I supplement my goats, sheep . Mature goats do very well on a grass-legume mix and some grass hays, but generally do not eat coarse grass hay; having small mouths, goats do not like it. The straw itch mite ( Pyemotes ventricosus) is a predator living in oat hay fields. Oat hay is sold commercially for feeding many types of farm animals, from oat hay for rabbits to oat hay for goats and other livestock. Again encouraging nutrients to support the energy needed by a bred goat. Green bales indicate that it is still fresh. Because of this, it's a great option for feeding milking goats and those who are pregnant. I figured the taller the better, the more likely they'll eat it. Im learning how to raise goats before actually doing so and your article in hay was very informative. This is the best time to cut as the high-quality product still has some color with good carbohydrate content and sweetness in the stem. Second cutting is generally the preferred hay for goats. With this in mind, following the feed ratio below will help to keep goats in prime health. Goats can safely eat oats! SLCG PRO TIP: Hay must be kept out of the rain to deter spoiling of the hay bale. It is also used for smaller animals such as rabbits. There are three different types of hay, Grass, Legume and Cereal Grain. Your goats - and sheep - will love eating them! There are many types of oats, which really means there are many forms in which the oat grain can be consumed. These are ideal for a pregnant and lactating doe and to give an under-nourished goat an energy boost, but they contain too much calcium and protein for the average adult goat. Hay falls into several categories: grass, legume, mixed (grass and legume) and cereal grain straw (such as oat hay). There are a few things to keep in mind when feeding oat hay to goats. Combining elements of both the above will keep your goats in excellent health. Straw is generally ready to buy off the field in August (sometimes September). While straw is never used for feeding livestock, hay is. The main difference between hay and straw is that hay is comprised of legumes while straw is a byproduct created during the grain harvest. Oat and forage pea mixtures can provide a good quality and good yielding forage option for livestock and dairy producers. . As the graph above shows, hay takes up half of a goats daily diet. Whole, steel-cut, and rolled are some of the most common ways oats can be fed to goats. In addition, it can prevent milk fever or goat ketosis in lactating does. Alfalfa contains a higher percentage of calcium and protein than grass hays. Since purchasing pellets can be a bit expensive online I suggest checking with your local feed mill for a more affordable option. Well, my herd of Dwarf Nigerian cross Boer goats doesnt. SLCG PRO TIP: Did you know that most goats can live their entire life without any supplemental grain? Our last lot of lucerne and Rhodes was like that - some were almost twice as heavy as others! If livestock are on a good winter pasture they may need only a little supplementation, such as 5# of alfalfa hay a day for an adult cow. Come join the discussion about breeding, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more! of average quality hay, while one pound of oats can replace 1.6 lbs. However, the nutritional values in the hay may be low and it is advisable to feed oat hay together with grass or legume hays for optimal nutrition. Or Any Day! And do they enjoy eating oats? This can disrupt the microbes that help the animals digest their feed. Some of the more common grass hays include timothy, brome, orchard grass and bluegrass. Some of the grains goats can eat include corn, soybean, and oats. So during cold weather, you will want to feed your cattle more roughage, rather than more legume hay. Oh, boy, was I ever wrong! Oat hay is a very good women's remedy. This is the reality of fodder: 2 pounds of grain (1.9 lbs dry matter), which has approximately 95% dry matter (DM), grows into "grass" in 6-10 days, which weighs at this point 12 pounds and has 10% dry matter (DM). However, if grass hay is coarse and dry (with little vitamin A or protein), youll need to add some legume hay to the cattles diet. You often cannot tell the quality of the hay by just looking at the outside of a bale. He indicated 900+-. Cereal grain straw is more nutritious than the straw we use for bedding because, during harvest, the farmers leave the grain seeds still intact. Goats need some long-stemmed hay, every day, to keep their rumen functioning at its best. 10 Best Goats for Beginners [Top Breeds for Dairy, Meat, and, Homemade DIY Hay Feeder for Goats[17 Designs and Plans! For kids, half a cup a day should be enough. Once ewes lamb and begin to lactate, they should receive 5 pounds of good quality hay and 2 pounds of 15 percent crude protein grain mix a day. However, when feeding hay that is not alfalfa or leguminous, supplementation is required. Wet hay not only weighs more, adding to the cost, but will likely be moldy. But a goat never should rely on only pasture. While feeding grains, try to avoid overfeeding it. The field day expert promoted rye. It is also a bit hard to come by since the amount of second cut hay all depends on the weather. Yes. One pound of barley can replace 1.8 lbs. Also, (while on the subject of hay) what type of hay do you feed? Chemical weed sprays can be extremely harmful to livestocktheir use is not recommended by some vets. Once the hay has been dried then the baling process can begin. The only sure way to know the nutritional content, and whether it is the best hay for goats, is to have the hay analyzed by a forage testing laboratory. Oats hay for goats. Later cuttings tend to grow more slowly and the stems are finer and softer. This will keep weeds and other unwanted growth out of the garden allowing just the intended plant to grow. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Chaffhaye is a moist slightly ground alfalfa hay that is compacted into bags. Lets break down a goats diet so you can see just why we want to focus on hay from the very beginning. anyone here feed oat hay to goats? Hey Terry! Some farmers keep sheep and cattle together when feeding hay, so the sheep can eat the finer leaves that cattle waste. Hay is also on the goat's feed list for cold or rainy days. Again, if you see your goats are on the lighter side you may want to have a few bales of second cut around. Feel free to pin on Pinterest! Most of the meat goat farmers supplement their goat's diet with grains. Sweet feed should always be given in moderation, though it can be a good tool for training and for administering a medication or dewormer. Too many grains may result in health problems, however, for the goat and should, therefore, only be given . The best way to check hay is to open a few bales and inspect it closely. SLCG PRO TIP: If your goat has a large belly that is hard to the touch that could be the sign of bloat, a deadly condition in goats where gas becomes trapped in the rumen. That helps so much Beth and everyone else. 2 tsp Kelp. Just what I needed to know. The type of hay will directly affect the amount and quality of milk along with the percentages of butterfat found within. If you want to supplement your goat's diet with minerals and vitamins, then this 8-pound bag of goat minerals is an excellent starting point. When changing an animals diet, do it graduallyespecially when changing from a grass to a legume. It adds protein, vitamins and minerals to the goat's diet. Planting after wheat harvest provides forage and increases farm . SLCG PRO TIP: Straw is great to use for goat bedding. It is less apt to contain blister beetles (which are deadly if eaten), and it often has a little grass mixed in. Regular consumption of oat hay improves gut health of the horses. More often than not first cut will work just fine in this area but if you find your goats on the low end of the weight scale you may want to introduce second cut hay. In some regions, it is hard to find good grass hay. A goat's diet normally consists of mainly bulk foods such as hay and pastures such as clovers, but grains are also an important part of their diets (about 20%). As the protein content is not high it could be fed to all types of goats irrespective of age . Published on: August 12, 2013. Stay tuned to learn more! The types of hay available and the time of the season it was baled, important things I wish I had known early on. Oats contain many components related to health benefits in humans, including their soluble fiber which slows down digestion and keeps us satiated longer, thus reducing appetite. If a handful of hay bends easily in your hand, its fiber content is relatively low and it will be more digestible than if the stems snap like twigs. The leaves of grass hay have more nutrients and are more digestible when the plant is immature and growing, and more fiber when the plant has reached full growth. Thank you for this information. Home --- Raising Animals --- Goats --- Can Goats Eat Oats? Goats eat everything! Rye is another grain often fed to goats, but it can be hard for them to digest. It is also the most costly alfalfa. The key to healthy and productive livestock is in the food you give them, and this all starts with the basics such as the best hay to feed goats. Goats need good-quality grass hay thats free from debris and mold. Dairy cows need the best haywith the most nutrients per poundsince they are producing more milk than a beef cow. Hay is sold as first, second, or third cutting. As long as hay does not contain toxic plants, a few weeds in the hay can be acceptable when feeding goats. High-quality peanut hay could be obtained if the crop is harvested by humans. This will include cattle, horses, goats, llamas, alpacas, and sheep. This is usually cut fresh and bailed; giving it the most nutritional value. Most dairy cows will not milk adequately on grass hay, nor on stemmy, coarse alfalfa that contains few leaves. Once or Twice a Day? To know if it is good go by the smell. . Leaf-to-stem ratio is the most important criterion in judging nutrient quality in an alfalfa plant. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Luckily there are a few options to help remedy this. It also satisfies a goats sweet tooth. . Thus legume hay, cut early, is more apt to meet the protein and mineral needs of young growing, pregnant or lactating animals than will many of the grass hays. Hay feed pellets are made of hay that has been pulverized and turned into pellets. Although we were feeding our lactating does some alfalfa, we found it was too dusty and fell apart too readily. When looking to introduce a new food into your goats diet, it is important to consult a nutritionist or veterinarian. Immature grass hay or leafy alfalfa is usually the best feed for sheep. A good choice would be Lezpedeza or Chicory since they have tannin which is a natural wormer. Corn, rye, barley, wheat, oats etc. Rolled oats are sometimes the preferred form in which to feed oats, as their nutrients are more easily digested by goats. The first time the pasture is cut down for baling that season some form of sweetener if feeding. 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Purchasing pellets can be acceptable when feeding goats a natural wormer home -.