grass for goats

[Dale in Ar]

I am getting ready to try to sow some grass seed for my goats and a Llama.I'll need to broad cast the seed on an area that can not be plowed.It is an area that has a lot of stumps and on a hill side.My question,what kind of seed can I sow that will start and grow by just broad casting onto the ground.I don't want to sow Fescue.I'm going to try to sow when it is raining so as to try to give the seed a little covering,maybe??

[Freeholder]

What kind of goats do you have? Dairy goats won't eat grass usually unless there isn't anything else for them to eat. I have noticed (based on a very small representative sample, LOL!) that Boers and Boer-crosses do seem to be willing to graze grass, so if you have those, you should be fine. Can't advise you on varieties, though you are wise to avoid the fescue.

Kathleen

[rockinl]

All I know is not to use Rye. The Llama can't have rye. It gives them a condition called "rye staggers". This can kill them.


We have our alpacas and llamas on Bermuda.


Have a great day, Kimberly

[KayJay]

Originally Posted by BlueJuniperFarm

What kind of goats do you have? Dairy goats won't eat grass usually unless there isn't anything else for them to eat. I have noticed (based on a very small representative sample, LOL!) that Boers and Boer-crosses do seem to be willing to graze grass, so if you have those, you should be fine. Can't advise you on varieties, though you are wise to avoid the fescue.

Kathleen

My dairy goats eat grass all the time, and they have lots of browse to eat too.

[Alice In TX/MO]

We have Nigerian Dwarf goats. They don't care much for grass.

[Sherrynboo]

Mine eat grass as well. What I have been doing is using my wasted bird seed after the parrots are done with it. It grows some beautiful grass! Granted, it would be hard to do a whole pasture with it though.

Sherry in GA

[dk_40207]

Our Saanens eat grass all the time. The other breeds--not so much. I guess it varies--goat to goat

[Woodroe]

My nigerians eat it all but always go for the wild onions first, also clover

[big rockpile]

You might plant Native Warm Season Grasses.

With my Goats if they at the browse back I had Native Grass come up.Main thing was to keep them off long enough for New Growth.

big rockpile

[Liese]

From the internet searches, I have read that native warm season grasses are actually quite difficult to establish in existing pastures due to competion. Anyone here actually successfully overseeded a pasture broadcasting with switchgrass, blue stem, gamma, etc? It would be interesting to know if all the instructions to kill off the existing sod with one poison or another as given by VA Tech, etc. was truly necessary. Otherwise a local farmer/farm store owner suggested that I broadcast millet in May and broadcast OG and clovers in Sept. when the rains are more consistent. However a neighbor said that I'll have to graze the millet enhanced pastures like sudan grass-still have to research that. I am also planning to broadcast in Lespedeza too when the soil warms a bit more. The upper meadow has been overgrazed this winter, so seed penetration should be good and I'm hoping to do no more than rotate the sheep thru quickly, then keep everyone off.

[fishhead]

It all depends on your climate and soil type.

Here in MN quackgrass is a weed to some people but it grows great grass. My alpines and togg gobbled it up right along with the weeds and willows.

Could you drag a small disk or something to scratch the soil after you broadcast the seed? Even a little would help.

[stanb999]

Originally Posted by Dale in Ar

I am getting ready to try to sow some grass seed for my goats and a Llama.I'll need to broad cast the seed on an area that can not be plowed.It is an area that has a lot of stumps and on a hill side.My question,what kind of seed can I sow that will start and grow by just broad casting onto the ground.I don't want to sow Fescue.I'm going to try to sow when it is raining so as to try to give the seed a little covering,maybe??

Why not plant a pasture mix? You can get a mix like clover/vetch/orchard grass. This would be much better food. Heck you could even plant some alfalfa mixed in. Thats what I do. I just go out in the fall and plant a little of this or that. I figure it gives them a nice variety.

[fishhead]

I just remembered talking to a homesteader in AL that seeded their hay field with a mixture of cool weather and warm weather plant species. By doing that they were able to get an extra cutting because when the weather shifted one group of species would wane and another would take off.

[speshuled]

we have horses and boer mix goats they both seem to realy like bermuda, pasture and hay . we have been very pleased with it . i would recommend to broadcast it then go over it with a lawn roller . do this in the morning or when the ground is a little wet , to get the seeds in the ground .

[Old Vet]

Most grases will come up from just sowing on top of the groun. Just make sure that they have contact with the soil so that the roots have a place to grow. I would probily plant bermuda and some clover. The clover will come up and make a early pasture faster than Bermuda but the Bermuda will last till frost.