How would you graze this?

[tinetine'sgoat]

Ok, the place we are moving to has about 6+ acres of woods and we were wanting to run the boer's back in a part about 3 acres of solid woods to help clean it up some. Well we were there yesterday and noticed that there are alot of Red Oak and some White Oak. The remainder is just a mixture of NE MO trees. Would you run them back there until acorns start to drop and then pull them up to pasture? We were told that it grows up crazy in there with wild roses and brush, so I'm not sure if the first year it would even be an issue.

My other question is regarding cedars. There is a little 1 acre area or so that is SOLID cedars. My dh is calling it the Lewis and Clark acre cause you can't even get through them they are so thick. Will they eat cedar needles? Will cedar bother them? Thanks, for any info.

[ozark_jewels]

If they are on the back acreage with all the oaks all spring, summer and fall, I probably wouldn't pull them off at all. My girls run on acreage with lots and lots of oaks. Yes, they eat the acorns in the fall. In fact they run from tree to tree and eat them all day long. But they also browse on other things all day long as well. Its a balance thing. The acorns are actually a very good source of cheap feed for them. If they have been there when they started to fall and not just suddnely moved to a new pasture full of acorns, they should moderate themselves and be fine. Never had an acorn problem with the goats. On milk goats it will drop their milk production a little, but with Boers you shouldn't have to worry about that. If your still worried, you could just watch their eating habits as the acorns start to fall. I sure wouldn't pull them off of free feed if I could help it.

My goats *love* cedar. Don't pay too much attention to it in the spring and summer but when browse starts getting scarce, they eat the branches they can reach and they strip the bark off and eat it too.

[tinetine'sgoat]

Thank you Emily!! That puts my head to ease. I was worried I was gonna have to start feeding hay once acorns started dropping. Very glad to hear all that. Double glad on the cedar part. We might make that more of the winter area, they are mostly young cedars that I think they could get on their hind legs and almost strip them to nothing.

[topside1]

I concur with Emily, keep in mind just for information sake that Oaks red/white or chestnut may yield a heavy load of acorns one year and maybe a light load or no acorns at all the next year. Oaks nuts are cyclic, just a tidbit to remember. I had my worst hunting season in years because the Oaks on the Cumberland Plateau didn't drop nuts this year...

[southerngurl]

Acorns are great for the wild deer, for growth and make for large antlers the next year, so I would say they would be good for a goat too. "Free" high protein food.

[mygoat]

I agree, but watch introducing new goats to that pasture. They may gorge themselves and then you have a problem on on you hands. If they are on the pasture from when the acorns first start to fall on through, then they should be fine. But if you were to introduce a new one to the herd during a time of acorn abundance, you may have some problems. Good luck!