how much grass

[jvicars]

i am moving and the goats new pen has some nice grass. i know goats dont perfer grass but will they eat it as part of their feed. I know they will perfer grain but i sure would like them to eat some grass. thanks.

[BlueHeronFarm]

Ours eat grass and enjoy it. Whether or not they will eat it will likely depend on what else is available to them.

[fishhead]

Mine ate grass last summer. They especially like the knee high stuff and would just pack it away by the mouthful in between eating weeds.

[Jim S.]

Seems to me after 17 years of watching them that they prefer

1.) Woody growth and brush
2.) Weeds
3.) Grass
4.) Clover

but you know, some of those are pretty close preferences. My goats have always seemed to be opportunists, and eat what's there for them. That said, I have a pasture that started out as all weeds, and hardy any grass, IF any. I have run goats on it since 1990, and it is now all grass.

As far as grain, yes, they prefer it over all else, just as a child prefers candy over all else. But just as too much candy isn't good for a child, too much grain isn't good for goats. It would not be a large natural part of their diet, except in very small amounts. My own belief is that is what should be fed, very small amounts, as a supplement only.

[chamoisee]

What breed are they, and are they milking or pregnant, and what age? If they're males, not milking and not pregnant, they need no grain at all. I would offer alfalfa hay once or twice a day and plenty of water....again unless they're producing or are growing doelings.