Newbie/Alfalfa Pasture question

[boilerjoe_96]

Been lurking for a while, just signed up and activated today....

I recently purchased 5 boer does that are supposedly bred. They were/are in fairly rough shape(hoofs not trimmed, pretty darn skinny, rough coat).

I put them in my barn and have been offering free choice alfalfa/grass(75/25) hay and 1/2 cup Calf Manna 1/2 cup Goat feed(Dumor from TSC) in morning and 1 cup goat feed in evening.

Had them almost 2 weeks. Did some hoof trimming, but I am still a novice(only have had 2 pygmy doelings since june) so I am taking it slow.

I bale hay mostly alfalfa and can put them out right away on an alfalfa/grass(75/25) field. I have read about bloat and the issues with a rich legume pasture. How concerned do I need to be. My thought was to give them a little room to run, and then lightly disk the rest of the pasture to knock some alfalfa down and put in more grass.

I have a 2 acre section right beside barn that will end up all fenced. Should I fence it all and turn them out, start small and add grass, or something else?

I have electric and temp posts so i can limit their area.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I have enjoyed reading everyones thoughts and experience.

Joe

[fishhead]

I would make them eat hay in the morning and then turn them out for an hour or so each evening for a few days before letting them pig out on fresh plants. Make sure they have access to baking soda in case they get a little acid stomach.

[chas]

I turn about forty boar/lamanchas into my alfalfa/red clover/timothy field after the dew is gone, close to noon.An hour or two they gorge then go for shade and chew the cud at which time I close off the field.After a couple days I let them go in as long as it's dry.In a week them and the two horses have free access to the field untill it gets eaten down then I rotate to other fields the rest of the time.
I had bloat in dairy cows and found this system the hard way!
Chas

[Goat Servant]

Skinny & rough coats? Sounds like they need to be wormed !l

[boilerjoe_96]

Originally Posted by Goat Servant

Skinny & rough coats? Sounds like they need to be wormed !l

I bought Ivomec over the weekend, the injectable cattle/swine 1% version. I was planning on giving orally...but I don't need to head down that road(I saw the locked thread below)...

[fishhead]

Even injectible is given orally.

Rough coats can also be from lack of the proper minerals.

[boilerjoe_96]

I sprinkle a teaspoon or little better of mineral on their pellet food once a day....

[Goat Servant]

Good for you getting your Ivomec, go for it!!
Yeah that thread was locked. Ive always given it orally.

[Backfourty,MI.]

Originally Posted by Goat Servant

Skinny & rough coats? Sounds like they need to be wormed !l

And probly copper deficient to some extent too I'm guessing.
I also agree on the Ivomec choice for the wormer.
Good luck with the new goats, we have Nigerians & pygmies but I really would like to get some Boer's too. Just such different fencing needs & don't want to start changing all that before fall & winter.

[hoofinitnorth]

Can you have a fecal done to be sure you have the right chemical to treat the worms they (may) have?

Ivomec is a brand name. What *chemical* did you buy?

[boilerjoe_96]

:cla

Originally Posted by hoofinitnorth

Can you have a fecal done to be sure you have the right chemical to treat the worms they (may) have?

Ivomec is a brand name. What *chemical* did you buy?

Ivomectrin

[hoofinitnorth]

Ah ivermectin. Commonly used but I still haven't found an answer to why Goat Medicine says it's not recommended for dairy animals.