Hay/Alfalfa question

[ScotG]

I am getting ready to put in hay fields this year. I am in Michigan and have horses as well as dairy goats. I would like input from other dairygoat people as to what they have found to be best for their milkers in regards to types of hay. I am planning a good hay mix for the horses...about 40% alfalfa and was thinking I may want a seperate field with something other for the dairy goats. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Is pure alfalfa to rich or am i better off with a good grass mix with a higher percentage of alfalfa?

Thanks
Scot

[Bearfootfarm]

If youre going to use it for hay instead of grazing, it would probably be better to plant pure stands.
Alfalfa can be hard to grow, and if you have pure hay, you can control the amounts given to your goats.

[Durandal]

CotG have you talked with your local Extension program?

They should have a fairly detailed list of suggestions for zone/optimal growth pattern/animal type.

Do you plan on keeping the ALL foragers on the same lot all year round or is the pasture one of several. I would definitely not suggest an ALL alf-alfa for ANY grazing, especially if you have horses on it.

I would definitely do a mix. As to that mix...you are far enough north that from me that my suggestions might not be suited for your micro-climate or soil types.

I also flood a fair amount so I heavily reseed each year in my attempts to stay ahead of a weed seed base that washes up once to three times a year. This means I lay in a heavy annual cover crop, usually wheat or rye. It can also bee used as a forage material.

Probably not a whole lot of help, but I would definitely contact your local extension. More extension programs are playing catch-up with goats. Herre in Ohio we have a large muslim and african population (many are Somalis that came over in the early 90s) but I think most States should have a fairly nice program by now.

[goatkid]

I feed my milkers alfalfa hay. It's not too rich to feed dairy goats once it's cured for 30 days. I would not turn the goats out to pasture in an alfalfa field, however.

[ScotG]

Thanks for the info. I am working with the local folks right now. I plan to do rotational grazing with the horses and goats so I would limit the high alfalfa pasture to hay only with no grazing. My thoughts were if during milking they needed or would benefit from pure alfalfa or a higher mix than 40%.
Thanks for the input and ideas.
Scot

[betsy h.]

Serica Lespedesa!

Serica has the distinction of being a grass that keeps worms at bay! The tannins in the Serica are a very effective way to keep goats healthier and fed at the same time.

[hoofinitnorth]

Remember that you will probably have to rotate crops, or possibly give a field a year of rest now and then, depending on your local soils and how you fertilize. Seen amazing local results with fish meal and natural fertilizers.

Subscribe to Acres USA and read up on what has long-term effects on your fields vs. what washes away. For us, lime, lime, and more lime are keys to sweetening our very acidic soil...

[AnnaS]

Good horse hay- orchard grass/alfalfa or timothy/alfalfa, or a similar blend- can be fed to milk goats with good results. I've fed all kinds of hay from high grade alfalfa to CRP 4% protein hay- and my dairy herd has made some pretty nice offical records on that haphazard mix. The trick is knowing what nutrients are in the hay and balancing the grain ration accordingly.

If I still had horses, I'd go with orchard or timothy and some alfalfa or white clover. Horses have such sensitive stomachs, I think I'd plant something that would work for horses and just change the dairy goats' feed accordingly.

[gracie88]

Serica has the distinction of being a grass that keeps worms at bay! The tannins in the Serica are a very effective way to keep goats healthier and fed at the same time.

And it's on the noxious weed list of quite a few states so be careful with that.

[goatkid]

Does in late pregnancy and while being milked do best with hay that is all or mostly alfalfa.