Pasture mix for goats and cows?

[6e]

We're badly needing to re-seed our pasture. We were thinking about fescue, brome, lespedeza mix. Any other suggestions for other grass or whatever to mix in to make a good pasture for all kind of ruminants? We thought about clover, but have to be careful with that due to bloat. Same with seeding in alfalfa. Also considered Orchard grass.

[CaliannG]

Stay away from tall fescue. Orchard grass is pretty good. Try some purple prairie clover...it isn't as rich as sweet clover or alfalfa, and is a native to the plains. In Kansas, I'd also add some buffalo grass.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Lespediza is one of those mixed blessings. If it gets big and woody, the cows won't eat it. But.... it helps keep the worm populations down.

[6e]

Buffalo grass doesn't grow well where we're at in SE KS. Our native is blue stem, but we have lots of that and it's a warm season grass. Doesn't green up till May and dies off early and doesn't handle intensive grazing well. Most of the ranchers around here over seed in fescue. Why I don't really know other than it's cheap, greens up early and will grow just about any where. I'll look into the purple clover. We planted white clover up here in the bee yard. It's slow getting established. I thought about yellow clover, but I've heard it makes milk taste pretty nasty.

[Alice In TX/MO]

If you want native forage, I'd look at this website:

http://www.seedsource.com/

[CaliannG]

How about beewild bundleflower? That is also a native that isn't very hot.

The only problem with fescue is the tall fescue...and that is only because of the endophytes. It's fine for cattle, but does nasty things to goats.

Hmmm, howabout centipede grass? We plant it as a winter grass down here. It doesn't do well with our summers, but loves our winters.

[6e]

I'll look into those. Thanks.

Alice, thank you for the link.

[motdaugrnds]

The first thing I would do is talk with the local Agricultural Agent about what grasses grow well in your area. Then I would research those grasses and find one or a mix that are "endophyte free". (Be sure and test your soil so as to know what nutrients to add prior to planting your grass seeds.)

As for lespedeza, we plant the Tri-color lespedeza "shrubs" in various areas of our pastures, incircling them with fencing deer/goats cannot push through (about 2-1/2 ft to 3 ft from the shrubs). A small enough space and the deer will not jump into it to destroy your shrubs. These are lengthy strips approximately 5' wide only. This type of shrub comes up each year from its roots and, once established can survive through all kinds of weather. Upon maturity, the wind will carry their seeds to all parts of your pasture and you will have many little shrubs coming up each year. Our goats love those shrubs and they are healthy!

[PaulNKS]

I know this thread is a day or two old, but I wanted to give my input... Fescue is fine for goats according to the Extension Service. They have a higher tolerance to the endophytes than what cattle or horses have. I've had goats on Fescue for 20 years. It causes no problems.

If you have any questions about it, contact your extension agent. Brome is a good quality grass, but with you being in SE KS (I'm in NE KS), you may not like brome. I don't. It does not tolerate drought. It will be one of the first grasses to go dormant. Fescue tolerates drought and is a more suitable grass for this area... much more than brome. Brome is not native to this part of the country, but it is good grazing and it makes great hay.

[Pony]

Shumway has a mix that looks pretty good.

http://www.rhshumway.com/dp.asp?pID=04312