Hay Rations

The Tin Mom · #1 08/06/12, 08:52 AM

I know this is a question that I should already have the answer to, but how much hay does a full size goat require daily?

We don't have any browse, things are so dry. My hay supplier is out of hay already this year. We did find some hay that we hope will pull us through until we get some rain, but we need to ration it carefully.

In the past, we have been fortunate to be able to keep the hay feeders constantly full and let the goats have hay free choice. Now, I think we need to start limiting that, but I am not sure how to go about it.

Thanks for your patience with my silly question.

coso · #2 08/06/12, 10:03 AM

I had an older lady that ran a goat dairy for years, tell me she figured on two to three pounds a day.

I have always done free choice, so don't know from experience.

LoneStrChic23 · #3 08/06/12, 10:14 AM

We're rationing hay here too...... I put out 3lbs per grown goat once a day..... I have 4 adults & 3 hay feeders to make sure my herd queen doesn't keep the low gal on the totem pole from her fair share.

AM I put out alfalfa pellets & each doe gets a small scoop of a hay stretcher pellet (it's $8 for 50lbs, while hay is $13 a square). I top dress feed with calcium carbonate & each grown goat gets 1 1/2 - 2lbs of alfalfa pellets.

In the evening, I put out fresh hay...... Most of it is used up during the evening, and the scraggly bits get cleaned up during the next day.

It's not how I prefer to do things, but it is working, everyone is fat and sassy. I have 3 rounds bales of hay in east Texas at my father in laws (4+ hours away)........ Just have to get the truck in the shop so I can go get them....... Until I can though, we'll stick to the rationing.

I don't ration with the babies though..... They get whatever they want.

Ford Zoo · #4 08/06/12, 10:58 AM

Right now in one pen I have 3 dry ND does. They get an "armful" of hay twice a day. I adjust the evening ration based on how much is left from morning. They are getting no grain and have a little browse to pick at. All are fat and sassy.

I would just start out with a certain amount in the morning and see how fast they go thru it, then go from there.

And, there is no such thing as a silly question

Backfourty,MI. · #5 08/07/12, 08:03 PM

When you guys are talking 3 pounds of hay I wonder what that would be in flakes if you use square bales?

PaulNKS · #6 08/07/12, 08:20 PM

A goat should consume 4.5% of their body weigh in feed/hay. If hay is all you're feeding then a 100 pound goat will eat about 4.5 pounds per day.... Figure it at 4.5% of their body weight. That's the standard.

PaulNKS · #7 08/07/12, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Backfourty,MI.

When you guys are talking 3 pounds of hay I wonder what that would be in flakes if you use square bales?

Weigh it out. Different types of hay will weigh differently per flake. Also, the type of baler and how tightly it was baled will affect it. I'd suggest weighing it so you have an idea.