Hay

[Phil V.]

What kind of hay do you feed your goats? I plan on raising pygmy,nigerian dwarf and oberhasli. I'm going to plant 6 acres this fall so it is established when I bring some home in a couple of years after I get the barn and fencing done.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I recommend you talk to local folks who make hay and to the Extension office about what to plant. Grass varieties are VERY dependent on locality, climate, soil, drainage, etc. Anything we told you here would be wrong.

[Phil V.]

Did a search and found a mix that sounds like it would work here. It's a mix of fescue,orchard grass bluegrass,red clover,ladino clover,alfalfa,white clover and rye grass. The feed mill that I go to for dog food said they would make up any hay mix that I wanted to have for goats.

[Ford Zoo]

Investigate the fescue a bit before you plant. I've seen reference to some types causing problems in wet seasons. I can't tell you more, that's just something that sticks out in my memory of reading many articles.

Good to hear you are planning ahead to prepare for your goats!

[Pony]

Fescue is a stone witch with a capital B. It's miserable. We've had a wet season, and it's choking everything else out. Nick is, as I type, researching ways to eradicate it from our farm.

The mix you listed is good with the exception of that ferschlugginer fescue. Good mix of protein and calcium in there.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Fescue causes problems.

http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/fescue.html

Fescue is no longer a recommended grass in my area.

[Pony]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

Fescue causes problems.

http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/fescue.html

I had no idea it causes these problems. My goats won't touch the stuff (neither will the rabbits).

The article notes that the toxin is located in the seed, but then describes damage caused by eating leaf. Wonder what that's about...

Similar problems have been noted on various goat forums this year (lack of milk being primary), but there have been a lot of does slipping their kids early. Many of us noted that the drought has done some hinky things to hay.

I didn't like fescue before. Now I t-totally hate it, and will make sure that the goats ALWAYS have an alternative.

[Phil V.]

Thanks for the heads up on the fescue. I'll drop it from the mix. I have an area that has an underground spring going through where I'll be planting this at. I know that I'll have volunteer canary grass in that area of the field. The goats kept that down pretty good though when I raised them before.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Pony, it causes multiple issues. One reason the cattle stand in ponds here is that fescue causes a low grade fever. If they don't cool off, the heat can cause their hooves to shed (like losing your fingernails.) The endophyte in the seeds is a different issue.

Altogether, an unfortunately popular hay grass in past years.

I am overseeding my pastures with Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, and Indian grass this year.

[dozedotz]

Alice - We live in the woods with some edges that have some grass (crab grass = goats love it! Prairie grasses like Big and Little Bluestem grow here and there all over = goats will not touch it at any season of the year). Do your goats eat the Bluestem grasses??? Is it for hay? I wish ours would eat it because it is here naturally and spreads quickly wherever the sun gets through. We are also in MO.

[n9viw]

Dozedotz: Are you SURE that's bluestem?
Little Bluestem (Google Image search): http://tinyurl.com/m6uqdkb

Tall Fescue: http://tinyurl.com/kmyo2yq

The two do look mighty similar, but I know a goat or two who would go MAD for bluestem... the same goats who avoid fescue like the plague. They'll eat poison ivy before they eat fescue!

In spite of the possible ramifications regarding soil fertility, I'm investigating doing a slash-and-burn on the pasture, followed by plowing under and sowing a PROPER pasture mix (one WITHOUT fescue!). We won't have any hay this year, and maybe not next year, but at least we'll get a leg up on good hay eventually, and get rid of this bloody fescue clumpgrass.

[Pony]

I love the seeds from the bluestems. They have a little hair-like follicle on the end that wiggles when it gets wet.

[dozedotz]

Jack, Sorry! Just saw this....pretty sure. ID'd by conservation agent and several locals as both types of bluestem. Looking at your excellent pictures there is no doubt in my mind that what we have is bluestem...not fescue.

[dozedotz]

Just found this photo taken outside our cabin...it is of little Bluestem growing on the hill going down to the pond...picture was taken 3/29/2013.

[CJBegins]

That looks to me like what we call buffalo grass. Does it put out small downy feather like seeds?

I bought some good mixed grass hay from a man two years ago, he delivered it in 3 loads. The last load he substituted the good hay with crap hay that had buffalo grass in it. I thought my cows and horses would starve to death because it has little burrs in it that caused all kinds of sores on their gums.

[dozedotz]

All I can tell you all is that the conservation agent identified what we have as Bluestem grass...maybe that is buffalo grass, too??? Sometimes grasses and other things are called different names different places. Whatever you call it, they will not even try it. Sniff it...maybe...but taste it, never!!!