Pen Vrs Pasture study

Cannon_Farms · #1 10/17/13, 06:13 PM

http://www.sheepandgoat.com/programs...vspasture.html

Got the link from Hoeggars on Facebook really good read, I can say I dont have much parasite problems but coccidia is sometimes an issue for us here, I think because my goats dont graze much leads them to have a lower worm load but it sure isnt as cheap as running them in a pasture I wouldnt think knowing I spend what I do on feed bills.

dozedotz · #2 10/17/13, 07:18 PM

Very interesting. Thank you! Do you happen to know if the findings in the 2012 study were the same? Just wondering if there was a difference (wetness?). We have no graze and I think that is the most significant thing here. Those pasture goats in the study were grazing on grass(es). We have plenty of "pasture" but it is all woods. Our fecals have been very clean now for 4 years and our goats are out everyday. Oddly enough what they are eating is primarily oak leaf (although never exclusively) and (now)acorns....which according to many people should have killed them instantly or certainly after 4 years! I am coming to believe that it is the standard "pasture" full of grass that is responsible for the goat/worm situation more than allowing goats to go out and live a more normal animal life finding natural things to eat. If they are browsing instead of grazing they are eating up ... up higher than the worms climb. Also, we feed alfalfa hay year round to all our goats...boys, girls, kids...so they always have a choice to round out their diet. I cannot prove it and I admit that I worry that next fecal test will be the one that kills us (if not the goats), but I really think that it is the pasture grass thing that is the culprit...not whether or not you allow them to get out of the paddock. Again, thanks for the informative link. Much appreciate you sharing!!

trnubian · #3 10/17/13, 07:31 PM

I am confused. If I read this right, wasn't the first pasture the pasture goats were put on infected already with parasites from sheep previously on it? Why would they not start them out on a clean pasture like they started the pen goats in clean pens? Wouldn't that be a better comparison?

And why would you not expect higher gains in animals that are fed grains over goats on rotational pasture. Not a very good comparison imho.

I guess it is a good example of how parasites are spread. I just am not comfortable with comparing these two groups with so many different variables.

Clovers_Clan · #4 10/17/13, 08:59 PM

Cannon-

I do believe your line of goats has extremely good genetic parasite resistance. My two girls out of Prim have only needed deworming once since I got them 15 months ago. And in the same amount of time I have culled several goats because they were chronically wormy. And it's such a pronounced difference that I plan to only keep kids from Faith. Barberpole has been horrid this year on straight pasture! Unfortunately the only way to test resistance is to take note during the rough times and use that information to improve breeding. I wish it were a trait more easily determined!

Cannon_Farms · #5 10/17/13, 09:00 PM

I thought some of the information was conflicting when I read the pastures where already infected I was thinking HUH???
anyway to me the comparison between the carcase isnt enough to justify the cost of dry lotting. For me though I have less parasite problems I do incur a reasonable extra cost most of it is make me feel better stuff vrs what they actually need.

SkeeterBlue · #6 10/20/13, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dozedotz

Very interesting. Thank you! Do you happen to know if the findings in the 2012 study were the same? Just wondering if there was a difference (wetness?). We have no graze and I think that is the most significant thing here. Those pasture goats in the study were grazing on grass(es). We have plenty of "pasture" but it is all woods. Our fecals have been very clean now for 4 years and our goats are out everyday. Oddly enough what they are eating is primarily oak leaf (although never exclusively) and (now)acorns....which according to many people should have killed them instantly or certainly after 4 years! I am coming to believe that it is the standard "pasture" full of grass that is responsible for the goat/worm situation more than allowing goats to go out and live a more normal animal life finding natural things to eat. If they are browsing instead of grazing they are eating up ... up higher than the worms climb. Also, we feed alfalfa hay year round to all our goats...boys, girls, kids...so they always have a choice to round out their diet. I cannot prove it and I admit that I worry that next fecal test will be the one that kills us (if not the goats), but I really think that it is the pasture grass thing that is the culprit...not whether or not you allow them to get out of the paddock. Again, thanks for the informative link. Much appreciate you sharing!!

Yes it is the pastures that are to blame for high worm load. These parasites hatch and them climb grasses where they are consumed by grazers to continue the infection cycle. Goats are not grazers unless forced to it. They are browsers by design and that is why there is so much of a problem with a lack of resistence to these parasites. I've read other studies that parallel this one. One in particular I read earlier this year directly compared regular browse food sources to pasture. I'll see if I can find it for you.