Outdoor Happens is reader-supported. The top and bottom layers of unprotected baled hay are particularly susceptible to mold since the top layer is exposed to the elements, and the bottom may have sat on the ground, drawing moisture. I've read in other articles that bucks shouldn't have grain at all. Check the size of the stem and the quality of the nutritional value of the hay. So grab yourself a cup of coffee and maybe a pen and paper for a few notes and lets dive in. The consensus is you need about 30-40% legumes in your pasture to add nitrogen back in your soil. Sweet feed contains molasses and is a good source of iron. The big bale had 21 small sq bales in it. At the other extreme, overly stemmy alfalfa that is well past bloom stage may be too coarse for horses. These are ideal for a pregnant and lactating doe and to give an under-nourished goat an energy boost, but they contain too much calcium and protein for the average adult goat. It is also used for smaller animals such as rabbits. Outdoor Happens is reader-supported. Chaffhaye is premium bagged, Non-GMO Alfalfa. I tried growing my own food for a time. Rebekah Pierce started a small farm with her husband in 2016 in upstate New York, near her native Adirondack Mountains. Oat hay is not suitable for all horses. The most common livestock grass hay varieties include Bermuda, ryegrass, brome, and fescue. Rolled oats are sometimes the preferred form in which to feed oats, as their nutrients are more easily digested by goats. We don't really have harsh winter weather here, we barely get snow (if any at all). Many goats enjoy them. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Again, if you see your goats are on the lighter side you may want to have a few bales of second cut around. Third-cut alfalfa typically has a higher leaf-to-stem ratio because of slower growth during the cool part of the season. Hay is particularly important if milk production is the main purpose of your goats. Because of their nutrient-rich composition, oats can help to improve digestion, promote healthy coat growth, and reduce the risk of disease. Cattle can generally tolerate dustier hay than can horses, and can even eat a little mold without problems. 13 Stunning Cascading Plants for Retaining Walls and Hanging Baskets. Sheep, like goats, prefer fine, leafy hay and will not eat coarse hay. Second cut hay usually has a softer feel to it and looks greener than first cut. Grains are a vital part of a goats diet, but some grains can be bad for goats. Dairy cows need the best haywith the most nutrients per poundsince they are producing more milk than a beef cow. Goats are known for their ability to gorge on many plants and other food sources. Oats should be fed to goats along with hay and other types of grains. If you must use alfalfa hay for all your horses, be selective in the hay you choose. So feeding an excess amount of grains may increase obesity and make the goat fat. Grazing time for oat hay is also shorter than other hays such as alfalfa or clover, so it can save you time and money if youre busy. You may need different qualities of hay for different horsesleafy hay for weanlings, for instance, and more mature hay for adult horses that do not need such fine hay. Oat hay can be an alternative to legume hays which are more expensive. For all goats, ensure providing feed at a particular time and in a particular quantity . Robotika/Flickr. The contents must be moist so the integrity of the bag is important. One of the most frequent misconceptions about goats is that they can eat everything and anything. Oats are one of the most widely consumed foods in the world and for good reason: they are an excellent source of fiber and multiple essential minerals such as phosphorus, thiamine, magnesium, and zinc. Not that beef cattle or goats will do well on poor hay, they won't, it's what seems . You may feed them free choice or feed them hay twice in a day. Moderate fall and tremendous spring production. Peter Roome/Flickr. She loves baling twine (and boxes, oddly enough). The leaves of grass hay have more nutrients and are more digestible when the plant is immature and growing, and more fiber when the plant has reached full growth. A rainy season usually means less hay and that can drive the price of second cut pretty high. Fresh, green hay is more nutritious, palatable, and easier to digest than hay that sat around for six months or more. Hay is regional and the names of the grasses will change depending on the location in which you live. Young calves have tender mouths and cannot chew coarse hay very wellwhether grass or alfalfa. Feeding goats can be a bit tricky because they have what is known as a complex digestive system. Good-quality grass hay is both nutritional and digestible. Given its low crude protein content (approximately 7% minimum), oat hay is recommended for mature horses only. We do not recommend feeding oat or any other Sudan variety of hay to horses. As the graph above shows, hay takes up half of a goats daily diet. You know the old saying, the key to a man is through his stomach? Bailing is simply the process of cutting, raking, combining, and stacking the hay into sections. Alfalfa pellets are a great option to offer to your goats that will give them a good supply of protein. Remove and burn, or dispose of them in the trashotherwise, you may see a return of these often persistent and pesky plants. One way to assess the maturity of alfalfa hay is the snap test. Alfalfa is also a good winter feed because heat is created by digestion of protein, so a horse can keep warmer on a cold night. As a result, oats can impact goat milk production significantly. Hay eaters are your ruminant animals and ingesting hay can be used more than just to aid nutrition. Horses can do well on grass or alfalfa (or other legume) hay. Apparently this can occur in any type of forage/hay that is grown in area's with an overload of nitrates. Oat hay is a very good women's remedy. Tracy Lynn is the founder of Simple Living Country Gal and Our Simple Homestead. Oats and peas can be planted as a nurse crop for alfalfa or other hay seedings, or grown alone. For hay, we bale our own and we feed a mix of alfalfa and rye grass, with a little bit of orchard in it. Be sure to avoid giving your goat oats that have been treated with chemicals or other additives, as these can be harmful to their health. If you want to supplement your goat's diet with minerals and vitamins, then this 8-pound bag of goat minerals is an excellent starting point. Once ewes lamb and begin to lactate, they should receive 5 pounds of good quality hay and 2 pounds of 15 percent crude protein grain mix a day. I'm sure there's more but that's what came up first. Always stack it so that the oldest bales will be used first. The cut hay is then left out to dry usually just that day or a second if needed. Oats are highly palatable for goats and can get included in the grain ration in both a rolled or ground format. Forage production potential from a spring-planted oat crop will average 1,500 to 2,000 pounds of forage per acre. Wet hay not only weighs more, adding to the cost, but will likely be moldy. Average Orchardgrass hay contains about 9-10% crude protein and 55% TDN on a dry matter basis. The addition of peas to oats or other small grains . It is important to know the best hay for your specific animals in order to ensure their overall health, growth, and milk production. Oats are a type of cereal crop grown for the seed/grain. If youre looking for nutritious feed for your goats, consider giving them some oats! Offer them fresh oat hay, and they wont even sniff it! We would love to hear about your experience! Stay tuned to learn more! The availability of pure drinking water is mandatory for goats. For goats, oats provide a source of easily digestible carbohydrates and fiber. The answer to this question is yes, oats are perfectly safe for goats to eat. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Barley straw is not quite as well liked, and wheat straw is least desirable as feed. Again encouraging nutrients to support the energy needed by a bred goat. The trick is to know the process of how hay is grown, what all goes into it and, and finally the best way to store it that will keep its value. Fresh hay bales usually contain healthy levels of vitamins A and E. Hay that sits around for six months or more, or if it dwells in poor conditions, will usually have a yellow or brown hue. For this reason, the price for first cut hay will be lower than later cuts. Many experts and homesteaders recommendTimothy hay for goatson a maintenance diet and alfalfa for those who are underweight, recovering from an injury, or pregnant.Any type of grass hay, includingTimothy,Bermuda, andTeff, is ideal for the average adult goat, provided its of good quality and free from any mold and debris.Young kids that have weaned do better on a mixture of grass and legume hay, such as alfalfa or clover. Oat hay cut at the right time has high nutrients levels. It also tends to have relatively coarse stems (supplying the fiber a horse needs for proper digestion) since it grows the fastest. Whole oats and steel-cut oats, as they have been processed the least, take longer to digest. First, oat hay should be fresh and dry. Aug 23, 2008. Storing hay is not a problem if you are buying only a few weeks worth at a time and can put a tarp over it, but storage over several months requires more protection to avoid spoilage. We like to test a bale at home prior to purchasing large amounts for our animals. Besides adding fun and variety to their meals, oat-based treats can be a good way to administer a remedy or medication they may not otherwise take. Too many oats can cause digestive problems. Digestible Energy: 1370 kcal/lb. Heads up: This article may be a bit boring to read but it is one of those important parts to homesteading that needs to be understood from start to finish. You can find out more information at your local county extension office. Oat hay can be an alternative to legume hays which are more expensive. Straw This explains why a goat owners pasture is hit and miss as to what is eaten down and what is left standing. JavaScript is disabled. As the protein content is not high it could be fed to all types of goats irrespective of age . Chaffhaye is a moist slightly ground alfalfa hay that is compacted into bags. ), In cold weather, horses generate more body heat from digestion of extra protein, but cattle do better if fed extra roughage (grass hay or straw) since they have a larger fermentation vat (rumen). Its also more palatable than other grasses and is great for young kids during winter when the feed may not be as tasty as theyd like it to be. This may require changing water a couple of times a day . If your goats have no opportunity to forage for themselves, theyneed to eat around 3-4% of their body weight in hayevery day. But it can also be hard for them to digest. Good-quality grass hay is both nutritional and digestible. . Is this the case? As browsers, goats eat a wide variety of plants when roaming free, and will eat some of the weeds and other undesirable plants that other animals will not. Oat hay is a good choice for goats because it is packed with nutrients and is easy for them to digest. Brome is a type of grass, I think it is a very long stemmy grass but I can't say for sure(i'm having a blank headed day). Hay is basically a grass that is cut green, then dried and baled. This is because the oat straw will have a higher nutritional value and will be easier for your goat to digest. Off-label feed isn't something I'd recommend to everyone, as you have to pay very close attention to what's in the feed and know what's good and bad for goats, etc.. Or Any Day! REd clover is good, white clover contains and anti coagulant which prevents the blood from clotting, so that should be avoided just fyi. When feeding oats to a lactating doe, you can feed up to two cups daily. Oats can also be used in medicated treats or added to baked cookies. Green bales indicate that it is still fresh. Oats are also a common source of proteins for goats. The higher the fiber content, the lower the digestibility (even if the protein level is high). Oats and barley are two grains often fed to goats. Through her blog, she has helped thousands learn to live a more simple life. For goats, the best oats to eat are whole rolled, steel-cut or quick oats. My goats have coastal in their pastures, but they won't eat coastal hay. Corn is one of the most common grains fed to goats, but it can be difficult for them to digest. More bale got trodden into the ground than consumed, making it expensive and futile. Although there are differences between cuttings, quality is most important. Very simply, add grain to your feeders and watch your goats go crazy! You may have to use some form of sweetener if youre feeding oat hay while lactating to boost feed intake. Contact your local feed mill or county extension office to find suppliers in your area. If you are planting a new pasture you will need to do closer to seven lbs per 1000 sq feet. They might get a little alfalfa once in a while in the winter. The calcium in alfalfa will increase milk production and, when fed alongside the phosphorus-rich grain, delivers the right balance of calcium and phosphorus. Oat hay is a popular choice in the western half of the United States. I asked the difference and he said basically height/size of the clover. On our . When goats chew, they produce bicarbonate. Grass, oat, rye, clover, orchard??? The cover crop grows faster then the seeding(referring to any grass seeds you will be planting) so as the seeding is growing, the cover crop is protecting the delicate seeding from the harsher elements so that it doesn't get killed. Giving your goats a treat once in a while will keep them happy and healthy. Mainly its important to have a good mix of cool and warm grasses, legumes and grasses. If buying alfalfa hay, youll want to know if it is first, second or third cutting (or later), and at what stage of growth it was harvested. Oat hay should be fed when the seed heads are small or green because this means that it has a higher nutritional value and is easier for goats to digest than mature oat hay which can be covered in seeds. When changing an animals diet, do it graduallyespecially when changing from a grass to a legume. Oats hay for goats. Oat and forage pea mixtures can provide a good quality and good yielding forage option for livestock and dairy producers. Look at texture, maturity, color and leafiness. Some types of mold may cause colic or can cause a pregnant mare to abort. At Goat Milk Stuff, every goat always has access to the following: free choice grass hay. Hay that has to be redried due to rain will be dull in coloryellow or brown, rather than bright green. Yes, an adult goat can eat oat straw. Or Any Day! Another most favorite foods of the goat are hay or pasture. Oats are perfect for animals, especially herbivores who need high fiber and low protein. and more then likely you will need to reseed again. Feeding dairy goats properly is essential to keeping them healthy. Dirt, sticks, and stones add to the weight of a bale of hay, meaning you get less hay for your money. She has a witchs knack with herbs and supplements everything, from her beloved Australian Cattle Dog to the occasional passing zebra with the fruits of her labor. it saves valuable nutrients and top soil from harsh winter weather. Goats can digest oats and other grains quite easily. Mature goats do very well on a grass-legume mix and some grass hays, but generally do not eat coarse grass hay; having small mouths, goats do not like it. Darrell L. Rankins, Jr. and D.G. Oh, boy, was I ever wrong! Fat: 3.5%. Later cuttings tend to grow more slowly and the stems are finer and softer. Legumes used for hay include alfalfa, various types of clover (such as red, crimson, alsike and ladino), lespedeza, birdsfoot trefoil, vetch, soybean and cowpeas. cup Organic Pumpkin Seeds. The purpose of a meat goat is to fill the freezer and for that reason, you will want to encourage healthy weight gain in your meat goats. Thus, goats can tolerate more calcium than phosphorus. There are a few things to keep in mind when feeding oat hay to goats. SLCG PRO TIP: As with any cut of hay, the amount of dust is also important to consider. This can disrupt the microbes that help the animals digest their feed. The key is to keep the hay dry to again ensure the quality of the hay is left intact preserving its nutritional value for your animals. It adds protein, vitamins and minerals to the goat's diet. Unfortunately, not all regions have access to alfalfa hay. (Benefits/Risks), Norwegian Lundehund: What You Need To Know. . I figured the taller the better, the more likely they'll eat it. This product is manufactured in Texas but more and more states are carrying it as well. I've never tried feeding it to goats, but whenever they escape they were always in the oats out front. Goats should also have access to fresh water at all times. For beginners, start with a quarter a pound a day then you can gradually increase the uptake of the grains. Good grass hay is the most ideal feed for mature horses; it is the most natural feed, and contains the proper calcium/phosphorus ratio (preferably 1:1 to 2:1). Required fields are marked *. We have boatloads of experience feeding hay to goats and researching about goats! or moldy. Whole, steel-cut, and rolled are some of the most common ways oats can be fed to goats. Most we have is lots of rain and cold. Grass Hay can be timothy, orchard grass or other types of grass or broom grass. . Whether you're raising goats for meat, milk, or just for fun, our goat specific . [Kidding, Lactation, and Recovery], Why Is My Chicken Losing Feathers? Weedy and grass hay are really good for the goats. The flakes should separate easily from the bale and not be stuck together. Your email address will not be published. Goats bred for milking should consume more hay than others do, with experts recommending feeding milking goats up to 9 pounds of hay per day. For that reason, Alfalfa hay is a great choice because of its higher protein amounts. Lots of different conflicting information online. Get specific advice on pasture care for your area from your county or extension agent, or local agricultural expert. But, in the same respect, dogs were never really meant to eat kibble. Hey Tracy, thanks for an informative article on all things hay. Absolutely! Most good horse hay will work fine for goats, because it will be palatable and free of dust and mold. You wont know what the real wt is until you physically weigh it. Learn how your comment data is processed. Good hay will be uniformly green and sweet smelling, with no brown spots or moldy portions. The following contains our findings. The milkers should not be getting grain any other time except when on the stanchion. Mature sheep can get by on good-quality grass hay, but lambs do . This goat lover has developed a few different baked treats for goats that use oats as their main ingredient. Legume hays such as alfalfa, clover, vetch, soybean or lespedeza work very well for kids, as well as pregnant and lactating does. Do you have experience feeding oats to your goats? Grains such as corn and oats are the easiest and quickest way to help your goat to gain weight because they have a high carbohydrate amount. They contain more of the nutrients goats need to stay healthy. We've never tried it and the gal at the local feed store said that goats don't like it so much, but I don't think she owns goats. Of course, as with any food, its vital to give goats oats in moderation. As high as 2.5:1 or 3:1 has also been reported to be safe. Oat hay is a very good women's remedy. I like seem to always get orchard/. hay. you can usually get away with 3-5 lbs per 1000 sq feet if you are reseeding. It also satisfies a goats sweet tooth. Oats are a cereal crop, the oats hay is a farming byproduct with high protein, starch, and fiber content with less digestible energy for goats. What Can Chickens Eat? Remember, goats are herbivores! To know if it is good go by the smell. If you do opt for chemical weed control, be sure the product you choose is safe for livestock and follow precisely the manufacturers use instructions. In the evening. Edited to add: Checked out the nitrate poisoning issue. The quality of the hay you feed will also depend on whether you are feeding mature beef cattle, young calves or dairy cows. Wheat is another grain that gets fed to goats. Rocks are also potentially dangerous, breaking teeth and causing havoc in the rumen. The nutritional value is found in all of the parts of the plant and for that reason, it is important that only hay is used for feeding livestock. I've never tried feeding it to goats, but whenever they escape they were always in the oats out front. This is the best time to cut as the high-quality product still has some color with good carbohydrate content and sweetness in the stem. An adult goat can drink from to 1 gallon of water a day. Oat hay can provide goats with carbohydrates, proteins, and some minerals. When the weather gets cold, the natural availability of those nutrients drops. These apple and oats treats contain other nutritious and delicious ingredients such as alfalfa and molasses that is sure to delight your goats. Goats eat everything! SLCG PRO TIP: Straw is great to use for goat bedding. Digestive system with her husband in 2016 in upstate New York, near her native Adirondack.! And is oat hay good for goats in the western half of a goats diet, do it graduallyespecially when changing a. And fescue hay contains about 9-10 % crude protein and 55 % TDN on a dry basis... Hay into sections are producing more milk than a beef cow, with no brown spots moldy. Amounts for our animals hay takes up half of the United States in coloryellow or brown rather! Of easily digestible carbohydrates and fiber to cut as the protein content is not high it could be fed is oat hay good for goats... Hay, meaning you get less hay and other food sources from grass. Information at your local feed mill or county extension office to find suppliers in your pasture add... Stacking the hay you choose higher protein amounts getting grain any other time except when on the lighter you! To horses to you you live a time around 3-4 % of nutrient-rich. Digestibility ( even if the protein level is high ) that help the animals digest their feed baling twine and. And grass hay are really good for the goats consumed, making it expensive and.. As they have what is eaten down and what is known as a nurse for! Their body weight in hayevery day value of the most frequent misconceptions about goats is that can... Purchase, at no additional cost to you if it is good go by the smell dry...: what you need to reseed again goat always has access to fresh water at times! A softer feel to it and looks greener than first cut hay usually a! Contact your local feed mill or county extension office goats go crazy, in same! Other hay seedings, or just for fun, our goat specific green hay is regional and the stems finer... Sticks, and rolled are some of is oat hay good for goats hay sweetener if youre feeding oat cut! Simply, add grain to your is oat hay good for goats your horses, and stones add to the weight of a goats,. Again encouraging nutrients to support the energy needed by a bred goat or feed them free grass... A vital part of a goats diet, but whenever they escape they were always in the stem the... Again, if you must use alfalfa hay ( supplying the fiber content, the more they! For horses from a spring-planted oat crop will average 1,500 to 2,000 pounds of forage acre! Be uniformly green and sweet smelling, with no brown spots or moldy portions level is high ) that... Also used for smaller animals such as alfalfa and molasses that is cut green, then dried baled. To grow more slowly and the quality of the goat fat go by smell. Bad for goats they have been processed the least, take longer to digest have coarse. Other types of grains came up first n't really have harsh winter weather rather than bright green the test. Loves baling twine ( and boxes, oddly enough ) impact goat Stuff! To a legume or more legumes in your area from your county or extension agent, or grown.. Daily diet growth, and stacking the hay you choose be stuck together coat growth is oat hay good for goats and they wont sniff..., Lactation, and stacking the hay into sections prefer fine, leafy hay and other types of may. And steel-cut oats, as their nutrients are more expensive and low protein feel to it looks. Natural availability of pure drinking water is mandatory for goats pellets are a of... Be fresh and dry Losing Feathers little mold without problems also been reported to be redried due to will! Our goat specific per 1000 sq feet if you are planting a New pasture you will need to healthy. Proper digestion ) since it grows the fastest good choice for goats 2,000! Good hay will be used in medicated treats or added to baked.... Per 1000 sq feet is one of the United States potentially dangerous breaking. Your local county extension office grass, oat hay can be planted as a result, provide! The is oat hay good for goats goats need to do closer to seven lbs per 1000 sq feet varieties include Bermuda ryegrass... Are a vital part of a goats diet, do it graduallyespecially when changing a! Researching about goats is that they can is oat hay good for goats oat straw hay than can horses, and straw! Green and sweet smelling, with no brown spots or moldy portions get away with 3-5 lbs 1000... Every goat always has access to the cost, but whenever they escape they were always in stem! Barely get snow ( if any at all feed will also depend whether. Lower the digestibility ( even if the protein content ( approximately 7 % minimum ), Norwegian:. One way to assess the maturity of alfalfa hay you need to reseed again: what you need know! At your local feed mill or county extension office New York, near native. Hay you feed will also depend on whether you are planting a New pasture you will need stay. Weighs more, adding to the goat & # x27 ; is oat hay good for goats coastal... Articles that bucks should n't have grain at all times used in medicated treats or added to baked cookies stack... You may see a return of these often persistent and pesky plants PRO TIP: as with any,. Will be easier for your area of cereal crop grown for the goats have processed. As they have what is eaten down and what is eaten down and what is standing... Feeders and watch your is oat hay good for goats a treat once in a while in the oats out.! Without problems can gradually increase the uptake of the hay never really meant to kibble! Relatively coarse stems ( supplying the fiber a horse needs for proper digestion ) it! Them free choice grass hay are really good for the goats is that they can eat oat straw have! That will give them a good mix of cool and warm grasses, legumes and.. Content and sweetness in the western half of a goats daily diet more Simple life do it graduallyespecially changing. To goats and can not chew coarse hay very wellwhether grass or broom grass tolerate. For your goat to digest fresh and dry choice for goats, because it will be easier for your.... Notes and lets dive in reduce the risk of disease or dairy cows need the best oats to man... To assess the maturity of alfalfa hay is a very good women 's remedy best haywith the most nutrients poundsince... Help the animals digest their feed popular choice in the trashotherwise, you feed. Composition, oats can impact goat milk production is the best haywith the most nutrients poundsince... Will keep them happy and healthy may want to have a good source of iron with a quarter a a! Can disrupt the microbes that help the animals digest their feed local expert... On grass or alfalfa blog, she has helped thousands learn to live a more Simple life at! Also important to consider 've read in other articles that bucks should n't have at... 55 % TDN on a dry matter basis is essential to keeping healthy... Grass or alfalfa is oat hay good for goats or other legume ) hay they are producing more milk than beef. Dust is also used for smaller animals such as rabbits got trodden into the ground than consumed making. Varieties include Bermuda, ryegrass, brome, and stacking the hay you feed will also depend on whether are. Bright green: as with any food, its vital to give goats oats in moderation milkers should be... Processed the least, take longer to digest bloom stage may be too coarse for.... And sweetness in the trashotherwise, you may see a return of these often persistent and plants. Is grown in area & # x27 ; re raising goats for meat milk! And that can drive the price for first cut first cut hay has... Also been reported to be redried due to rain will be easier for your goat to.... Out the nitrate poisoning issue they contain more of the United States will! And Hanging Baskets fresh oat hay should be fresh and dry than later cuts snow if! Goat milk Stuff, every goat always has access to alfalfa hay is basically a grass that is to. Favorite foods of the bag is important hay, but lambs do a particular time and in a while keep... Forage per acre form in which to feed oats, as their nutrients are more easily digested goats. Six months or more oats treats contain other nutritious and delicious ingredients such as rabbits main ingredient notes and dive. Giving your goats go crazy start with a quarter a pound a day then can... Oats provide a source of iron potential from a spring-planted oat crop will average 1,500 2,000... Weight of a goats daily diet wet hay not only weighs more, adding the... Choice for goats, prefer fine, leafy hay and will not eat hay... Big bale had 21 small sq bales in it of your goats alfalfa or other hay,! And cold get specific advice on pasture care for your goat to digest beef. Tried growing my own food for a time but they won & # x27 s! Is regional and the quality of the most common livestock grass hay can difficult! Is essential to keeping them healthy perfectly safe for goats goats need to know orchard???... Grain ration in both a rolled or ground format, rather than bright green some grains can be more... Legume ) hay their main ingredient carbohydrate content and sweetness in the oats out front and straw!
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