Alternative Forages for Goats
Transcript of Alternative Forages for Goats
A cull is a cull no matter what the papers say!!!!!
Sale barns are for selling – not buying!!! Reduce herd to fit feed supply – animals don’t
live by acres alone. When the grass goes away – break out the hay. Energy and protein are the most needed – hand
feed for best impact. Hay is like a box of chocolates, test to know
what you have before you feed.
Adapted from Cow Production Philosopy, Ideal Beef Memo – November 1983
Warm season Forages Native forages Warm season annuals Bermuda grass and others Some Clovers and other legumes
Cool Season Forages Fescue Orchardgrass Timothy Small grains
Alternative forages are forages that are not normally used in your area.
They can be either cool or warm season, annual or perennial
Includes many plants that are considered weeds by others
Used to help provide better nutrition during some period of time or to provide a known benefit to the animals.
Warm Season: Lespedeza – Sericea
or Korean Sorghum Sudan grass Pearl Millet Soybeans Corn Alfalfa for grazing Forage Chicory Kudzu
Cool Season: Cereal Rye or
Ryegrass Wheat Oats Turnips
Browse Multi flora rose Blackberry brambles Iron weed
Perennial forb Rosette growth habit Most common variety:
‘Puna’ Seeding rate: 3-4 lbs/ac Produces well under
rotational stocking Min. grazing height of 2 in. TDN 65%, CP 15% Contains sesquiterpene
lactones
(Cichorium intybus L.)
Annual legume Maintains quality
through season Very high quality Little regrowth Nutrition is good, 16%
CP and 54% TDN Good availability of
seed
Very productive Forage Regrowth is rapid if
moisture is present Do not graze when
drought stressed or after frost.
Good Quality17% CP and 70% TDN possible
May grow faster than goats can graze
Summer Annual Good growth
potential Not as productive as
Sorghum Sudan grass Regrowth is good Goats do like it. Quality is not as well
known but around 12% CP and 52% TDN.
Can be used in fall and spring
Forage or purple top varieties can be used
Animals often must be forced to consume first time
16% CP and 69% TDN for quality on tops, may pull bulb and eat as well
Includes Switch grass, Gamma Grass, Big Blue Stem, Indian Grass, and others
NRCS may help with establishment.
Helps with summer slump on cool season
Quality varies depending on variety.
Quality drops rapidly on some with maturity
Multiflora Rose: 18% CP and 72% TDN Kudzu: 14% CP and 55% TDN Jeruselum Artichoke: 20.7% CP and 62% TDN Blackberry: 8.2% CP and 72% TDN Greenbrier: 12.2% CP and 63% TDN Bush Honeysuckle: 10.3% CP and 69% TDN Pigweed: 22.1% CP and 80% TDN Common Ragweed: 17.4% CP and 75% TDN Sumac: 13.7% CP and 77% TDN
Tall fescue (E+, E-, novel) Alfalfa Eastern gamagrass Bluegrass Red Clover Big Bluestem Orchardgrass White Clover Indiangrass Tall Oatgrass Birdsfoot Trefoil Bermudagrass Reed Canarygrass Sericea Lespedeza Sorghum Sudan Perennial Ryegrass Kobe Lespedeza Corn Chicory Switchgrass
Goat Forage Grazing Tolerance Trial UK Robinson Station
Provided by David Ditsch
1. Sorghum Sudan 2. White Clover 3. Turnip 4. Red clover 5. Chicory 6. Sericea Lespedeza 7. Tall Oatgrass 8. Alfalfa 9. Warm Season Grasses
(EGG, Switch, BB, Indian)
10. Reed canarygrass 11. Orchardgrass 12. Annual Lespedeza 13. Novel Endophyte TF 14. Endophyte Free TF 15. Infected TF 16. Bluegrass 17. Bermudagrass
Short grazing in year one due to conditions and establishment Better ADG on Lespedeza on both locations Very little change in FAMACHA score
Second year of project One location only due to drought conditions Saw slightly better growth on Lespedeza pasture. Very little difference in FAMACHA score
Parasite control was not as good as expected but goats had central water and ally that they grazed heaver than pasture, stand was not as pure as desired.
S. Lespedeza Grass Weeds
Method % by wt.
Interseed-Broadcast
18.8 76.3 4.9
Interseed-Drill 18.3 79.6 2.0
Disc-Broadcast 62.8 34.9 2.3
Disc-Drill 35.2 55.2 9.6
Rototill-Broadcast
31.0 24.7 44.4
Rototill-Drill 66.7 0.0 33.3
Burndown-Drill 85.7 0 20.2
Burndown-Broadcast
61.8 0 38.2
Sericea Lespedeza Establishment Trial
Alternative forages are good choice for your animals
Benefits of improved nutrition and can help with parasite issues in some cases.
Proper grazing management is critical to success of alternative forages
Goats may need to be exposed to some forages before they readily graze them.
Establishment may be difficult in some locations. Soil test and proper fertilizer and pH are critical.
Ken Andries E-mail: [email protected]