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Managing Forage Shortages on the Goat Farm

Managing Forage Shortages on the Goat Farm. Jeff Fisher Extension Educator Pike County . Situation 2007. Late Freeze in April Dry in May Hay Crop of 50-60 % Hot, dry summer Reduced pasture yield Little or no additional hay cuttings High priced hay High priced grain.

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Managing Forage Shortages on the Goat Farm

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  1. Managing Forage Shortages on the Goat Farm Jeff Fisher Extension Educator Pike County

  2. Situation 2007 • Late Freeze in April • Dry in May • Hay Crop of 50-60 % • Hot, dry summer • Reduced pasture yield • Little or no additional hay cuttings • High priced hay • High priced grain

  3. Feeding Management - Corn • Even at today’s corn price it is still a cheaper alternative than purchasing hay. • One pound of corn replaces about 2 pounds of hay nutritionally. • It's easier and less expensive per ton to haul. • A mature ruminant animal can be fed approximately one fourth of its diet in corn without effecting digestibility of the forage component.

  4. Feeding Management - Corn • As an example, a mature goat weighing 150 lbs. will eat 2.5 to 3 % of its body weight per day or approximately 3.75 to 4.5 lbs. • Feeding approximately one pound of whole corn per head per day will reduce the hay requirement and add body condition from the extra energy.

  5. Feeding Management - Corn • Feed it in bunks or on the dry ground under an electric fence wire and the goats won't waste any.

  6. Grazing Management • Allow at least 2-3 inches of top growth to remain in the field. • Extend rest periods now to 35 or more days for most forage species. • If your forage growth has stopped, pull the goats off pasture and feed hay or silage.

  7. Grazing Management • Apply ammonium nitrate to resting grass pastures; especially fescue. With sufficient rain, fifty pounds of nitrogen per acre can provide over a ton of stockpiled forage.

  8. Summer Annuals • Wheat harvest and dried-up pastures will provide vacant fields that you might want to consider planting to summer annuals. • Options include turnips, oats, sorghum, sudan, and millets. • For more information, refer to the Ohio Agronomy Guide at http://ohioline.osu.edu/b472/index.html.

  9. Early Weaning • Early weaning can reduce the total forage and water needs by 25% when the doe and kid are fed separately. • If feeds need to be purchased, the young kids are more efficient at converting them to gain and subsequent value.

  10. Culling • Cull soon. Moving culls now will save feed. • If culls are thin feed them some grain until marketing time to add value. • Cull prices are pretty good in the period just prior to the Islamic holidays as demand increases.

  11. Fall Growth • When a little pasture top growth does return, don't be impatient about grazing it. • If you must graze on it, only top graze it lightly and move the grazing goats on.

  12. Poisonous Plants • Be aware that when forage availability is low, poisonous plants can be a bigger issue. • http://ohioline.osu.edu/b762/b762_24.html

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