Picture waking up to the peaceful sounds of your farm, with goats happily munching in the morning mist. Homesteading goes beyond a lifestyle—it’s about being self-sufficient and looking after your animals. One essential aspect of goat care is feeding them the right kind of hay.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the best hay to feed goats in order to keep them healthy, happy, and productive. Whether you’re raising dairy goats or meat goats, understanding the nutritional needs and types of hay suitable for your herd is crucial.
This Post Is All About Best Hay To Feed Goats
Why Hay Matters in a Goat’s Diet
Hay plays a crucial role in a goat’s diet, offering essential nutrients and fiber vital for their overall well-being. Selecting the right type of hay is key to supporting various aspects of their health, including digestion, milk production, and growth. Goats, being ruminant animals, have a specialized stomach that aids in fermenting fibrous food, underscoring the significance of the hay’s quality and type.
By providing high-quality hay, you ensure that your goats receive the necessary crude protein, fiber content, and total digestible nutrients essential for their optimal health. This becomes particularly critical during the winter months when fresh forage is scarce, emphasizing the importance of good hay in their diet to maintain their well-being.
Types of Hay for Goats
Alfalfa Hay
One of the most popular types of hay for goats is alfalfa hay, known for its high protein content and calcium levels. Alfalfa is especially advantageous for dairy goats due to its ability to support milk production and overall health.
However, it is important to exercise caution with male goats, as excessive calcium intake can potentially result in urinary calculi, which may lead to health issues. In addition to alfalfa hay, incorporating alfalfa pellets into their diet can serve as a beneficial supplement to enhance their nutritional intake and well-being.
Timothy Hay
Timothy hay, a widely recognized grass hay, is esteemed for its well-rounded nutrient composition and abundant fiber content. This hay variety stands out as an exceptional option for preserving a goat’s body weight and bolstering digestive well-being.
Furthermore, its notably low calcium levels render it a particularly secure choice, particularly beneficial for the care of male goats.
Orchard Grass
Orchard grass is highly regarded by homesteaders for its exceptional qualities. This premium grass hay not only offers essential nutrients but also boasts a palatable taste that goats truly enjoy.
Opting for orchard grass allows for free choice feeding, guaranteeing that your goats consistently have access to a nourishing and delectable fodder source, supporting their overall well-being.
Oat Hay
Oat hay, a hay option that is sometimes underestimated, can be a valuable choice due to its combination of grass and seed heads. This unique blend offers a balanced mix of fiber and essential nutrients, making it a versatile feeding option for both dairy and meat goats. By including oat hay in your feeding plan, you can ensure a well-rounded diet that caters to the specific nutritional needs of your goats.
Legume Hay
Legume hay, such as alfalfa or clover, can be a highly advantageous choice for goats due to its rich nutrient profile and fiber content that aids in digestion. This type of hay is particularly valued for its protein content, essential for promoting growth, muscle development, and overall well-being in goats.
By incorporating legume hay into their diet, goats can benefit from a balanced nutritional intake that supports their health and vitality.
Understanding Nutritional Value
Crude Protein
The protein level in hay plays a crucial role in the nutrition of dairy goats. Specifically, dairy goats need higher protein content to support milk production effectively. It is advisable to target hay varieties containing a minimum of 15-20% crude protein to ensure the goat’s optimal health and peak production levels.
This focus on protein intake in their diet is fundamental for sustaining their well-being and productivity.
Fiber Content
Fiber plays a crucial role in supporting the optimal functioning of a goat’s digestive system. Specifically, high-fiber hay varieties such as timothy and orchard grass are known to foster a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in the rumen.
This microbial environment is key for facilitating efficient digestion processes and ensuring effective absorption of essential nutrients.
Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN)
Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) is a crucial metric that gauges the energy content present in hay. Opting for high TDN levels in premium-quality hay guarantees that your goats receive the necessary energy to support their growth, reproduction, and daily activities effectively. This ensures that your goats are well-equipped to thrive and lead active, healthy lives on your farm.
Learn more about TDN and other feeding terms through Agri-Facts on the Government of Alberta’s website.
Special Considerations for Different Goat Types
Dairy Goats
For dairy goats, especially in Canada, alfalfa hay is often the preferred choice due to its high protein and calcium content, crucial for supporting optimal milk production. Additionally, incorporating a mix of grass hay can further enhance the nutritional balance of their diet.
Meat Goats
Meat goats thrive on a balanced diet that includes various forage types. Orchard grass and oat hay are particularly beneficial choices as they provide essential nutrients required for optimal health and growth.
These forages are rich in vitamins and minerals, promoting overall well-being in goats. By incorporating such high-quality feed options, goat owners can effectively reduce the risk of urinary calculi and ensure the longevity and vitality of their animals.
Seasonal Feeding Tips
Winter Months
During the winter months, when fresh forage is scarce due to snow cover, relying on high-quality hay becomes crucial for the well-being of your goats. It’s important to ensure that your goats have continuous access to hay to fulfill their increased energy requirements for maintaining warmth in the colder weather conditions.
Spring and Summer
During the growing seasons, it is beneficial to supplement hay with fresh forage options such as woody shrubs and a variety of grasses such as tall fescue and perennial rye. This practice not only helps diversify the diet of the animals but also serves to reduce their overall hay consumption, promoting a more balanced and nutritious feeding regimen.
Avoiding Common Hay Issues
Respiratory Problems
Dusty or moldy hay poses a risk of respiratory issues for goats. To safeguard their health, opt for clean, dry hay and ensure proper storage by placing it in a well-ventilated area off the ground to prevent spoilage and maintain freshness.
Urinary Calculi
Male goats are susceptible to urinary calculi, particularly when consuming high-calcium hay such as alfalfa. To prevent this condition, consider adding a supplement like ammonium chloride to their diet. Ammonium chloride is a compound that helps acidify the urine, reducing the risk of stone formation in the urinary tract. This supplement is commonly available at veterinary stores or can be included in concentrated pellet form for goats.
Overfeeding
Monitor the amount of feed intake to avoid overfeeding. While free choice feeding is beneficial, excessive intake can lead to obesity and other health issues.
Enhancing Hay with Supplements
Alfalfa Pellets
Alfalfa pellets can be a convenient supplement, offering concentrated protein and calcium. They’re especially useful for boosting the diet of lactating goats.
Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
Rich in fat and fiber, black oil sunflower seeds can enhance the nutritional value of your goat’s diet. They’re a great addition during colder months for extra energy.
Sweet Feed and Cereal Grain Hays
While not a primary feed, these can be used sparingly to provide variety and additional nutrients. Ensure they don’t dominate the diet to avoid imbalances.
Balancing the Diet with Commercial Feeds
Commercial feeds can complement your hay selection, providing a balanced diet tailored to the specific needs of goat nutrition. Look for feeds that include a mix of grass, legumes, and grains.
Making the Final Hay Choice
Choosing the best hay to feed goats involves considering their specific needs, the time of year, and the available forage types. A general rule of thumb is to offer a variety of hays to ensure a balanced nutrient intake.
DIY Hay Feeder Ideas
Incorporating a well-designed hay feeder into your goat-raising routine can significantly enhance feed efficiency and minimize waste. Here are some DIY hay feeder ideas that are practical, cost-effective, and designed to keep your goats happy and healthy.
Pallet Hay Feeder
Wooden pallets are versatile and readily available. To create a pallet hay feeder, stack two or three pallets vertically, securing them together with screws or nails. Leave a gap at the bottom for any fallen hay and ensure the sides are sturdy. This feeder allows goats to pull hay through the slats without soiling the remaining feed.
PVC Pipe Feeder
More commonly used for pellet feed, this DIY PVC pipe feeder is great goats. Ensure you fasten it to a wall at a proper height for your goats to chow down. Andy Sargent from Crooked Chimney Farms offers a awesome PVC pipe feeder tutorial.
Wall-Mounted Hay Feeder
A wall-mounted feeder can be made using metal grids or wire panels. Attach the grid to the wall of your goat enclosure at an angle, allowing the hay to sit in an accessible yet contained manner. This feeder design saves space and keeps hay elevated, reducing contamination from bedding and waste.
Hay Rack with Trough
Combining a hay rack with a trough underneath can catch any falling hay, ensuring it doesn’t go to waste. Construct the rack using a metal frame with bars spaced just enough for goats to pull the hay through. The trough beneath can be made from wood or metal and should be easy to clean.
Barrel Hay Feeder
Repurpose an old plastic barrel by cutting it in half and installing a sturdy frame for stability. Drill holes in the sides and top to allow for ventilation and place the hay inside the barrel. This design protects the hay from moisture and keeps it contained while allowing goats to feed comfortably.
Conclusion
Feeding your goats the best hay is a vital part of homesteading. By understanding the different types of hay and their nutritional benefits, you can ensure your goats stay healthy and productive. Remember, it’s not just about feeding but providing a balanced diet that meets all their nutritional requirements.
Ready to optimize your goat feeding routine? Explore your local selection of premium forage options and start your homesteading adventure with confidence. Happy homesteading!