Clover Actually clover is a legume, not a grass. Clovers (Trifolium spp.) “Unfortunately, proper harvesting can be difficult,” says Gerald Stokka, North Dakota State University Extension Service livestock stewardship specialist and veterinarian. Goats need up to 2 pounds of chaffhaye per 100 pounds of body weight when you feed it as an alternative to hay. But my horses like it 2 of them so much as someone already mentioned, they get the slobers. Veterinarians will need to differentiate between alsike clover poisoning and other types of photosensitization by walking horse pastures and examining hay for potential photodynamic agent-containing Photodynamic agents in certain plants accumulate in the liver and react with ultraviolet light to cause the dermatitis. Goats eat it straightaway as pasture. When it dries, those hairs can be sticky and cause itching when handled.” Tall Fescue, whether it is growing in the pasture or baled into hay Especially if they are not foragers. grain is good for goats but only 1/2 cup to cup a day I ADF is a laboratory analysis that measures the cellulose and lignin levels in plants, and lignin is not digestible, so an acid detergent fiber measure that is low - below 35% - is preferable for goats. It's like hitting the lottery around here.. Matter of fact, my hay guy has 5 The stems become courser and Red clover hay Red clover hay introduced at up to 30% in balanced diets in place of alfalfa meal (0, 33, 66 or 100% replacement) did not alter growth, digestibility and mortality (Grandi et al., 1988), indicating that red clover hay Plant Estrogens Some plants naturally produce estrogen-like compounds that can cause fertility problems in does. I'm not really sure what is the best way to rake and bale it. The hay that goats eat can be grass or a legume or alfalfa. I planted bamboo and willow along the edge of our goat yard, and even on our tiny homestead they produced a good amount of supplemental food for our girls. Common varieties of legume hay for goats are alfalfa, clover, lespedeza, and birdsfoot trefoil. I fed too much lucerne and it certainly heated up one of my neddies. As a nitrogen fixer it is supposed to be excellent for the land. I plan to ted in the morning while the dew is still on. I'm sure there are also lots of very knowledgeable horse owners like Pat who really know what to look for in good quality hay though. It should be available ad lib at all times of the year. The red clover did VERY well and our sheep and goats absolutely love it. Could have a few weeds in it, preferably immature before going to seed. Hay should be analyzed for protein content and acid detergent fiber (ADF). It tested out at 18% and they love it. Legume hay typically has the highest digestible energy, as the leaves do not change as the plant grows. I would feed my goats seprately if one is more aggressive then another and you feel one isnt getting enough, especially if they have nothing to eat while roaming during the day. Will be using a NH 256 rolabar rake and a NH 5070 small square baler. Generally, each goat needs about two to four pounds of hay per day, minus what they might forage on pasture. The goats will eat the grass first, but they will not take them by the roots; then when the herbs are consumed, the goats will go to the legumes. Legume Hay for Horses Alfalfa, white clover, red clover and birdsfoot trefoil are common types of legumes, with alfalfa being the most popular choice. Producer Question from 2015 Q: I have a lot of sweet clover in my hay fields and pastures this year. are often used in goat pastures for their high protein content and ease of growing. My question is could I replace hay with hi quality silage made from good grass, alfalfa, and red clover? If the hay you have is just straight grass and it's dry and brown they probably won't get into it and it certainly won't be nutritionally adequate. When I got started with goats I barely knew the difference between hay and straw. Getting clover to dry quickly in the field is challenging for growers, and premature baling of damp hay is the primary reason clover hay is sometimes moldy. Also the urine was bright yellow and as soon as I cut back not only did his personality change, but his urine became more of the clear colour that it is supposed to be. How to make red clover hay - posted in Alfalfa/Hay: I mowed a field of pure red clover with the haybine at 5 oclock this evening. That is definitely not the case. Varieties of sweet clover that are low in coumarin are available, but if these are not used then you should avoid feeding sweet clover hay or silage. If you are thinking about goat farming, I recommend planting now so your goats have plenty of forage, and if you already have goats, hopefully you can add a bit more variety to their diet and save on some hay costs for you. Very coarse hay or forage is not readily digestible by goats, so they prefer not to eat them. 14:12 Dr. Tom Terrill – They do even cattle and sheep and goats all like it as hay. It kind of gives a sticky taste in their mouth The clover is plentyful on half of the acre, but the grass hay and thistles have taken over the other half. It is sweet in taste. Goats require additional hay, which is roughage, for their rumen to function properly. I love nothing more than finding good bales of cheap "grass" hay that end up being about half red clover, half timothy or orchardgrass or some other grass.. Buy hay “with your nose”, it should smell like a summer meadow, sweet and pleasant. The problem: Tall Fescue is toxic to goats, particularly pregnant goats, as well as sheep, cattle, and horses. While fresh summer pastures may provide your wallet some temporary relief with lower feed and hay bills, fall is quickly approaching. How to Plant Clover for Goats. Hay that is good for goats would be second cutting clover grass mix, or straight legume hay of any cutting with absolutely no mold. The cooler, wetter weather provides the perfect breeding ground for clover and, unknowingly, the fungi and toxins that may come with it. I was thinking of trying clover hay for my goats, but a friend told me she thought red clover was poisonous to sheep but she didn't know why. Orchard grass and bluegrass are a good combination, along with red clover or hairy Sheep take a little bit of time to get used to the tannin content. From a nutritional standpoint, clovers and alfalfa are very similar: higher in calcium and protein, and more calorie-dense than grass hays. But you can feed your goats timothy if alfalfa is not available. If a good range isn't available, dry grass hay of a horse quality is acceptable. Alfalfa, clover, and peanut are legume hays, while timothy, oat, bermuda, and orchard […] Try it over 2-3 weeks - only give 1-2 biscuits of lucerne a day, supplemented by good grass hay or clover/rye. It is a good source of phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. Of course, hay kept in storage for a long time will lose its field-fresh smell, but that will not affect its protein or energy nutritional value. Then for the past 3 years about half of our ewes were not getting pregnant. Good hay is the most important part of any goats diet. Adding some clover to the pasture land is a good idea and it is an efficient But there comes a time when the land needs to be reseeded. This would not be good. Although I quickly learned that hay is food and straw is bedding, I just assumed that all hay was the same. I have heard that sometimes cattle eating sweet clover, especially hay with sweet clover in it can have problems. It doesn’t serve as well as a hay product because of the pubescent hairs on the stem. The key to a good goat pasture/hay field would be diversity. That’s why it attracts goats and goats also enjoy the sweet taste of clover. Goats need hay. Meanwhile, the goats are busy homing in on the weeds that the sheep and horses don't like. It is a good system for us. Then I rotate in the sheep or horses for a while and they eat the grass and clover the goats have snubbed. Crimson clover is of very high quality (70 to 75% digestible with 16 to 22% crude protein) when immature, but declines (58 to 68% digestible) with maturity. I've got a ewe lamb living with my goats, so I need to know if clover hay would be a problem for her. What can I do to Yes Clover is Ok Just make sure there is No Mold espically on if it is purple clover. Improperly curing hay made from certain sweet clover varieties such as white and yellow sweet clover can cause severe and often fatal hemorrhages in livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats. Quality grass hay is good for all goats. Luckily the grass hay heavy side is where I am going to start the goats… The nutritional value of one 50-pound bag of chaffhaye is equivalent to an 85- to 100-pound bale of good-quality hay. In some cases, good clover haylage or baleage looks like spoiled alfalfa due to its dark color. Sounds too good to be true for goats, right? I hope someone can share experience with feeding goats silage versus hay. If you have a pasture, then you’ll only need to give them hay during the times of the year when they can’t graze. Comes a time when the land very coarse hay or forage is not available I knew. Roughage, for their high protein content and acid detergent fiber is clover hay good for goats )! 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