Alternative Forages For Goats

Forages For Goats ProductionKen AndriesKentucky State UniversityCollege of Agriculture, Food Science, and Sustainable Systems

Importance of ForageGoats are Ruminant AnimalsEfficient at converting high fiber diets to high quality protein.Cost of productionGrazing cost less per pound of gain than concentrate.Marketing opportunitiesMarkets for grass or forage fed meat products on the increase.2Utilizing Forage in the DietForage quality is the key to improved performance.Goats prefer a variety of forages in their diets.Goats do not readily graze some forages.Browse and forbs as a forage:Some have good nutritional value.3Types of ForageWhat will grow in your area?Cool season or warm season?Mixed forage stands tend to do wellWarm season forages are neededSeason of growthMixed forages to meet nutritional needs and seasonal slumps4Types of Forages for GoatsCool Season ForagesFescueOrchard GrassLegumesWarm Season ForagesNative GrassesLespedezaAnnualsSorghum-SudanMilletBrasiciaSmall grainsBrowse 5Importance of Pasture Mgt.Forage harvested by the animal is the most cost effective nutrition.Forage, in vegetative state, can meet the nutritional needs of the animal.Mature forage looses its nutritional value rapidly.Stocking density, carrying capacity, can be increased with proper management.Quality change over time:ForageDateCPADFNDFTDNWarm5/200618.73049.862.6Warm7/20069.74265.747.1Fescue 5/200611.836.862.453.8Fescue7/20066.444.975.943.4Warm5/200713.341.467.347.9Warm6/20078.842.375.846.8Warm8/20075.44679.142.0Fescue5/200711.54066.849.7Fescue + N5/200713.540.267.349.5Carrying Capacity:Carrying capacity is the stocking rate that is economically and environmentally sustainable for a particular grazing unit throughout the grazing season.Carrying capacity is largely determined by four factors: 1) annual forage production, 2) seasonal utilization rate, 3) average daily intake, and, 4) length of the grazing season.Two Important FormulasAnnual forage productionXSeasonal utilization RateCarrying Capacity=__________________________________________Average daily intakeXLength of grazing seasonAvailable ForageXGrazing period Utilization RateStocking Density=_________________________________________Average Daily intakeXLength of Grazing periodUtilization rate

Daily dry matter consumptionWeight3%3.5%4%4.5%5%902.703.153.604.054.501003.003.504.004.505.001253.754.375.005.626.251504.505.256.006.757.501755.256.127.007.878.752006.007.008.009.0010.002256.757.879.0010.1211.252507.508.7510.0011.2512.50Available Forage EstimatePasture SpeciesStand Condition, (lb./acre/inch)*FairGoodExcellentBluegrass/ Clover150-200250-300300-350Perennial Ryegrass/ Clover150-200250-300350-400Orchardgrass/Legume150-200250-300300-350Tall Fescue + Nitrogen100-150200-250350-400Mixed Pasture150-200250-300300-350Example Information.If we have a 7 day rotation with 100 lb does consuming 5% of BW, Fescue pasture with Good stand.69% season and 45% period utilization rate.5 lbs of DM per day200 lbs per acre inch and 8 in. starting height = 1600/acre of DM.

Calculation examplesCarrying capacity = (4800*0.69) / (0.04*200) Carrying capacity 3312 / 8 = 414 lbs of animal per acre (4 100 lb goats per acre)Stocking Density = (1600 * .45) / (0.04 * 7)Stocking Density = 720 / 0.28 = 2571 lbs per acre (25 100 lb goats per acre)How To Estimate Available Forage :Estimate using the Forage Stick available from NRCS.Need one for your region to be accurate Need to be able to estimate stand densityClip methodTake several (min 3) samples.Use a 1 sq ft square to clip samples from.Weigh samples and calculate dry matter.Use estimates from Extension, NRCS, or publications.

Stocking Rate IssuesGoats are expected to consume 3.5 to 5 % of their body weight per day in dry matterAbout 5 to 30 pounds of actual forage or feedGrazing methods affect forage utilizationContinuous 30-35%Slow rotation (3-5 paddocks) 40-50%Fast rotation (8+ paddocks) 50-60%Stocking rate is generally calculated by animal units16Animal UnitAU - average annual amount of forage required for a 1,000 lb. mature cow of average milking ability with a calf less than 4 months old, expected to wean at 400 lbs. 1AU = ~ 10,080 lbs. of forage dry matter/year. Or ~ 840 lbs of forage dry matter/month Goats are considered 0.17 AU1,713.6 lb DM/year142.8 lb DM/monthQuality and digestibility of the forage will greatly impact these amounts as will size of animal.17What is an Alternative Forage?Alternative forages are forages that are not normally used in your area.They can be either cool or warm season, annual or perennialIncludes many plants that are considered weeds by othersUsed to help provide better nutrition during some period of time or to provide a known benefit to the animals.Some Common Alternative ForagesWarm Season:Lespedeza Sericea or KoreanSorghum Sudan grassPearl MilletSoybeansCornAlfalfa for grazingForage ChicoryKudzuCool Season:Cereal Rye or RyegrassWheatOatsTurnipsBrowseMulti flora roseBlackberry bramblesIron weed

Nutrition of Other Alternatives and BrowseMultiflora Rose: 18% CP and 72% TDNKudzu: 14% CP and 55% TDNJeruselum Artichoke: 20.7% CP and 62% TDNBlackberry: 8.2% CP and 72% TDNGreenbrier: 12.2% CP and 63% TDNBush Honeysuckle: 10.3% CP and 69% TDNPigweed: 22.1% CP and 80% TDNCommon Ragweed: 17.4% CP and 75% TDNSumac: 13.7% CP and 77% TDN

Provided by David DitschGoat Grazing Preference TrialUK Robinson StationSorghum SudanWhite CloverTurnipRed cloverChicorySericea LespedezaTall OatgrassAlfalfaWarm Season Grasses(EGG, Switch, BB, Indian)

Reed canarygrassOrchardgrassAnnual LespedezaNovel Endophyte TFEndophyte Free TFInfected TFBluegrassBermudagrass21Issues with Alternative ForageEstablishment can be difficult for some alternatives.Grazing management needs to be adjusted to fit the forage growth pattern.Annual forages can be issues some years.Because some are considered weeds, issues with neighbors related to growing these forages.Finding seed may be an issue.EstablishmentMust control existing forage to get a stand.Some alternatives do not hold up to competition during establishment.No-till methods can be used for some but others do better with tillage.Seeding rates are critical to success.Seeding depth is also important, both to deep and to shallow can be a problem.Information is available on specific species of forages from your local extension office.Importance of QualityAnimals need nutrition not tonnage to live.High quality forage can provide nutritional needs of goats, poor quality forage cannot.Quality varies with type of forage, stage of maturity, and season.Annual forages can be good alternatives.Legumes can improve quality and reduce fertilizer needs.Quality is useless if they dont eat it!!Forage Quality of Fescue Hay, KSULotYearDMCP %TDN%ADFNDFNEmNEgRFV1200589.35.64249.578.50.310.0759.62200590.57.144.247.673.20.350.1065.91200689.88741.646.375.10.300.6065.41200779.99.143.544.871.80.410.3369.92200788.68.643.944.571.50.340.1070.61200876.69.038.448.770.60.250.0167.11201089.47.940.550.984.40.280.0454.32201089.913.448.843.574.80.420.1768.41201191.35.839.747.774.40.270.0364.72201191.110.647.042.175.50.390.1589.23 -old201192.111.624.959.268.90.010.0057.76Conclusions on AlternativesForage is critical and a good way to reduce cost of production in most systems.Goats prefer a variety of forages so give them choices when possible.Proper grazing management is critical to success of alternative foragesGoats 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.Questions?

Ken AndriesE-mail: Kenneth.andries@kysu.eduPhone: 502-597-5094Cell 502-803-0031