Goat Grass PDF
Goat Grass PDF
Goat Grass PDF
By
Angela McKenzie-Jakes
Extension Animal Science Specialist
Florida A&M University
College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture
Research and Cooperative Extension Programs
To My Producers
Acknowledgments
Special appreciation and gratitude is extended to Dr. Jean Beaudouin, Dr. Lawrence Carter, Dr. Pam Hunter, Dr. Ray
Mobley, Mr. Godfrey Nurse and Mr. Gilbert Queeley for their constructive criticisms and advice while reviewing and
editing this publication.
New publications from the Getting Started in the Meat Goat Business
series are coming soon
Visit our website at http://www.famu.edu/goats
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgments...........................................................
Table of Contents..........................................................
ii
Introduction................................................................
4-8
Production Systems........................................................
8-11
11-12
12
12
14-17
Providing Supplement...................................................
17
17-19
A Final Note..............................................................
References..
19
19
INTRODUCTION
Energy
Energy primarily comes from two
sources, carbohydrates and fats. These
energy sources are derived from the
breakdown of fiber in forages and
feed. Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN)
is one of the most common ways of
expressing energy for ruminants.
According to McDowell (1990), goats
that are fed high energy rations (7080 %TDN) are able to obtain average
daily gains (ADG) between 200300g/day. These gains will also depend
on the age, sex, health and breed of
the animal. ADG will decline when goats
consume rations or forages with less
than 40% TDN.
Energy is usually the nutrient that is
frequently deficient in the diet of
goats. Poor quality pastures and
roughage are generally the primary
cause of energy deficiencies. Low levels
of energy often leads to retarded
growth, delayed onset of puberty, low
milk production, abortions, low fertility
rates, and low resistance to diseases
and parasitic infestations.
When goats consume excess energy, it
is stored in the body as fat. Fat should
never be added more than 5% of the
total ration because it may interfere
with the fermentation process in the
rumen. Examples of forages that have
Protein
Protein is usually the most expensive
nutrient in the animals diet. It is
necessary for growth, milk production,
disease resistance, reproduction and
maintenance of the body. Protein and
energy are two nutrients that interact
with each other to some extent.
Therefore, deficient levels of protein
in the diet will cause the digestion of
carbohydrates in the rumen to
decrease and at the same time intake
will decrease. Like energy, protein
deficiencies can lead to poor growth
rates, delayed onset of puberty,
lengthen of the anestrous period,
Minerals
Goats require minerals to maintain
basic body functions and for optimum
production. Most minerals can be
obtained from high quality forages. The
macro
minerals
are
calcium,
phosphorus,
sodium,
chlorine,
magnesium, potassium and sulfur which
must be available in the diet in large
amounts. Most forages generally have
intake
is
influenced
by
water
consumption, therefore fresh water
must be provided for the herd each
day. Water is also required for
digestion,
regulation
of
body
temperature, to transport nutrients
through out the body, for excreting
waste from the body and milk
production. Water requirements may
increase or decrease depending on the
physiological state of the animal (i.e.,
gestation, lactation).
Production Systems
Operating a profitable meat goat
enterprise will largely depend on how
much weight the animal can gain with
the least amount of expense. Pastures
are the cheapest means of feeding the
goat herd, however, grazing areas
require clipping, liming and fertilizing
on a routine basis to yield the highest
forage quality. Pastures that are
overstocked perpetuates overgrazing,
encourages the growth of weeds and
will increase the chance that the herd
will be burden with a heavy parasitic
load or other infectious diseases.
There are three basic systems that
goats can be managed under in the
southeast. They are the extensive,
semi-intensive
and
the
intensive
system. Goats that intensively managed
are confined and provided with hay,
concentrate or grain. This is the most
expensive system for raising goats.
Some dairy goat producers and
1 Acre
Pearl Millet
1 Acre
Bahiagrass
Browse
Area
1 Acre
Bahiagrass
1 Acre
Cowpea
1 Acre
Bahiagrass
Browse
Area
1 Acres
Rye and
Oats Grass
1 Acre
Rye and Oats
Grass
Browse
Area
Dormant
1 Acre
Rye and
Oat Grass
1 Acre Rye
and Oats
Grass
1 Acre and
Rye Grass
Browse
Area
Dormant
Pasture Maintenance
In order for forages to grow and
thrive, they need a number of
different chemical elements. The most
important are the following:
Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen Available from air and water and
therefore in plentiful supply
Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium
(potash)
The
three
macronutrients and the three
elements you find in most
packaged fertilizers
Sulfur, calcium, and magnesium Secondary nutrients
Boron, cobalt, copper, iron,
manganese, molybdenum and zinc
- Micronutrients
Application Rates
Fertilizer and/or lime
should be applied (1) if
an increase in forage
growth is desired, ( 2)
if extra forage is
needed, (3) if a return
on the investment can
be expected (Mylavarapu et. al., date
unknown) or if a soil test indicates that
fertilizer and/or lime is required.
Fertilizer should usually be applied at
the beginning of the growing season for
the particular forage in question.
Warm-season perennial grasses should
be fertilized in the early spring
(February to March) to stimulate
production at a critical time. To extend
the grazing season, some grasses can
be given an additional application of
nitrogen in the late-summer/fall.
Limpograss,
rhodesgrass,
and
stargrass will respond to the additional
applications readily. However, this has
not been found true in the case of
bahiagrass (Mylavarapu et. al., date
unknown).
Applying fertilizer in a timely manner
can not only extend the grazing season,
but also increase forage yield and
quality, improve stand persistence and
Stocking Rates
Irregardless of which grazing system
is used on your farm, do not overstock
your pastures. The general rule of
thumb used to determine stocking
rates for goats is to provide two acres
of improved pasture for 7-10 goats for
a year-round basis. The number of
goats can be increased depending on
the quality and quantity of vegetation
that are available. Cattle can also be
co-grazed with goats in this system.
The stocking rate should be 1 cow to 68 mature goats .
Testing Feed and Forage Quality
12
Rye
Ryegrass
Oats
14
It is generally the
most-cold
sensitive of the
small grain plants.
Planting dates are between Oct.
and Jan.
Seeding rate is 20-30 pounds per
acre.
Seeds can be broadcasted.
Crimson Clover
Crimson Clover is
reseeded
winter
annual.
The flowers are red in
color.
Best adapted in heavy welldrained soils in Florida.
Performs poorly on dry, sandy
and poorly drained soils.
Plant from Oct. to Nov.
Seeding rates is 20-26
pounds of seeds per acre.
Delay grazing until the plant
has reached 6 to 8 inches in
height.
Red Clover
White Clover
Florida it behaves as an
annual.
High quality forage
Best
grown
under
cool
temperatures and fertile
well-drained soil.
Should be seeded at 3 to
4
pounds
per
acre
between Oct. and mid
November.
Can be grown
throughout
Florida
when
planted
on
moist
fertile soil.
Nematodes are serious pest
to Red Clover.
May be harvested for hay.
Red Clover can cause bloat.
Plant between Oct. to mid
November.
Seeding rate 12 to 15 pounds
per acre.
Spreads
by
creeping stems
that
develops
roots
at
the
nodules on the
plant.
White Clover is a perennial in
most places, but in some
management
systems
in
15
Grows rapidly
(leafy 4-8 ft.)
Grows
throughout the
state on welldrained soils.
Bermudagrass
Hairy Indigo
species in Florida
Tolerates a wide range of
soil conditions.
Produces moderate yields
on soil with low fertility.
Easy established from
seeds.
Withstands close grazing.
Varieties include Common,
Pensacola, Argentina, Tiff
etc.
Best to plant in the
summer.
Broadcast at 12 to 15
pounds/acre.
Expensive to
establish.
Establish
vegetative
parts
(sprigs).
Plant from mid Feb.
through July.
Plant on well prepared, moist
seed beds.
Young immature grasses is
more nutritious.
Grows 4 to 7
feet tall.
Ability to reseed itself
Covered
with
bristle-like hair.
Sandy soils with good
drainage.
Use for hay, for silage and
as a cover crop or green
manure chop.
Bahiagrass
Used on more
land area than
any
other
single pasture
16
Crude protein
13-16%.
Tolerate drought
and
periodic
overgrazing.
Do not tolerate saturated
soils for over 1 to 2 weeks.
Varieties
include
Floriagraze and Arbrook.
Established by planting
rhizomes.
Plant late Jan. to February
which will result in a high
number of sprouts per
acre.
Broadcast by hand or
ground-driven slinger 1
inch
deep
(Chambliss,
1999).
Providing Supplement
When quality forages and browse are
not
available,
hay,
grain
or
concentrates may be required to
supplement the diet of the herd. Grain
feeding will also depend on the
condition of the herd, if the does are
pregnant and their litter size. Lactating
does may require additional feed for
milk production if the energy content
of the grass is not sufficient enough to
support production. In essence, the
ideal nutrition program should include
high quality forages to support optimum
production, thus meeting most of the
nutritional requirements of the meat
goat herd to keep production costs
down.
If affordable, feed processed grains
rather than whole grains because it is
more digestible. Grains should be
17
18
1.
2.
A FINAL NOTE
Nutrition is an important modulator of
the
immune
system
and
the
reproductive processes in livestock. It
can often tip the balance between
health and disease and reproduction
efficiency and low productivity in the
goat herd. Supplying the proper
nutrients
in
the
appropriate
proportions is essential to enable the
animal to carry out all of its
physiological processes of life. Good
quality forages are able to provide
most the nutritional demands for the
goat herd.
However, when forage quality is poor,
provide grain or concentrate as a
supplement. Barley, corn and wheat are
a good source of energy while soybean
meal, cottonseed meal are good sources
of protein. If you are unsure of the
nutrient composition of your feed, have
it analyzed to make sure it is balanced.
Always store your feedstuff in
airtight containers to keep the rain,
insects and rodents from contaminating
it. Hay should also be protected from
extreme environmental conditions so,
store it in a shed, a barn or covered it
with plastic.
References:
3.
19
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Florida
A&M
Tallahassee,
University.
FL.
9.
10.
11.
12.
OSH
Health
Bulletin-4232.
Leptospirosis, Facts For Beef
Farmers.
http://www.osh.do1.govt,nz
13.
14.
20