Best Food For Goats In Winter
They could have also had a problem with copper deficiency if they were does.
Best food for goats in winter. Only milkers get grain. If so then you need to figure out how to keep them fed throughout the winter when plants aren t growing as much. According to arms family homestead the best way to feed and sustain goats all winter long is by planting a wheat and rye pasture mix you should plant it in a goat grazing area that s ideally fenced off to contain the goats. We put up plywood against the west side of the barn where the wind hits the hardest.
We also make sure they have a fresh clean layer of straw to lie on at all times. Pregnant does would have a grass alfalfa mix. Hay is the main source of nutrients for goats apart from their range. Here s a link to my free copper course.
Perennial grasses such as timothy tall fescue and bluegrass have been traditionally used for stockpile grazing 2. Additionally grazing your goats on the pasture spreading manure can save you the time of having to manure in the spring. Wethers are fine with just a good grass hay. Just be aware that snacks are just that.
Foods like fruits dried fruits veggies graham crackers cheerios cheetos and even corn chips. It s what they mostly eat in the winter when they don t have access to the range. A goat will need about two to four pounds of hay per day without taking into account what they might forage on the pasture. What you feed goats during the winter varies depending on whether they are wethers or breeding animals.
It is basically at your discretion what you want to try. For goats hay is the main source of nutrients apart from the food they get from the pasture and it s what they eat the most during the winter when they can t go outside. It isn t always an option to have a field sit unused for winter grazing but if you have the land it can help save you money on winter feed.