CMGA Discussion Forum

I am looking to broadcast seed or no-till drill my pasture for hay to feed my Boer Goats I am not sure what seed to use or what is the best method. I live in southern Ontario and the ground is still frozen but the time is coming soon so any advice would be great thank you.

Kitty

I kind of answered my own question after asking many people it seems nobody is really sure so I planted tree foil clover and timothy broadcast over basically weeds and a little grass. So far it is catching well hope it makes good hay.

please keep us updated on your progress

Well I am learning in this business as I go I did get some results but I found better information after I did the job. I went to the Annual General Meeting and conference (CMGA) and learned a lot. A soil test is a good first start. Goats Like Grasses and legumes. Alfalfa trefoil and orchard grass are the three things I will sow this year they already have clover and some other grasses. The trick with orchard grass is to not let it mature it is good young but not mature so I think for this year I will sow that in the paddocks only and see how it fares out here. (Haldimand Clay).

I am still learning and thankfully goats are good eaters as long as they have variety I am noticing. They are all still standing. Variety is the key. Legumes and grasses are essential. Hope this helps.

I will do my best so far goats like the hay I made from that field. I will not sew again until October or wait till spring.

Hello I agreed to keep people posted as to how things are going with the hay. The goats are much happier with the first cut off of the field I broadcast over weeds and a little grass second cut had a lot of clover (red) in it which they are not to happy with I am alternating hay first and second cut so they have a variety. They do eat it all up but not as enthusiastically as the first cut. Hmmm another learning curve I guess still going to go with trefoil alfalfa and orchard grass hopefully they will keep the red clover at bay.

I also started feeding dry leaves they love it. Have been doing it for a couple of weeks and no adverse effects so far. I figured they love them green and are very healthy for them so hopefully dried they aree just as healthy or at least close.

Kitty

We are now considering using more round bales. Here is what I have found/heard so far. Hard core verses soft core
soft core- lets you bale it so you have like a wick and the bale can do the last bit of drying in storage
Hard core-must be baled completely dry but can be left outside as it sheds the rain well.
Please if anyone has anything to add about which their goats prefer please post a reply.
Thank you

Well as I go I am answering my own questions and so I will pass it on to you. First of all I like the hard core Bales if you can get them off the field good and dry they last longer in the feeder stack better and take up less room.
Second we finally found a seed mixture that is worthy of goats ...at least we will find out. We seeded a fifty fifty mix of Legumes and Grasses including orchard grass, brome grass and forage type rye grasses along with Red clover, trefoil and alfalfa. We claimed back 10 acres for hay this year to accommodate our expanding herd.I feel like I am talking to myself but hopefully this is of some use to someone
Take care
Kitty