alfalfa Yes or NO for Goats

[Squires]

several people have said is that they feed more grain during a cold snap to help keep the goats warm, when, from what I understand, it is more roughage that will help them keep warm.

It depends on how cold your weather is.  Ruminants can take in hay and keep themselves warm by increasing the amount of hay fermenting (cow dairies in colder areas like bigger cows, btw -- wonder if it is the same for goats?).  On the other hand, corn gives quick energy -- a little corn doesn't do any harm in really cold weather.

I'm in upstate NY near the Great Lakes, and we can have warm winters with sudden drops in temperature and 9 feet of snow in one day.   The snow is actually insulating -- but the 50 mph winds and corresponding windchill can be a problem.  People in bitter cold areas seem to stockpile and use a lot more hay -- the bales also make great windbreaks until they are eaten. 

I noticed that friends in the South do not feed as much hay as we do around here.

[Nana]

That sounds pretty similar to the weather around here.  One never knows how far the mercury will fall in a year and how much snow we will get.  There is sometimes much more snow because of the lake effect.  I do plan on using some of my hay to insulate on the outside of the stalls.  I feel bad about having to clip the goats for the fair as the could weather isn't too far away.  I hope their hair grows back fast.

[buckrun]

  Corn can be a problem if they are not used to eating it.  Randomly adding to the diet is what causes most problems with ruminants. They need consistency to thrive.  You must feed small amounts of corn regularly if they are to be able to digest it and get anything out of it.    They can only use what they have developed a microbe population for in the rumen.  Here is some info gleaned from my stockpile on ruminal acidosis.

 "Grains are composed largely of starch rather than fiber. The populations of rumen microbes that most effectively break down fiber and ferment starch are different from one another and prefer different rumen pH levels. As increasing levels of grain are fed rumen pH drops and a resulting decrease in the breakdown and digestion of fiber can occur. (because the ph is selecting for one type of microbe) The negative effects are greatest with low quality forages and higher grain levels which may result in reduced forage intake.The objective is to allow the animal to get maximum utilization and nutrition from forage while using grain to make up a marginal deficiency for energy. By limiting grain the negative effects of starch fermentation on fiber digestion are small. "

I believe this holds true no matter the weather as I lifted this from North Dakota State University Extension site.

 

[Vicki McGaugh Tx Nubians]

We need to save that somewhere Lee.  Vicki

[Nana]

That is very interesting.  When you say limiting grain how do you know how much?