As mentioned previously, Drs. Hart and Min at Langston University have been conducting research on grazing dairy goats. As part of this work, goats were fed four different rations:
- A — Control: Kept in the barn, fed alfalfa hay and a
high level of grain
(2/3 lb. of grain for every pound of milk over 3.3 lbs.). - B — Grazed and fed 2/3 lb. of grain for every pound of milk over 3.3 lbs.
- C — Grazed and fed 1/3 lb. of grain for every pound of milk over 3.3 lbs.
- D — Grazed, no supplemental grain.
Researchers found that body condition of the does greatly influenced milk production, with thinner does being less productive during the lactation. Internal parasite problems also had a negative effect on production. Milk production responded to grain, increasing by 1.7 pounds for every added pound of supplemental feed. However, in the second year of the study, when the does were kidded in better body condition, does fed no supplemental grain produced 7.74 lb. milk/day, while those in the barn produced 8.91 lb/day, and the does fed a small amount of grain (1/3 lb. for each pound of milk over 3.3 lb/day) produced 9.17 lb/day.
Considering the cost of grain and alfalfa hay, it seems likely that the goats on pasture were much more economical to feed and produced comparable quantities of milk. This has implications for those considering organic dairies and for others who want to reduce feed costs. Hart notes that butterfat percentages were lower in the second year for goats that were not supplemented. He also notes that having high-quality forage available in adequate amounts is the key to feeding dairy goats on pasture. The full description of this research is available on-line at www2.luresext.edu/goats/library/field/hart02.html.
Replies
More on setting up pasture for goats: http://www.extension.org/pages/Goat_Pastures_and_Forages
Browsemaster®
Browsemaster is a new grass seed mixture from Barenbrug for goat pastures. Research has indicated that the productivity of goats is higher in a pasture with a diverse array of forage species rather than a mono-stand. Browsemaster has the optimum combination of browse, forbes and grasses to improve the meat and milk production in goats. Regionally adapted, Browsemaster mixtures are available for the transition zone and southern United States. The primary component of Browsemaster is Barenbrug’s high quality chicory. Browsemaster also contains red clover, alfalfa and forage brassica varieties for protein and forage grass for digestible fiber.
http://www.barenbrug.com/barusa/EN/grasses_2988.php?siteid=1001&...
Brandenburg seed is just down the road from me and near OSU (which is the first link I gave)