Start Date
1-26-2006 9:20 AM
Description
Goats are often referred to as four legged bush hogs and actually they perform best when consuming browse. Goats eat from the top down so fields have a mown appearance even when forage is three feet tall. The typical browse height for goats is up to four foot however, they will rise up on their hind legs and sometimes prop on others backs to reach higher. Goats have an affinity for high quality forage. Much of the vegetation we have considered weeds as beef producers is excellent forage for goats. Goats select the high quality leaves and tender growing tips of woody plants leaving the stem. The leaves and tips of plants are much more digestible and higher in protein and mineral content than the woody, lignified stems of the plant. The long narrow mouth of goats facilitates this grazing habit and allows goats to survive and thrive on generally low-quality pastures and browse plants that would not suffice for cattle or sheep. When goats are your foraging animals, your list of weeds becomes much shorter.
Included in
Grazing Program for Goats
Goats are often referred to as four legged bush hogs and actually they perform best when consuming browse. Goats eat from the top down so fields have a mown appearance even when forage is three feet tall. The typical browse height for goats is up to four foot however, they will rise up on their hind legs and sometimes prop on others backs to reach higher. Goats have an affinity for high quality forage. Much of the vegetation we have considered weeds as beef producers is excellent forage for goats. Goats select the high quality leaves and tender growing tips of woody plants leaving the stem. The leaves and tips of plants are much more digestible and higher in protein and mineral content than the woody, lignified stems of the plant. The long narrow mouth of goats facilitates this grazing habit and allows goats to survive and thrive on generally low-quality pastures and browse plants that would not suffice for cattle or sheep. When goats are your foraging animals, your list of weeds becomes much shorter.