Appropriate hay for dairy goats?

Image by farmingmatters
From LEISA MAGAZINE 21(3) SEPTEMBER 2005
Photo by Erwin Kinsey

Question by Amber: Appropriate hay for dairy goats?
While not new to keeping and showing animals, we are fairly new to dairy goats and could benefit from the experienced herdsman. Perhaps you can help?

We have 3 dairy goat does (very nice Toggenburgs that my 9 yr old son purchased before we moved). They are show goats. At the moment they are not pregnant, not lactating (I procrasitnated refreshing because of our move). Two are beginning their third year and one is an 8 month old. I’m down to one bale of the alfalfa/orchard grass I’ve been giving them. I saw an add on Craigslist for “forage mix” (beardedless wheat, beardless barley, and oat) for $ 6/bale. That’s half the price we’ve been paying for the Alfalfa/Orchard hay so it caught my attention.

I want to, no, I need to save money and don’t want to have to pay so much for hay if these does don’t need it right now since they’re not milking or growing babies. I DO plan on getting them bred (to a local Boer buck) just to get them refreshed in time for the fall fair but while they’re growing their kids (5 months) do you think this $ 6 hay mix will be appropriate for them? I can definitely afford to buy them 5 months worth of hay and switch back to the Alfalfa/Orchard hay when they deliver or get closer to delivery time.

P.S. We are also giving them goat grain now and then but not in the amounts we do when they’re being milked.

What are your thoughts on the hay and do you have any other helpful bits of advice you’d care to share with me? With much appreciation – Amber

What do you think? Answer below!