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Author Topic: Bamboo and miscanthus  (Read 1757 times)

Penninehillbilly

  • Joined Sep 2011
  • West Yorks
Bamboo and miscanthus
« on: November 03, 2015, 07:57:33 pm »
Hi
Has / does anyone feed their goats either of these?
Not complete feed,  just as extra greenery now and then, maybe daily if I grow enough.
I'm wondering whether to divide the plants (miscanthus gigantea)  the tall field miscanthus, And some winter hardy bamboos, feeding just the new growth, there is some land where I can't let the goats go, thought it would be useful extra bite
Thoughts please?

clydesdaleclopper

  • Joined Aug 2009
  • Aberdeenshire
Re: Bamboo and miscanthus
« Reply #1 on: November 03, 2015, 08:04:09 pm »
I feed bamboo when I have it available. It's a good source of nutrition
Our holding has Anglo Nubian and British Toggenburg goats, Gotland sheep, Franconian Geese, Blue Swedish ducks, a whole load of mongrel hens and two semi-feral children.

Anke

  • Joined Dec 2009
  • St Boswells, Scottish Borders
Re: Bamboo and miscanthus
« Reply #2 on: November 03, 2015, 08:10:25 pm »
I don't have any yet, but it is on my "to-plant-for-the goats" list....

clydesdaleclopper

  • Joined Aug 2009
  • Aberdeenshire
Re: Bamboo and miscanthus
« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2015, 09:27:14 pm »
Scottish Bamboo has a wide range of them  :thumbsup:
Our holding has Anglo Nubian and British Toggenburg goats, Gotland sheep, Franconian Geese, Blue Swedish ducks, a whole load of mongrel hens and two semi-feral children.

Anke

  • Joined Dec 2009
  • St Boswells, Scottish Borders
Re: Bamboo and miscanthus
« Reply #4 on: November 04, 2015, 06:09:29 am »
Scottish Bamboo has a wide range of them  :thumbsup:

Thank you - investigations will follow!

Penninehillbilly

  • Joined Sep 2011
  • West Yorks
Re: Bamboo and miscanthus
« Reply #5 on: November 04, 2015, 09:01:06 pm »
had another internet search today, found different pages to my first search.
wish i'd thought of this years ago!
bamboo apparently very good for goats, supplies nutritional needs for adult goat, helps keep down internal parasites, (goats not grazing short grass picking eggs/larva up).
I'm thinking of some clumps I could have divided and had a lot more by now, as well as autumn windbreaks
Miscanthus does have some sort of sugar in stem, but nutritional value in leaves varies through summer.
Apart from Dry matter most of it is above my head, but if its safe, they like it and it's in anyway good for them, - well i now just have to find best time for dividing, which I bet, frustratingly, will be spring,
SO LONG to wait to start putting my plan into action!  :(

 

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