The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Kymw90 on May 19, 2014, 10:03:23 am

Title: My garden cuttings to my goats ok?
Post by: Kymw90 on May 19, 2014, 10:03:23 am
I'm sure asked a thousand times but just want to be sure. I know for donkeys grass clippings can be a bit rich but would they be ok for the goats? I know what's in my grass so when I cut it I know there's nothing nasty contained in it. Also no chemicals ever been used. Can I bag it up for them fresh I give it? The grass is up to my thigh so could almost be baled into a haylage lol it won't upset their tums?
Title: Re: My garden cuttings to my goats ok?
Post by: tizaala on May 19, 2014, 04:17:39 pm
Do not feed grass mowings  to any animal , it will ferment in their guts and kill them quite quickly. get it mowed and baled for safety
Title: Re: My garden cuttings to my goats ok?
Post by: Lesley Silvester on May 19, 2014, 04:46:10 pm
Is that right? I thought you just had to make sure it was freshly cut and remove any that wasn't eaten straight away.
Title: Re: My garden cuttings to my goats ok?
Post by: Sbom on May 19, 2014, 05:12:00 pm
Our cows stand in a line waiting for grass clippings. They just have what they can eat fresh and love it!
Title: Re: My garden cuttings to my goats ok?
Post by: Anke on May 19, 2014, 06:08:32 pm
I feed freshly cut grass  to my goats all the time when available. HOWEVER - not cut with a lawnmower, but the long stuff cut with the blade/brush cutter attachment on the strimmer. It stays long, contains quite a few thistles and other weeds and the goats go crazy for it. I get mine started on it slowly though, a little to begin with and only after they had a good feed of hay.

It often gets cut in several bags and fed over a period of two to three days. Yesit starts to get warm, but as long as the goats are used to it - mine have never had a problem.

At Great Yorkshire show the sheep/goat and I presume horse people get a twice daily fresh delivery of freshly cut grass - brilliant.
Title: Re: My garden cuttings to my goats ok?
Post by: plumseverywhere on May 19, 2014, 08:34:38 pm
we have a few pockets of land that don't get mowed and we strim them so that the goats can have exactly this! theres nettles, thistles, docks, grasses and cow parsley, their favourite time of year!
Title: Re: My garden cuttings to my goats ok?
Post by: Lesley Silvester on May 19, 2014, 11:44:35 pm
What difference does it make whether it's strimmed or mown?
Title: Re: My garden cuttings to my goats ok?
Post by: tizaala on May 20, 2014, 10:03:09 am
MOWN BREAKS DOWN AND STARTS TO ROT TOO QUICKLY, BACTERIA START TO GENERATE HEAT LIKE COMPOSTING PROCESS, NOT GOOD, STRIMMING LONGER STALKS IS THE SAME AS HAY MAKING

Title: Re: My garden cuttings to my goats ok?
Post by: Lesley Silvester on May 20, 2014, 04:17:38 pm
That makes sense. Thanks, Doug.
Title: Re: My garden cuttings to my goats ok?
Post by: Kymw90 on June 25, 2014, 01:37:47 pm
Ah so its something air-on side of caution then really. Our grass was very tall so next time ill go with that. It got bagged and thrown in the skip before I could get it this time. Thank you