Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
forget that as the straw bedding grows deeper, it raises the height of the floor, and the goats
will find it easier to get over partitions and enclosure walls.
Do not let the used bedding accumulate: remove it immediately to the fields or garden, com-
post it, or sell it as fertilizer. Remember to use a wheelbarrow designated only for manure and
bedding, not one used for hay and feed. If you are unable to dispose of used bedding immedi-
ately, you will need a manure storage area.
Feeding Area
Goats are fussy eaters. They yank out selected morsels and step backward, scattering hay on
the floor of the feeding area. They will not eat soiled feed or hay off the floor. Goats should
not eat off the ground because they can ingest parasites from fecal matter.
Ordinary livestock feeding racks and troughs are wasteful because so much of the hay falls on
the ground and because goats often soil their food by putting their front feet in the racks or
jumping up into them. Goat farmers have developed many devices for feeding goats. Not only
are goats messy when eating, but they also can be pushy and bossy at mealtime; they do not
like to share. An ideal feeding station is designed to minimize pushing, minimize waste, and
keep food off the ground. It should have enough openings to allow all your goats to feed com-
fortably, and the openings should be narrow enough so that curious kids cannot jump in and
soil the hay with their dirty little hooves.
Wire feeders
Many goat owners buy commercial heavy wire feeders designed to hold hay. The best of these
are sturdy and take a lot of abuse without sustaining serious damage. Some owners will not
use wire feeders because goats easily can hook a hoof in them, or horned goats can become
tangled and stuck. Because they are wire cages, they are not appropriate for holding anything
but hay. A common type fits firmly over the side of a stall; it is relatively inexpensive, and
several of these can be purchased to place in various locations. A wire feeder can be moved
easily from place to place as long as there is a sturdy bar or low wall to hang it on. This is
useful when you need to separate mothers and kids from the rest of the herd or isolate a sick
goat. A variation of this type of feeder can be placed on a common low wall or bar between
pens, where hungry goats can access it from either side.
