HARRIS SWATHING

Meat goat production

CONTINUED FROM PAGE C3 and severely harm the goat. If woven wire is used, you will need to check the goats frequently to free trapped goats. A five- or six-strand high-tensile fence with electrified first, third, and top wires has proved to be an effective goat-tight fence.

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Like other livestock, goats need some type of restraint facility and shelter when on pasture. Regular sheep-working pens are adequate for goats. Cattle pens can be easily adapted by making the lower section goat tight. An open shed arrangement of 10-12 square feet per doe can provide shelter during extremely hot or cold weather.

Herd Health Considerations

A preventative health program should be carefully worked out with your veterinarian. Goats are more susceptible to internal parasites than other types of livestock. Control of internal parasites is probably the most important health issue for goats. Generally, control methods for sheep within a certain region of the country will also be effective for goats. Problem diseases associated with reproduction or kidding can be managed and treated, in most instances, the same as for sheep.

Pasture Management

Pasture productivity is often measured in animal unit months (AUM). An AUM is the minimum area of grazing land required by one mature 1,000-pound beef cow for one month. Where one AUM is enough for a single cow, one AUM is generally enough for five to six meat goat does.

If stocked according to recommendations in your locale, meat goats can be grazed with other livestock. In marginal grazing lands, goats have been shown to complement both sheep and cattle. Goats consume a higher percentage of brush and other less desirable plants; thus, they help maximize the use of marginal pastureland as well as improve forage production over time.

A carefully planned rotational grazing program can enhance pasture production and help control internal parasites. High-quality pastures and small-grain pastures are good for kidding since they provide excellent feed for milk production. Supplemental grazing in stubble fields, corn fodder, small-grain pastures, and brassicas can be used to either extend the grazing season or boost required nutrient levels for some critical phase of production. Moving goats out of pasture before the grass is less than 3 inches tall will help prevent internal parasite infection.

In general, growth rates for meat goats are slower than those of sheep. Under favorable nutritional conditions, meat goats may gain at a rate of more than 200 grams (0.45 pounds) per day from birth to 100 days of age.

Risk Management

There are several risk management strategies you may employ for your operation. You should insure your facilities as well as your animals. This may be accomplished by consulting your insurance agent or broker. You may also insure your income through a crop insurance program called AGR-Lite. To use AGR-Lite you must have five years of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Schedule F forms. You can then contact an agent who sells crop insurance and insure the income of your operation. For more on agricultural business insurance, see Agricultural Business Insurance.

Costs and returns are often difficult to estimate in budget preparation because they are numerous and variable.

He was outstanding in his field!

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What did the traffic light say to the car? Look away, I’m about to change!

Rain, grass and now weeds

By Catherine Wissner, former UW Extension horticulturist

All the spring rain has brought on a wonderful flush of prairie grass wild flowers and unfortunately a lot of weeds. Currently blooming, the tall yellow spike that looks like snapdragons is perennial weed Dalmatian Toadflax (Linaria dalmatica) native to Eurasia. This plant is considered a noxious weed and must be controlled. It has a vigorously root system and massive amounts of seeds. Mature plants are very competitive out-growing native plants. It’s not palatable by animals and contains iridoid glucoside compounds which can be toxic to livestock.

The other yellow tall, wide and bushy at the top plant is the annual European Tumble Mustard (Sisymbrium altisimm). Once it dries out in the fall, it breaks off and spreads its seeds by tumbling in the wind. This weed can be grazed by livestock or most broadleaf herbicides will control it.

There are several management approaches to controlling weeds. Timing is very important, the best times to spray any perennial weed; the bloom stage, if you miss this window than after the first frost in the fall. For the best herbicides to use contact your local County Weed and Pest office, not the local farm store. Mowing and fire are not an effective control method and can cause some weeds to spread faster. Do not indiscriminately use pesticides or rodent poisons, they can get into your well water or poison non-target animals. Use pesticides wisely, read the label.

There are some biological controls where live natural enemies of the weed are used to reduce its population. This requires time and patience to work. You cannot mix chemical controls with biological controls. It’s one or the other, but not both. A good reference book for this is; “Biological Control, of Invasive Plants in the United States” This book is an anthology of research.

Native plants form a vital habitat for many animals from bees, butterflies to mammals, weeds prevent or alter this. Let your prairie go wild, control the weeds, only mow around the house and out buildings. Grasses that are well adapted to the area and easy to grow from seed; Western Wheatgrass, Thickspike Wheatgrass, Intermediate Wheatgrass and many others. There is a very narrow window to plant grass, those times are October to May 15, after that you need to wait, it’s all about natural rain and snow. Once established they take very little water. They do not need to be mowed. A healthy prairie will out compete weeds. Prairie grass stops growing mid-to the end of May. What you see on June 1 is all you will get for the rest of the growing season.

The prairie is home to numerous birds like; Meadow Lark, Lark Bunting, Horned Lark, and Killdeer who nest and raise their young on the ground, hidden in the prairie grass. These birds have a diet of insects and seeds. Nesting season is March to July. Be cautious with herbicides, 2-4D is toxic to birds.

Good management of your prairie grass can help prevent soil erosion, reduce snow drifting help recharge your well and reduce fire danger. Research shows; un-mowed tall grass prairie is cooler, the soil holds more moisture, has less weeds, less ground squirrels and deters prairie dogs.

Mow less play more, enjoy the views and wildlife.

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Don’t gamble; take all your savings and buy some good stock and hold it ‘til it goes up, then sell it. If it don’t go up, don’t buy it.

– Will Rogers

Livestock water needs on pasture

By Jerry Volesky, UNL

As summertime temperatures begin to heat up and cattle are on pasture, it’s important to make sure there is adequate water for livestock. How much do cattle need and where should it come from?

The water requirements for cattle depend on their size, class, and environmental conditions. High humidity and greater temperatures also increase water demand. A University of Georgia study lists water requirements for days when the daily high temperature is 90°F. With these conditions, growing or lactating animals need two gallons of water per 100 pounds of body weight. This means a 1400-pound, lactating cow will need close to 28 gallons of water daily with 90°F daily highs. If the calves are 250 pounds, they will need about 5 gallons. Again, some of the water will come from grazed forage. Make sure water tanks or water points are accessible for smaller calves.

Having fresh, clean water should also be a priority. With dry conditions this year in many parts of Nebraska, water quality from water sources such as dugouts or ponds and dams may not be ideal. The ability to have water close by should also be a goal, although sometimes it’s simply not possible. More water locations can help meet the water demand but could also help grazing distribution too. Cattle will receive some of their daily water requirements when they are consuming high moisture feedstuffs such as fresh forage when grazing pasture, silages, or green chopped feeds. Feeds that are high-energy increase the water requirement. Keep an eye on water this summer and make sure livestock have enough, good quality water available.

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If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.

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A humble knowledge of oneself is a surer road to God than a deep searching of the sciences.

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Light tomorrow with today!

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