Ask any goat farmer what are the main management problems in farming goats and the two most likely answers will be:
- Keeping goats in the paddock.
- Goats need drenching frequently.
Both are probably the result of one simple problem: the goats are not getting enough of the feed they like!
Goats are Browsers
Goats are browsers rather than grazers and they are notoriously fussy eaters. Goats prefer tall feed, whether grass or shrubs. Watch goats browsing or grazing and you’ll see them fussily picking the tenderest and tastiest tips from the plant they are eating then move quickly on to the next. If they are grazed on pasture they will generally not graze below about 3cm (1½ inches) pasture height. Instead they will head over, under or through the fence in search of greener pastures on the other side.
Short Pastures Can Cause Problems
If your fences are really goat proof then forcing goats to graze short pastures will cause other problems. Goat productivity (growth rate and milk production) is very sensitive to pasture height because feed intake decreases rapidly as pasture gets shorter. Also goats on short pastures are forced to graze into the base of the sward where infective parasite larvae accumulate (over 80% are within three centimetres of the soil surface). Consequently the goats become infected with large numbers of parasite larvae and they need more frequent drenching.
The Gumboot Rule
A simple rule of thumb is to avoid forcing goats to graze pastures shorter than the toe of your gumboot (5-6cm or 2 to 3 inches). The result should be healthier goats that need drenching less frequently and are contented to remain where you want them to be!
Manage Pasture Quality
The main problem with the gumboot rule is that that pasture really needs to be grazed quite short to ensure good quality regrowth for the next time it is grazed. Fortunately the 5-6 cm deep pasture left behind by the goats is normally quite sufficient to get acceptable production from cattle. They can be used to graze the remaining pasture to quite low levels to ensure good quality pasture regrowth. Another advantage is that cattle cannot be infected by the goat parasites lying in the base of the pasture so the cattle effectively clean up the pasture making it safer for the goats when they return.
Integrated Grazing
Integrating the grazing of goats and cattle must be planned well to ensure that both goats and cattle get enough feed and that pasture quality is maintained during the growing season. On larger farms goat grazing can also be integrated with sheep and cattle. This needs even more careful planning because goats and sheep share the same parasite species. One method is to graze goats according to the gumboot rule as described above, then clean up immediately with a mixed mob of sheep and cattle. Initially the sheep will need to be drenched to avoid contaminating the pasture with their own parasite larvae during the clean up. However, once a ‘clean’ grazing system is established both goats and sheep should require less frequent drenching. Cattle grazing may also be integrated with sheep to prepare ‘clean’ pastures for susceptible lambs.
Prevent Drench Resistance
Integrated grazing is just one tool in the armoury against parasitism in livestock and it is not perfect. Sooner or later animals will need drenching. However, good grazing management will help reduce the frequency of drenching by reducing infection rates. This will save you money and also help to reduce the likelihood of the parasites developing resistance to the drenches you use.
Mike Bown - Mike Bown has been writing for over 20 years as an agricultural scientist, adult educator and freelance educational resource writer.
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