I need fast growing pasture for small herd of sheep and goats?

Question

I have 5 nannies 1 billie 8 baby goats and 3 ewes and 3 baby lambs on an acre. I need any fast growing grasses or foliage to rejuvinate my pasture. I can close it into two pastures to let anything grow. I'm in Texas so needs to be heat resistant. Hoping to get more land but can't yet.

Answer 1

Coastal Bermuda Grass is the fastest growing highest producing grass that you can grow in parts of Texas. You didn't state what part of Texas you are in and that can make a huge difference in that state. Texas A&M has developed several new fast growing varieties of Bermuda grasses, contact your local County Extension Agent. He is much better situated to give you the latest information on pastures for your area. In Texas you can also over-seed your pasture with rye grass or oats in the winter and have grazing all year around. One thing you are going to have to come to terms with is you have far too many animals for the land that you have. No matter what kind of grass you plant or how well you manage it, you are faced with too choices, get rid of some of your stock or get more land. The third choice is to buy a lot of hay to supplement your limited grazing. This can get you by for a while, but is too expensive for the long run, unless you plan raise  your stock as pets.

Answer 2

Here in Pennsylvania we have less exposure to the same stresses you state. I've observed Reed's Canarygrass being very heat and drought tolerant. It grows when everything else has stalled (i.e. alfalfa, orchardgrass). It also has great tolerance to wet conditions too. It is very slow to establish though.  

A friend of mine espouses the qualities of Bromegrasses in the south. I must recommend a newer variety as the older ones are not favorably grazed (by cattle anyway).

Look at some of the coastal Burmuda grasses.

Perhaps some puna chicory is what you need.  

I'm sure Texas has a fine cooperative extension service available for information.

Answer 3

Does the term SOL mean anything to you.  But you have the typical new livestock producer syndrome, you have animals before you have pasture.  That is, has been, continues to be and probably will always be the most common mistake made by newbies.  The next mistake is being overstocked (which you are).

That being said, look here

http://urbanrancher.tamu.edu/retiredsite...

for basic information on getting started.  Rent some pasture or buy hay asap, and get ready to pay for your new education.

You will need to do the following.

Figure out what you have NOW.

- check your pasture, determine weed pressure, amount of grazing crop, etc.  Also look at your tractor and equipment.  You will need a tractor, sprayer, disk harrow, seeder (grain drills are best), etc. (btw, a mower is the last thing you need) to do your work.

Control WEEDS.

- Weed control offers the most return for your input dollar with Texas pastures.  This has been proven more times than any other issue.  But first you have to know the difference between your crop and the weeds.  This also means you have to get out of the truck and on your knees.  BTW, control weeds early, hot late.  It being June means you are already late.  

Rate your soil production capacity

- (see your local county agent or NRCS conservationist) to get this information

- get a soil test kit and analyze your soil.

Decide what is the best forage system for you. (Most probably a bermudagrass/annual ryegrass mixture, but not always)

- Determine your forage budget (when do you need grazing, how much, what quality, etc. etc.)

- Decide why you need 6 nannies, 1 billy, 3 ewes, (btw where is the ram?) with young.  You may HAVE to cut your stocking rate in half tomorrow.

Good luck and enjoy your new life.

Answer 4

The genetic bomb from the space shuttle columbia should soon                      be found in the ruminants if Nostradam is right. If you see people    s having problems with their left arm, let us know, then the ruminants will have to be killed off .

Answer 5

we  live  in ar. and tn   have  horses   about  the same weather  conditions  as  texas   just  plain  old  bermuda  grass  you need  to sew it  and  fertilize it  and water  the  heck  out  of  it  if you do it the right  way  you will have  new sprigs immediately!!!

Answer 6

No matter how you cut it, 20 animals on one acre is too many.

I sugest you hit you local feed store, or local farmers co-op, and ask what grass seeds they carry that are drought resistant for your local area.  

Grass seed, no matter how drought, or heat resistant needs water to get established.

I live in the high mountain desert area of Idaho.  What works here may not work in your area, so I don't want to advise on a specific kind of seed.  

Another option is to call your local Ag Extension office on Monday and ask them.  They would be found in the blue pages (Government section) of your phone book.  They are an excelent resource of information for your local area.

Also, if you can fence your pasture into three, or four tiny pasture, your stock will do better.  That will give the grass a chance to rest and re-grow, with no animals on it.  By cross fencing, and rotating stock, you actually produce more fodder in the same area.

Good luck to you.  I raise meat goats, and I'll be back raising sheep in a month or so.

~Garnet

Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years

Answer 7

down size your heard