Running goats with cows

[NTXBen]

I am currently in western Parker County Texas (1 hr. west of Ft. Worth) and am pursuing a sublease from a cattleman to turn goats out with his cows. I am trying to come up with a cow to goat ratio that does not take away from cattle performance to offer the cattleman. I would estimate the pasture to be in a 30 - 40% brush condition.

Would like some feedback, or a suggestion on who may have an idea of where to start. Thanks

 

[City Guy]

I have no practical experience but with that much brush I'd guess the goats will not compete with the cows for the grass at all and vice versa, unless the grass is over grazed and the cows need some of the brush. In which case there are far bigger problems.

 

[Muddy]

I would be more concerned about the fences and the predators than the forage.

 

[City Guy]

That too.

 

[M-5]

Cows and goats don't really compete , I would not recommend it unless you have plenty of browse . ratio is variable and each place is different. Fence is biggest obstacle for most farmers

 

[RanchMan90]

Several questions come to mind to help better answer your question. First what are the fences like? How many acres and how many cows will it carry conservatively?

 

[Ebenezer]

Generic answer: 1 to 1 on cow to doe. Long term: know pasture conditions. When brush and weeds are gone, depopulate the goats.

 

[Jogeephus]

Generic answer: 1 to 1 on cow to doe. Long term: know pasture conditions. When brush and weeds are gone, depopulate the goats.

I agree. If your pastures are textbook perfect for cattle you don't need goats. Goats are browsers. If you force them to graze grass they will die every time the wind blows. If they have plenty of browse you'll do well and not have to worm them once a month as you do on grazing. Least that's how it works here.

 

[Ebenezer]

Want something easier on fences and less to no worming, find some St. Croix sheep from a reputable breeder. They browse like goats and if breeder is decent, they are very resistant to resistant to parasites. We have all breeding stock, multi-generational, at zero worming. This year's lamb crop: 0 worming. Not going to lie - it has taken selection and culling.

 

[Alan]

I'll throw in on very hard on fences.

 

[dave_shelby]

Interesting suggestion. I have older woven wire, so the cost of fencing outweighs benefits of goats.

 

[lavacarancher]

Someone here (I think CB) once said "if you can pour water through a fence, goats will get out". I thought it was a pretty sage statement so check your fence x4.

 

[RanchMan90]

^^^That is a good rule of thumb. That's why I don't keep goats around, and if they can't get over, under, or through the fence they'll hang their head and die in it.

 

[NTXBen]

Fence is woven wire. Takes about 15a/pair.

 

[RanchMan90]

1:1 would be a good ratio to start with, you can always add more later. Sounds like you found a good deal with it already having fencing.

 

[collegeboundgal]

Run 1 or maybe 2 strands of hot wire off the existing fence and they should be fine. They'll need a good water source. We use tire tanks for both species. Works perfectly.

 

[Muddy]

Hot wire + goats= escaped goats.

 

[dun]

Hot wire + goats= escaped goats.

Not if done properly

 

[Arkansas]

Hot wire + goats= escaped goats.

Sounds like your doing it wrong then..lol

 

[Muddy]

Hot wire + goats= escaped goats.

Sounds like your doing it wrong then..lol

By have them crawling under the wire? Woven fences are much better choice than hot wire.