Do Ran Farms

Broomsedge has value on our farm. As we gradually improve our pasture's fertility a small patch at at time, we still rely on our unimproved pastures during fall and winter. Our pastures contain a lot of Broomsedge. No one told the goats it was supposed to be poor forage. In late summer it begins producing its seed head. For about two weeks the goats will eat the tops of the Broomsedge trying to produce seed. Then the seed matures and they stop grazing the tops. We let it grow and do not cut it. Later in the fall when the frosts start to kill off the summer grasses and weeds, the bunches at the base of the plants are still green. It has been stock piled over the summer/fall and does not seem to be affected by the frost and remains green. 

This summer we planted Cow Peas, Millet and Sorghum Sudan grass over an acre. After the bucklings were finished we put 40 does in for a couple weeks as the clean up crew to eat as much as possible. The does cleaned them all up by October 7th. The peas were so thick that no weeds survived so we had a clean area with only Pea and Millet stubble. October 14 after a good rain I no-tilled in about 70lbs of Wrens Abruzzi Grain Rye and about 20lbs coated Crimson Clover then came back and broad cast another 20lbs of Rye Grass. I put out 2 bags of 34-0-0 ammonium nitrate. We had some warm days and the Rye is really taking off. It will be a nice Christmas present for the does.