Best Hay to Feed Goats
Choosing the best hay to feed goats can feel confusing, especially when you start hearing about grass hay, alfalfa, first cut, second cut, and everything in between. For most goats, good-quality grass hay is a great foundation, while dairy goats may benefit from higher-protein options such as alfalfa depending on their needs.
Hay plays a big role in keeping your herd healthy, their rumens working properly, and your milkers producing well. If you’re learning how to raise dairy goats, knowing what hay to buy, and what to look for before you buy it, is a great place to start.
When I first started raising goats, I figured hay was just hay. I mean, how different could one cut really be from another, right? Turns out, I had a lot to learn.
There’s so much more to hay than I ever realized, everything from how it’s grown, cut, dried, and stored plays a role in its quality. And then there are the different types of hay, each with its own unique nutritional profile.
One of the biggest surprises for me was learning how much the smell of hay can tell you about its quality. Back then, I had no idea any of that mattered when it came to feeding my dairy goats.
It can definitely feel overwhelming at first, especially with so many factors that go into choosing the right hay. But here’s the good news: once you understand how hay is grown, what to look for in a good bale, and the best options for your goats, choosing hay gets much easier.
Why Hay Is So Important for Goats
Goats are ruminants, which means they have a four compartment stomach designed to digest fibrous foods such as hay, grass, leaves, and browse.
If you have ever seen your goats lying around chewing even though they are nowhere near the hay feeder, they are probably chewing their cud. Food is partially digested, brought back up, chewed again, and swallowed. This process helps goats get more nutrients from the forage they eat.
Read our guide on The Best Hay Feeder Options for Goats that reduce waste and help to keep hay from dropping to the ground.
This is one reason good quality hay is such an important part of a goat’s diet. Hay provides the roughage their digestive system needs to work properly, especially when fresh pasture and browse are limited.
SLCG Pro Tip: Watch your goats when they are resting. Seeing them calmly chewing their cud is a good sign that their rumen is doing what it is supposed to do.
Knowing that hay plays such an important role is one thing. The next question is the one most goat owners want answered: What kind of hay is best?
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Let’s start with the basics—what exactly is hay?
Hay is grass, legumes, or other forage that is cut and dried so it can be stored and fed to livestock throughout the year. For goats, hay provides an important source of fiber and nutrients, especially when fresh pasture and browse are not available.
Hay can look very different depending on what was grown, when it was cut, and how it was harvested and stored. Those differences can affect everything from protein and fiber to how interested your goats are in eating it.
It is also important not to confuse hay with straw. Hay is grown and harvested as animal feed, while straw is the dried stalk left behind after grains such as wheat or oats are harvested. Straw is better suited for bedding than as a main food source for goats.
SLCG PRO TIP: Straw is an excellent choice for goat bedding. Since goats strongly prefer hay, there is less chance of them eating soiled straw from the floor. This is important because eating from the ground can increase their exposure to parasites through contaminated feces.
Types of Hay for Goats: What You Need to Know
There are three main types of hay you will come across when feeding goats: grass hay, legume hay, and cereal grain hay. Each has a different nutritional makeup, so knowing the basics can help you understand which options may work best for your herd.
Grass Hay includes options like timothy, orchard grass, or brome grass. Grass hay is generally higher in fiber and lower in protein than legume hay, making it a common choice for feeding goats.
Legume Hay includes alfalfa, clover, or soy. These hays are typically higher in protein and calcium than grass hay, which can make them a good option for goats with higher nutritional needs, such as growing kids or does producing milk.
Cereal Grain Hay comes from plants such as oats or barley that are cut and harvested for hay before the grain fully matures. It can provide both fiber and nutrition, although the quality can vary depending on when it was harvested.
Keep in mind, hay is regional, so the types and names of grasses can vary depending on where you live. For example, here in Northwestern PA, timothy grass hay is the most common, along with orchard grass.
Hay is essentially a cut pasture that includes the stem, leaves, and seed head. It is typically cut fresh, left to dry, and then baled for storage. Since hay is meant to feed grazing animals, when it is cut and how it is dried and stored can have a big impact on its quality.
Understanding the Baling Process: How to Spot Quality Hay
Knowing how hay is baled is key to identifying good-quality hay for your goats. The baling process involves cutting, drying, and bundling hay into bales, which can range from small squares to massive rounds. The price of hay often reflects both the size of the bale and its quality. By understanding this process, you’ll know what to look for and which questions to ask when buying hay.
Here’s a breakdown of the baling process:
Step 1: Cutting the Hay
Hay is first mowed down and later raked into rows so it can continue drying before it is baled. How and when hay is cut and handled can affect the number of leaves that remain on the plant, especially with leafy hays such as alfalfa.
Step 2: Drying the Hay
Once cut, the hay is left to dry until it reaches the proper moisture level for baling. How long this takes depends on the weather and growing conditions. Removing excess moisture is crucial to maintaining the hay’s quality and preventing mold or spoilage.
Step 3: Baling the Hay
After drying, the hay is baled using machines called balers. These machines gather the hay, bundle it, tie it with baling twine, and either load it onto a trailer or leave it on the ground to be collected later.
Step 4: Storing the Hay
Finally, the hay is stored to keep it dry and preserve its nutritional value. It can be kept in a barn or shed, or wrapped in plastic or tarps and stored outdoors, depending on your local weather conditions.
SLCG PRO TIP: Hay must be kept dry to prevent it from spoiling. Moldy hay can make your goats seriously ill and, in some cases, can even be deadly. Proper hay storage is an important part of keeping your herd healthy.
Understanding the Different Cuts of Hay
Let’s talk about hay cuts and why they matter. Knowing the differences between cuts can help you understand how bales are priced and which ones are best for your goats.
First-Cut Hay
This is the first cutting of the growing season. First cut hay is often coarser, with thicker stems and more mature growth. Depending on when it is harvested, it may also contain more weeds and have a lower protein level than later cuttings. Because of this, first cut hay is often one of the more affordable options.
Second-Cut Hay
Second cut hay comes from the regrowth after the first harvest. It is often softer and leafier, with fewer coarse stems, and can have a higher protein level than first cut hay. It is also usually greener and has that wonderful fresh hay smell.
Second cut hay can be harder to find depending on the growing season. Too much rain or a short growing season can affect how much is available, which may also affect the price.
For our goats, we prefer second cut hay because we have found the quality and nutritional value work well for our herd.
Third-Cut Hay
Third cut hay is less common and depends heavily on your location, the length of the growing season, and the weather. It is often softer and leafier than earlier cuttings and can be quite nutritious.
Since third cut hay can also be more expensive, look at the overall quality of the bale rather than assuming a later cutting is automatically better. The type of hay, when it was harvested, and how well it was dried and stored all matter when deciding whether it is worth the investment.
SLCG PRO TIP: Test Before You Buy. No matter which cutting you choose, always check the quality of the hay. Avoid hay that smells musty, looks moldy, or is excessively dusty. If you are buying from a new hay supplier, purchase a bale or two first and see how the hay looks, smells, and how well your goats eat it before committing to a large order.
Choosing the Best Hay for Your Goats
Choosing hay for your goats can feel overwhelming at first, especially when you start comparing different types and cuttings. The good news is that once you know what your goats need and what quality hay looks like, choosing the right option gets much easier.
Let’s break it down.
Hay makes up about half of a goat’s daily diet, as shown in the graph above. If your goats don’t have access to pasture, the percentage of grass hay in their diet will be even higher. That’s why choosing the right hay is so important.
For many goats, good quality grass hay can make up the foundation of their diet, but the best choice will depend on the goat. Age, whether they are pregnant or producing milk, access to pasture, and overall condition can all affect their nutritional needs.
When choosing hay, pay attention to the type of hay, overall quality, smell, dust, signs of mold, and how well your goats eat it. Hay availability can also vary quite a bit depending on where you live, so your local county extension office can be a great resource for learning more about the hay grown in your area.
SLCG PRO TIP: ot every goat needs supplemental grain. Healthy adult goats, especially wethers and non bred does that are maintaining a healthy weight, may be able to meet their nutritional needs with good quality forage, along with the appropriate minerals and fresh water.
Growing kids, pregnant does, and does producing milk may have higher nutritional needs and require additional supplementation. If you do make changes to your goat’s diet, do it gradually to give their rumen time to adjust.
Winter Feeding: Keeping Your Goats Warm and Well-Fed
Winter feeding is not just about keeping your goats nourished. Hay also plays an important role in helping them stay warm when temperatures drop.
As hay is digested and fermented in the rumen, heat is produced during the process. This is one reason having plenty of good quality hay available is so important during cold weather, especially when pasture and browse are limited.
In our experience, we prefer second cut hay for winter feeding. Our goats enjoy the softer texture, and we have found the quality works well for our herd. The most important thing is that your goats have access to good quality hay they will readily eat so their rumens can keep working throughout those cold winter days and nights.
The Best Hay for Dairy Goats.
When you are raising dairy goats, good quality hay becomes especially important because pregnant does and does producing milk have higher nutritional needs.
A Good Choice: Alfalfa hay can be an excellent choice for dairy goats because it is higher in protein and calcium than grass hay. This can be especially helpful for does during pregnancy and lactation when their nutritional needs increase.
When Alfalfa Is Not Available: Unfortunately, not every region has easy access to alfalfa hay. Here in Northwestern Pennsylvania, for example, alfalfa hay is not as readily available as good quality grass hay.
If alfalfa hay is difficult to find where you live, do not panic. Good quality grass hay can still be an important part of your dairy goat feeding program. Depending on your goats and their stage of life, you can then provide additional nutrition where needed rather than feeling as if you have to track down one specific type of hay.
Know Your Individual Goats: This is where knowing your individual goats really matters. A dry doe, a pregnant doe, and a doe producing milk do not necessarily have the same nutritional needs, so the best feeding plan may change throughout the year.
The Best Hay for Meat Goats
For meat goats, good quality hay provides the forage they need while supporting healthy growth and body condition. Rather than choosing hay based only on whether it is first or second cut, look at the overall quality and nutritional needs of your goats.
A Good Choice: Quality grass hay can work well for meat goats, especially when they are maintaining a healthy weight and have access to good pasture or browse.
When Their Needs Increase: Growing goats or goats that need to gain weight may have higher nutritional needs. In those situations, a softer, leafier hay may encourage them to eat more, but the overall feeding plan matters more than simply switching from first cut to second cut.
The Best Hay for Pet and Working Goats
Pet goats, wethers, and goats that are not pregnant or producing milk often have different nutritional needs than growing kids or lactating dairy goats. For many of these goats, the goal is maintaining a healthy weight and providing plenty of good quality forage. Working goats may have higher nutritional needs depending on their activity level.
A Good Choice: Quality grass hay is often a practical choice for healthy adult goats with lower nutritional needs.
Watch Their Condition: If a goat is losing weight or not eating well, do not assume that switching to a richer cutting of hay will automatically solve the problem. Look at the quality of the hay, how much the goat is actually eating, and the goat’s overall health and nutritional needs.
Common Questions About Hay for Goats
Chaffhaye is chopped alfalfa that is packaged and fermented rather than dried and baled like traditional hay. It can be another forage option for goat owners, especially when traditional alfalfa hay is difficult to find or store. If you decide to use it, follow the feeding and storage directions on the package carefully.
Both can be useful, but they serve slightly different purposes.
Alfalfa Hay: Provides nutrition along with the long stem forage goats need for normal rumen function. It also gives goats more time to browse and chew.
Alfalfa Pellets: Can be an easy way to add alfalfa to your feeding program when traditional alfalfa hay is difficult to find or store.
Some goat owners use both, feeding good quality hay as the main forage and using alfalfa pellets when additional nutrition is needed. The right choice will depend on the individual goat and its nutritional needs.
Once goat kids begin nibbling solid foods, offer good quality, soft, leafy hay along with the feeding program appropriate for their age. Growing kids have different nutritional needs than mature goats, so quality matters. As they grow and begin eating more forage, continue watching their growth and body condition to be sure their diet is meeting their needs.
Good quality hay should smell fresh, feel dry, and be free from mold and excessive dust. Look for hay with plenty of leaves rather than mostly coarse stems, and watch how readily your goats eat it. If you are buying from a new supplier, try one or two bales before purchasing a large amount. For the most accurate information about the nutritional value of your hay, you can also have a sample tested through a forage testing service or your local extension office.
When it comes to choosing the best hay for your herd, there are a few things to keep in mind: the goats you are raising, their stage of life and nutritional needs, the pasture and browse they have access to, and the quality of the hay available in your area.
Remember, there is not one perfect hay that works for every goat. Learn what good quality hay looks and smells like, choose the best option available for your herd, and watch your goats along the way. Their body condition, appetite, and overall health can tell you a lot about whether your feeding program is working.
The more experience you get buying and feeding hay, the easier those decisions will become. Before long, you will know what works best for your goats and what to look for when it is time to stock the barn again.
Great article. Interesting read thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Tracy Lynn
Hey Tracy, thanks for an informative article on all things hay. I’ve been in love with hay since I was a kid (no pun intended). I tried growing my own food for a time. It was rewarding but also hard work, and as your article illustrates, not simple at all. Nothing is simpler than hopping in my car and picking up dinner at the supermarket. That’s why everybody does it, I suppose. Just saying. : ))
Yes, I agree, Jon…growing food is hard and being at the mercy of the weather is no walk in the park either. However, when things all work out. When the moon is full and those stars aligned and your garden is just bursting with an amazing rainbow of produce, that is when it is all worth it. Every single bit.
Just saying. 🙂
Thank you for this information. I’m learning how to raise goats before actually doing so and your article in hay was very informative.
Thank you for this!