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SMALL RUMINANT
PRODUCTION WINTER PREPAREDNESS |
By Robert Spencer
North Alabama Extension Specialist
Alabama Cooperative Extension System
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AS THE MANAGER
OF YOUR FARM THERE ARE THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
CONSIDERED BY NOW AND THINGS YOU NEED TO CONSIDER
FOR THIS WINTER.
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Planning ahead
minimizes the opportunity for emergencies during the
coldest of days!
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Forages
• Do your pastures have adequate forage availability
for this fall and winter?
• Do you have the ability to implement rotational
grazing if additional grazing areas are needed?
• If not, what kind of back-up plan do you have?
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Hay
• Do you have adequate amounts of hay to get
your animals through winter and into early spring?
• If not, what kind of back-up plan do you have?
• Do you have "average" hay for animals
without special needs?
• Do you have high-quality hay for lactating
animals? |
Fertilizer
• Have your pastures been fertilized this fall
to insure high nutritional value forage?
• If not, have you made plans for supplemental
feeds and feeding? |
Lime
• Have your pastures been limed this fall?
• Liming pastures contributes to: insuring forages
are able to access nutrients for the soil; sweeten
the flavor of existing forages; and minimizes parasite
problems. |
Shelter
• Do your animals have adequate shelter for
cold and rain conditions? While a simple pole barn
is adequate for keeping animals dry, they need a way
to get out of the wind when wind-chill is a factor. |
Nutritional
Planning
• Do you have plans for supplemental grain feeding
if necessary?
• Do you have plans to address the nutritional
requirements of lactating animals? |
Feed
• What resources do you have for supplemental
grain feeding?
• Is it the best quality for the lowest price? |
Water
• Is water readily available despite weather
conditions? Freeze-proof faucets are always a good
idea.
• Are water containers close by to water sources?
• Are automatic water systems protected from
freezing?
• How will you deal with water troughs freezing
over?
• What is your back-up plan in case temperatures
remain below freezing for several days? |
Nursery
• Do you have a nursery area for nannies that
are kidding?
• Is the area adequately enclosed to keep animals
comfortable and protected from freezing conditions?
• Are you able to set up heat lamps if necessary?
• Are there facilities allowing access to water,
feed, and hay? |
Kidding
Area
• Do you have an area for kids to remain protected
from extreme weather conditions?
• Is there an area for them to get away from
the adults and young goats?
• Do you have the ability to set up supplemental
heating if needed? |
Creep-Feeding
Area
• Does your farm have access to an area that
allows young animals to creep feed?
• If not, can you readily set up a creep-feeding
area for the young animals?
• What type of feeding schedule will you establish
for the young animals?
• Do they have access to water, hay, and feed
at all time or just specific times? |
PREPARING FOR SPRING
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Forages
• What conditions are your pastures? |
Hay
• Do you have enough hay to get through the
spring?
• What is your back-up plan if more is necessary? |
Fertilizer
• When (if) do you plan on fertilizing? |
Lime
• It takes a long time after application of
lime for the lime to have an effect; but if you did
not lime in the fall, spring lime application is better
than none. |
Shelter
• Does your barn allow for adequate ventilation
as temperatures warm up? |
Nutrition
Planning
• Do you have adequate forage available (nutritional
value) or will you need to provide supplemental feeding?
• Do you have plans for supplemental feeding
lactating nannies and young animals? |
Feed
• Does the nutritional value of your hay and
feeds appropriately neet the needs of your animals? |
Water
• Is plenty of water available as temperatures
increase and so does water consumption by your animals? |
Nursery
• Do you have a sheltered nursery area for nannies
who are kidding? |
Kidding
Area
• Do you have an area for kids to get away from
adults and to rest? |
Creep-Feeding
Area
• What plans do you have for creep feeding young
and weanlings?
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Urban
Regional Extension Specialist
Alabama Cooperative Extension System
802 Veterans Dr.
Florence, AL 35630
(256) 766-6223 Office
(256) 718-2049 Fax
(256) 689-0274 Cell
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