Aside from brush lands and pasture, another low-cost feed for goats is good quality legume hay, such as alfalfa or clover, even when heavily mixed with bromegrass, orchard grass, or timothy. Legumes are favored over grasses because they are much higher in protein and in a variety of minerals. The nutrient composition of forages can be determined by analysis in a forage-testing laboratory. Your county agricultural agent can help you select a laboratory. Earlier cutting date indicates more digestible nutrients.
More leaves provide more protein and minerals.
Lack of seed heads indicates early cutting. Coarse stems suggest late cutting while crushed stems indicate early removal from the field, and thus less damage. The date of harvest is the most important single factor affecting feed consumption and quality. As the stage of maturity changes, there is a marked effect on the protein content. As the protein content decreases over this period, the fiber content increases from about 27 percent to approximately 38 percent.