I was out at the pet supply store the other day, as I was running low on the hay that I normally feed to my goats.
To my dismay, though, I arrived to find they were all out of stock in the one I normally use.
I had never had this happen before, and I was naturally a bit concerned about breaking my goats’ habit.
I thought they would probably be fine, but the only hay they had available was Bermuda hay.
I had never given my goats this hay before, so I wanted to look into it first.
So, is Bermuda hay safe for goats?
Yes, Bermuda hay is safe for goats. It can be better than a lot of comparable feeds, like poor quality alfalfa hay. While it is, overall, not the best kind to give your goats, in a pinch it is obviously better than nothing. That said, do try and get them back on their regular hay as soon as you can.
So, Bermuda hay is certainly safe for goats.
It is not immediately toxic or dangerous, and will not cause any problems if fed every now and then.
It is fine in a pinch, but not great as their main feed.
Let’s look further into this.
Is Bermuda hay good for goats?
Yes, Bermuda hay is basically good for goats.
It will provide for all of their basic needs, and will keep them fed and happy while they are eating it.
It’s hard to determine the nutritional value of a given hay, as it will depend very much on local conditions.
Through forage analysis test, you can determine the quality of the Bermuda hay.
In general, though, Bermuda hay tends to be of lower value than other, comparable hays.
That said, it is perfectly fine in a pinch.
As in my situation where it was my only option, it is certainly good to get them by.
In the long term, though, Bermuda hay really is not your best option for goats.
There are a few reasons for this that I will get into, but it’s important to be aware of this.
Bermuda hay is fine in the short term, but can cause issues in the longer term.
Let’s look at why.
Is Bermuda hay bad for goats?
Bermuda hay is not inherently bad for goats.
It is not in any way toxic or poisonous, and will not cause any immediate problems if you feed them Bermuda hay.
That said, there are many caveats to the question of feeding Bermuda hay to goats.
Firstly, Bermuda hay is lower in calcium than most other kinds of hay, like alfalfa.
Over time, particularly poor-quality Bermuda hay can lead to calcium deficiencies.
This can cause problems with bones and muscles.
Bermuda hay is also much lower in protein than other kinds of hay.
This is again an issue for muscle power, but also overall energy.
Your goat will have much less energy if it is only eating Bermuda hay, since it lacks the requisite protein for their diet.
So, while Bermuda hay is not inherently bad for goats, it clearly does not really meet their dietary needs.
Not all kinds are the same, though—so what about coastal Bermuda hay?
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Can goats eat coastal Bermuda hay?
Again, yes, they can, and it is perfectly safe for them.
In a pinch, it is better than nothing, and certainly doesn’t pose them any specific harm or threat.
The story is really the same, though, as regular Bermuda hay.
Coastal Bermuda hay is lacking in the requisite protein and calcium, as well as overall calories, that your goat really needs for its diet.
Coastal Bermuda hay will be fine in the short term, but you shouldn’t switch their diet to it entirely.
It may only be fine for smaller breeds of goat, which need less protein in the first place—like dwarf or pygmy goats.
In general, though, there are many better hays to give your goat.
Let’s look at what the best hay could be for your goat.
What is the best hay for goats?
As I mentioned, it can depend on the quality.
As much as Bermuda hay is not going to meet your goat’s needs, a poor-quality hay of any kind will not either.
So, it’s important to be aware of the quality of hay you’re using.
Again, forage tests are good for this.
Typically, though, grass hay will do just fine.
It will provide their nutritional needs, both their protein, calcium, and all of their other nutritional needs.
But there are other options, too.
The most common hay fed to goats is alfalfa, and it is generally agreed that this is the best hay for them to eat.
It is rich in nutrients and protein, easy for them to digest, and very often formulated specifically for goats.
Alfalfa hay and indeed alfalfa pellets can make up the backbone of a goat’s diet without sacrificing any of their nutritional needs.
For my money, alfalfa hay is your best bet.
Bermuda hay is certainly a fine choice in the case that you are struggling to get anything else, then. it will do the job, keep your goats from going hungry and doesn’t pose any obvious or immediate problems for them. that said, it is also far from the best choice.
You should try and get them off Bermuda hay as soon as you can, and replace it with high quality alfalfa or something comparable.