This webinar was recorded on December 16, 2020.

Feed represents the single largest expense for sheep and goat producers and the base of every small ruminant diet is forage. This webinar helps producers know how to take a representative forage sample, understands the results and how to apply this information in making economical feeding decisions. Speakers – Ashley Olson and Ryan Sterry, UW-Madison Extension Ag Educators. Demonstration and education on the use and application of forage sampling in meeting sheep and goat nutritional needs and economic implications to the farm business.

Key points:

• Forage samples need to be representative of an entire lot of hay
• Lots of hay vary depending upon forage, time of year, and harvest management
• Sheep and goats have different nutritional requirements at different stages of their production cycle
• Overfeeding and underfeeding small ruminants rarely results in profit. All shepherds and goat owners should know the forage value of what they are feeding or considering purchasing. Overfeeding in periods of high forage costs can reduce or eliminate potential profit. Like Goldilocks, we need to feed sheep and goats “just right”.