[nchen7]

So I posted this thread earlier, and it seemed like there was no other option.
http://www.thegoatspot.net/forum/f2...y-necessary-there-suitable-alernative-150707/

I did more digging and asking on other forums, and it looks like there is!!!

It's called leucaena!!!
http://www.tropicalgrasslands.asn.au/pastures/leucaena.htm

http://www.feedipedia.org/node/282

I thought I'd share with everyone, in case such a question comes up again..

Hope you're enjoying your Sundays!

 

[nchen7]

Oh, and moringa is amazing too, but not as easily found here.....

 

[ksalvagno]

Glad you found something. It is much harder to help when we don't have the same climate and foods available.

 

[nchen7]

thanks Karen.

Yes, it's also hard when no one knows the names of the plants here! someone from the US actually gave me the answer...they live in TX and are growing it themselves, and someone in AZ is growing moringa!

 

[happybleats]

very interesting : ) thanks for shareing!!!

 

[OakHollowRanch]

I am so glad you were able to find something in your area. Congrats!

 

[StaceyRosado]

its likely in the family of alfalfa since its name sounds very similar to lucerne http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfalfa

 

[AmyBoogie]

Hooray!!!
After all this research you're going to be able to write a book "Goating in the Tropics".

 

[nchen7]

^^ seriously! between my issues with nutrition, and Dayna's hoof issues, we got whole raising goats in the tropics covered!

 

[Trickyroo]

That's great ! How do your goats like it ?

 

[nchen7]

my doe in milk and buckling will eat it. my other doe will nibble, but won't really eat a lot of it. i'm sure she'll come around soon.

now everywhere I drive, I take note of where I can go forage some. yes....i'm fully embracing the crazy goat lady title!

 

[Thecowboysgirl]

We are in SW Florida, which is subtropical. Last year I planted Moringa trees, which are similar in fodder value to leucaena, and this year I am sprouting my first leucaena.

One of my favorite things about the Moringas is that they grow prolifically, and no matter how badly the goats abuse them they bounce right back with a little rest.

Another idea for Florida folks is perennial peanut hay, which is rare but it is out there. It has a similar feed profile to alfalfa. You can grow perennial peanut for yourself in warm areas.

 

[nchen7]

oh yes, but we don't have a lot of land, and not sure where we can find it here (people don't like to deviate from growing their usual whatever it is they're growing).

i'd love to grow more moringa, but our soil on our land is terrible. we put 1 tree in the ground, and it kind of struggled. the goats got to it now, and it's trying to bounce back, but it looks so sad! we have 4 more in pots from seed (they're grow great from seed), but the slugs got to them.

sigh...so many pests in the tropics!

 

[Dayna]

I've seen this growing on the Kona side, they call it Haole Koa. I'll have to look for it on this side now!

 

[nchen7]

^^ my bf said they're really easy to transplant. he put some twigs in the ground and they grew!

moringa is wonderful too. if you can get your hands on some seeds, try growing those.