Posted in Ranch News

Feeding our Animals

fooder beets

The Mangel Wurtzel crop this year grew well and has been fed out to pigs, goats, and chickens.  This is year number 2 of growing these fodder beets; they’re a high carbohydrate BIG beet, (like sugar beets, but NOT GMO!) and we’re trying to grow some more of our own animal food.  The goats and pigs eat the beets and the goats and chickens eat the tops…great nutrition for all the animals.  We can’t grow grain or hay, but we can grow beets and kale!  This year went well with keeping critters out, a better watering system and good soil prep.  We produced about twice as much as in 2012; the deer and nibbly rodents took a toll that year.  We would like to end the season in 2014 with double the 2013 harvest, and we may be onto the path for home-grown winter feed for our pregnant sows and milking goats.

locally raised meat, eggs and dairy products
Willow-Witt Ranch is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of a unique ecosystem in the Southern Cascades, and the headwaters, wetlands, and forests that arise there. We provide education on the values of ecology and of the complex web of food and environment by operating a small certified organic farm and Farm Stay accommodations for a unique agritourism experience.
flourish
Oregon Tilth Certified Organic
Willow-Witt Ranch

658 Shale City Road
Ashland, OR 97520
(541) 890-1998
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