September 2025 - Kissimmee Valley Feed

Archive for September, 2025

The Importance of Fall Pasture Management

Tuesday, September 30th, 2025

The Importance of Fall Pasture Management: As fall approaches, it’s important to start thinking about how you can properly manage your pasture for the upcoming colder months. Fall pasture management is crucial in providing enough food for your livestock and also ensuring the longevity and health of your pasture. To keep your livestock happy and healthy, understanding the proper techniques for fall grazing is essential. So what can you do to better manage your pasture?

Fertilize Your Pasture

The first step in fall pasture management is to fertilize your pasture. After your livestock has grazed on the grass all summer, it’s essential to provide it with nutrients to ensure new, healthy growth. Fertilizing the pasture will provide the necessary nutrients for grass growth, improving your pasture’s overall health. It also helps with erosion caused by rain and wind that usually occurs in the fall season.

Implement a Grazing Rotation

Another vital aspect of fall pasture management is implementing a grazing rotation system. This technique involves dividing your pasture into smaller portions and rotating the livestock from one area to the other. The pasture gets time to recover and the animals have access to fresher and greener grass. This technique can also help protect the soil from nutrient depletion, soil compaction and reduce parasite prevalence in certain areas of the pasture.

Regular Mowing

Mowing the pasture regularly is beneficial for pastures. It decreases the grass height to a level appropriate for proper nutrient intake and can control the possible invasion of pests. Long grasses will also stop the development of young plants. If the grass grows too tall, it will eventually shade out and displace the grass located underneath. Regular mowing will help the pasture to regrow and be prepared for the spring.

Minimize Overcrowding

Fall is the perfect time for letting livestock graze but this must be in moderation. Too many animals grazing in a single area can lead to overgrazing and soil compaction, negatively affecting the health of the pasture. To avoid overcrowding, ensure the correct stocking rate by conducting an assessment of the available forage in the pasture. An ideal stocking rate ensures that the pasture can handle the amount of livestock it contains without causing damage or degradation to the pasture ecosystem.

Water Access

Lastly, water access is an essential factor to consider when managing your fall pasture. During the fall season, the grass goes dormant, and the cooler temperatures make the soil’s water retention capacity reduce. It’s important to make sure your livestock has access to a watersource that’s easily accessible to all animals and free of debris. A lack of water will limit the amount of dry matter intake and compromise the health and welfare of your livestock.

Fall pasture management is a crucial element in maintaining the health, productivity, and longevity of your pasture and livestock. By utilizing our tips, you can create a pasture management system that benefits both your pasture and livestock. Start planning on how to manage your pastures with our tips or reach out for specific and tailored recommendations for your individual needs.

Posted in Articles | Comments Off on The Importance of Fall Pasture Management

Save Money on Specialty Hay

Friday, September 26th, 2025

Save Money on Specialty Hay at Kissimmee Valley Feed in St. Cloud, FL.! As the days grow shorter and a crispness fills the air, experienced animal owners know that now is the time to prepare for the cooler months ahead. One of the most critical tasks is securing enough high-quality forage for your livestock. With natural grazing becoming scarce, a reliable supply of hay is essential to keep your animals healthy, happy, and well-fed through winter. We’re here to help you get ready with our selection of premium specialty hay, now available at lowered prices.

Our Specialty Hay Selection

We’ve lowered our prices on some of our most popular specialty hays to help you prepare for the season. Each option provides excellent nutritional value and quality you can trust.

Alfalfa 3-String (100lb Bales) – $39.99

Often called the “queen of forages,” alfalfa is a legume hay packed with protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals. It is an excellent choice for animals with high energy demands, such as performance horses, lactating mares, or young, growing livestock. Its high calcium content also makes it beneficial for bone development. Our heavy-duty 100lb 3-string bales offer a substantial amount of this premium forage at a great value.

Western T/A (Timothy/Alfalfa) 2-Tie – $23.99

This popular mix combines the high protein and nutrient density of alfalfa with the excellent fiber content of timothy grass. A Timothy/Alfalfa blend provides a balanced diet that supports both energy needs and digestive health. It is a fantastic, all-around choice for a wide range of horses and other livestock, offering great palatability that even picky eaters tend to enjoy.

Western Timothy 2-Tie – $24.99

Western Timothy hay is a favorite among horse owners for good reason. It is a high-fiber, low-protein grass hay that is easy on the digestive system. This makes it an ideal forage for maintenance horses, easy keepers, or animals with sensitivities to richer hays like straight alfalfa. It promotes healthy gut function and encourages natural chewing and foraging behavior.

Peanut Hay 2-Tie – $23.99

Peanut hay is a highly palatable and nutritious legume hay that serves as an excellent alternative to alfalfa. It offers a similar high-protein profile and is a great source of energy. Many animals love the taste, making it a good option for encouraging weight gain or feeding animals with high metabolic needs. It’s a valuable forage, particularly for goats, sheep, and cattle.

Why Stocking Up Now is a Smart Move

Planning your winter feed supply is more than just a chore; it’s a vital part of responsible animal husbandry. As temperatures drop, grass growth slows and eventually stops, leaving pastures bare. Waiting until the last minute to buy hay can lead to several problems. You might face limited availability, higher prices due to increased demand, or lower quality options as the best supplies are bought up early.

By stocking up now, you can:

Ensure a Consistent Supply: Have peace of mind knowing your animals have a steady source of nutrition, regardless of weather conditions.
Save Money: Take advantage of our lowered prices before winter demand drives costs up. Buying in bulk now is a smart financial decision.
Guarantee Quality: Secure high-quality, nutritious hay that will support your animals’ health when they need it most.
Reduce Stress: Avoid the frantic search for forage in the middle of a cold snap. A well-stocked barn means less worry for you and better care for your animals.

Prepare today for a worry-free winter. Visit us to Save Money on Specialty Hay and take advantage of these great prices.

Posted in News & Updates, Specials | Comments Off on Save Money on Specialty Hay

4 Tips for Managing and Feeding Goats in the Fall

Friday, September 5th, 2025

4 Tips for Managing and Feeding Goats in the Fall: Just like people, fall is a transition period for goats. This is the time to prepare their bodies for winter weather and the breeding season, and make adjustments to their diet as needed with good quality forage.

We would like to provide you with some tips for managing your goat herd as the leaves change and air cools off.

1. Body Condition

When feeding goats in fall, use the time post-weaning of goat kids to adjust the Body Condition of does. You can reduce their diet from alfalfa hay-based diet to grass hay. If good pasture isn’t available, dry grass forage of a horse quality is acceptable and can be fed free choice or twice a day. Goats require long stem fiber (roughage) for proper rumen function. The long fiber lengths of pasture, hay and browse are necessary for rumen function. The rumen is rich in live bacteria that begins to digest the fiber.

2. Preparation for Breeding

Prepare your doe for breeding by increasing nutritional plane to flush additional eggs for breeding. The flushing process increases the likelihood of twin kids rather than single kids. When increasing calories for their diet, care should be taken when selecting and feeding grain. This should start 2-3 weeks prior to introducing the buck or artificial insemination.

3. Health and Maintenance

The fall is a great time prior to breeding to worm and vaccinate the goats – medications and drugs to utilize will depend on local conditions and veterinary recommendations. Be sure to follow local recommendations for worming and vaccination to ensure your animals remain healthy.

4. Focus on Feet

Prior to breeding, check and trim feet. Goat hooves tend to grow more rapidly than sheep and prior to pregnancy is a great time to conduct foot maintenance.

When feeding your goats, each goat requires 2 – 4 pounds of forage per day (3-4% of body weight in pounds). Because goats are ruminant, avoid making drastic changes to their diet. Instead, make a slow transition to allow the bacteria in their rumen time to adjust. Make sure that your goats also have access to clean water.

In conclusion, check out Kissimmee Valley Feeds Goat Feed selection here and visit us for more Tips for Managing and Feeding Goats in the Fall.

Article Source: Standlee Forage

Posted in Articles, News & Updates | Comments Off on 4 Tips for Managing and Feeding Goats in the Fall

Stan is Handing Over the Keys to Kissimmee Valley Feed!

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025

Stan Handing Over the Keys to Kissimmee Valley Feed to Samantha Holloway Stan Touchstone is Handing Over the Keys to Kissimmee Valley Feed (both locations!) After 34 years of hard work, dedication and integrity, Stan has sold the business to Samantha Holloway. They made it official on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Samantha has been managing the Main Store for the past seven years and is very excited to take the reins and continue the legacy of your favorite hometown feed stores.

Stan will still be around, but he’s looking forward to spending time with his beloved wife and daughter, Lisa and Mattison. We are SO excited for both Stan and Samantha as they enter uncharted and exciting territory. Kissimmee Valley Feed will remain the same feed store you know and love in Osceola County.

In celebration, we’re hosting a retirement party on September 6th from 8 am-2 pm at the Main Store, where you can wish Stan the best of luck, meet Samantha, and take advantage of HUGE savings! Food and drinks will also be provided. Read all about it here.

About Samantha

Samantha is a Osceola County girl, born and raised here in St. Cloud. She has years of experience, starting from a part time sales associate in pet retail to a store manager who helped build out a store: then she met Stan.

After hearing about Samantha’s good work from a friend, Stan set up an interview and immediately had full confidence in her. She’s put her heart and soul into Kissimmee Valley Feed for the past seven years, learning everything she could from Stan. Samantha says he’s been the best mentor she could’ve ever asked for.

Samantha says things won’t be changing at Kissimmee Valley Feed. She plans to keep it the same as it has been for the past 34 years with Stan – she wants the same hometown feeling; the customers to feel welcome as soon as they walk through the door. The loyalty cards aren’t going anywhere! She still plans to stay active in the community, supporting the 4H youth; and all the beautiful traditions Stan started…but she does want to give the store bathroom a good facelift!

She’s looking forward to focusing on both stores and is excited to watch them grow.

What’s Next for Stan?

First things first: for Stan AND his wife Lisa, there will be no more waking up at 3 in the morning and being at the store at 3:30 am! So…maybe they’ll sleep in until at least 5! Stan and Lisa are going to travel and spend time with their cherished daughter Mattison.

Stan started the process of getting ready to make the transition to retirement about three years ago. It was a lot of work and he knew all along that Samantha was the right person for it. Fast track to this year – he had a big health scare on Easter Sunday – both Samantha and Stan thank God for looking over him. As if by divine intervention, Samantha was able to take over the store while Stan recovered. She took good care of it, and now she’s bought it!

Stan said he loves the store and plans on still being around! He says the store has been really, really good to him and his family. He, his wife, and daughter have all put in so much work together. They’ve had 34 good years, living his dream and now Stan is Handing Over the Keys to Kissimmee Valley Feed to Samantha so she can live her dream.

Kissimmee Valley Feed Origin Story

34 years ago in 1991, Stan opened the doors to the store. One of the first sales was $42 – he remembers it well. Later that week, the first commercial account was Gatorland Theme Park, the owner Earnest came in to start doing business with Stan, and still does to this day. It’s been a long time.

Stan wants to thank people from the early years – he remembers Mrs. Bates, whose ranch he worked on before he started the store. Mrs. Bates always went to feed stores for her ranch supplies and would fuss about how dirty the stores were. So when Stan opened Kissimmee Valley Feed, he kept Mrs. Bates in mind – wanting to create a store where Mrs. Bates and all the rancher’s wives would be happy to walk into. He wanted to sell the very best products whether it was hay or feed.

They started out focusing on cattle and horses – about the only things in Osceola County. But things have definitely changed. They struggled the first few years open but kept growing and making it work, with a lot of effort and love. Stan gives many thanks to the amazing people who have worked for him and every customer who has walked through the doors. He especially wants to thank Lisa and Mattison who were there every step of the way.

They continued growing and expanding the show room. In late 2018- early 2019, a second location was opened as a pet store that is continuously bringing in new inventory and improving. Stan feels blessed by God. The rest is history, and now there’s a new chapter unfolding. We can’t wait to share it with you.