Boers on diet

[Catahoula]

Is it ok not to have food for goats at night? Of course water will be available at all time. Just no hay overnight. My two boer yearlings are really fat. I feed them about 1 lb of Chaffhaye and 1/2 lb of grass pellets twice a day. They get to roam and browse on the property. There really no much to eat (at least, that's what I thought)...some grass and pine trees. If I skip breakfast, they would just browse more to make up for lack of breakfast. If I skip dinner, then they have no choice but to wait till morning. I had already cut down on their Chaffhaye and fill them up with grass pellets. They don't seem to slim down a bit.

 

[bonbean01]

I have sheep and not goats...but if it was me, I would cut out the pellets for now and just give free choice hay and water.

 

[Catahoula]

I have sheep and not goats...but if it was me, I would cut out the pellets for now and just give free choice hay and water.

But they'll just stuff them full with hay overnight. Chaffhaye is alfalfa, that's why I replace some with grass pellets (not grains). The problem is anything free choice they eat.

 

[ragdollcatlady]

Hi Catahoula,

I would do just that. You could start reducing the evening meal to just a snack to get them used to less in the evening. One meal a day should be fine if that is what you are aiming for. Being boers, and therefore always starving, maybe a little bit of non nutritious filler like straw (extra fiber) would help with the need to fill up, without adding calories and unnecessary nutrition? Just a thought, in case they think you just lost your marbles and can't remember how much they want to eat.

 

[Rocco]

Chaffhaye is pretty rich. I'd cut back on that first thing. I use it, but only in winter, as a source of extra calories for bred or lactating does.

So, I'd cut back on Chaffhaye and add a good quality other hay, whatever is available in your area at a decent price.

 

[Catahoula]

I have cut back on Chaffhaye this morning for the two boers. Feeding time was a chaos. The Alpine yearling was comfused because he eats with the Boers. The reduced amount send him running around. Meanwhile I have to guard the alpaca so the others don't steal his food. He is such a slow eater! I forgot to lock up the kids so one of them came out and want to 'share' food with the paca. I am standing there trying to block the goats from the paca...which made the paca panic and stop eating.
Need to configure the barn layout again so I can separate the animals... Sigh... Those boers...

 

[Rocco]

Need to configure the barn layout again so I can separate the animals... Sigh... Those boers...

LOL. Boers can be pigs, for sure. Screaming at each other "IT'S ALL MINE GET AWAY".

I have my herd now down to only 4 Boers and the rest are Boer-Myotonic cross or full blood Myotonic...which get along a lot better at feeding time. I have three of the four Boers off with the buck now, so feeding time is pretty tranquil for a change.

 

[ragdollcatlady]

I figured they would think you fell off your rocker if you tried to cut back. I absolutely love my boers, but man do they EAT!