Changing goals and speed

[Bruce]

I bet Ruby is super happy to just be able to walk again.

 

[AClark]

I'm sure she is, she's such a sweetheart, she's always looking for attention. She drives me a bit crazy though with her "cow bawling" voice lol.

 

[AClark]

You ever have a morning where you just stop and say "I effed up, I effed up bad"? Ok, so it's not that bad. I have my wheelbarrow completely full of dirt and compost for planting. Did I consider filling the hay feeder before I did this? Of course not. I'm about to head out carrying an entire bale of hay and being mobbed by goats, it's bad enough in the wheelbarrow, but this should be interesting.

Milking is increasing in ease and productivity. Dolly is making it a breeze, she now runs over and hops up on her own, stands to be milked, then hops down and goes back to her pen. Smart little creature. I thought I was in for it the second day when she decided she was going to sit down and give me a bad time by kicking my bucket out of my hand (she was aiming at me) but she had a change of heart I guess. She doesn't like the head-catch, so I wrapped a dog leash around the top and clip it to her collar instead. It does give room for her to move around more, but she doesn't.
We're just a bit over 2 lbs a day @ 6 days in. I'm feeding prairie hay 24/7 and also keep alfalfa cubes out, along with the regular ration of pellets. I guess the only complaint I have right now is the weather is too chilly to body clip her and I've only clipped her back end and udder and she looks funny.

Back to building a "better mousetrap" as always with the farm. We are working on big hutches for the rabbits, but have moved our grow-outs to the big heavy duty pen.
Since I'm feeding alfalfa cubes, I am having a small issue. The big goats can eat them without much fuss, but Dolly struggles since they are so big she can't get her tiny mouth on them. I have to smash them up into smaller chunks with a hammer. This is inconvenient, and I'm working on making a "mill" of some sort to ease the process. Feeding baled alfalfa is a choice, but not the choice I want, there's too much waste and it's too expensive for them to waste. The cubes are more affordable, locally made, and they basically have zero waste. I don't mind wasting grass hay as much due to the cheap cost, but at $12 a bale I might have a coronary with alfalfa.

 

[animalmom]

I was using Hay-Rite mini cubes for my Nigerians and rabbits and found even the mini cubes were big for the goats' mouths. The rabbits loved the cubes and would gnaw on them all day.

UPERIOR GRADE PREMIUM ALFALFA MINI CUBES
APPROVED FOR ALL CLASSES OF LIVESTOCK

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
CRUDE PROTEIN NO LESS THAN 16%
CRUDE FAT NO LESS THAN 1.4%
CRUDE FIBER NO MORE THAN 30%
MOISTURE NO MORE THAN 12%

INGREDIENTS:
SUN-CURED ALFALFA HAY,
BENTONITE MINERALS ADDED

ALL NATURAL - NO CHEMICALS - NO DYES

FEEDING GUIDELINES
RECOMMENDED FEEDING AMOUNTS ARE 1% TO 2% OF THE ANIMAL’S TOTAL BODY WEIGHT, FED DAILY.

FEEDING AT GROUND LEVEL IS RECOMMENDED FOR HORSES. CUBES MAY BE SOFTENED WITH WATER FOR SENIORS OR ANIMALS WITH DENTAL PROBLEMS.

HAY-RITE ALFALFA CUBES CAN BE USED AS A COMPLETE SOURCE OF PROTEIN AND ROUGHAGE FOR MOST HORSES AND OTHER LIVESTOCK.


I then switched farm stores and the new store had another alfalfa product called Alfa Pro.
50 LBS. (22.68) NET WEIGHT HI-PRO #11515 ALFA-PRO

2/16

GROUND ALFALFA CUBE FOR MATURE HORSES GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

Crude Protein Lysine
Crude Fat Crude Fiber Calcium Calcium Phosphorus Copper Selenium

Minimum 14.0% Minimum 0.4% Minimum 2.5% Maximum 25.0% Minimum 1.0% Maximum 1.5%

Zinc Minimum

Vitamin A Vitamin 0 Vitamin E

Minimum Minimum Minimum

INGREDIENTS

Minimum Minimum Minimum

0.4% 20.0 ppm 0.3 ppm 70.0 ppm 4,000 IU/LB 500 IU/LB 70 IU/LB

Alfalfa hay, cracked corn, molasses products, vegetable oil, monocalcium phosphate, salt, calcium carbonate, saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast, roughage products, Vitamin E supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, Vitamin A supplement, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), mineral oil, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, folic acid, Vitamin D3 supplement, Vitamin B12 supplement, manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, copper chloride, ferrous sulfate, sodium selenite, ethylenediamine dihydriodide, cobalt sulfate, magnesium oxide, propionic acid (preservative), natural and artificial flavoring.

FEEDING DIRECTIONS

Feed horses at the rate of 1.5 to 2.0% of body weight depending on condition, physical activity andlor production stage of the horse. It is suggested to provide feed at a minimum of twice-a-day in equal portion. Also, provide fresh, clean water at all times.

CAUTION: This feed contains added copper. Do not feed to sheep or other related species. Keep feed fresh in cool, dry storage. Do not use feed that is old, molded or insect contaminated.

HI-PRO

MANUFACTUREDBY

Hi-Pro Feeds Inc. Home Office P.O. Box 519 Friona, Texas 79035

This product is much smaller, about 1/2" ish round, extruded tubular, and the goats seem to like it more... easier for them to eat and I don't have to break up the pieces. Rabbits still get their share to gnaw on so everyone is happy.

Some goats don't seem to care for the Alfa Pro, but then they are probably the same that wouldn't touch the Hay-Rite stuff either and then there are the few who deign to only eat "real" alfalfa.

I don't remember off hand what I was paying for the Hay-Rite, but the Alfa Pro is $25.50 for 50 lbs. It sounds pricy, but there is no waste. Anyway, it works for me as I don't have to do anything but open the bag and scoop out some for the goaties.

 

[AClark]

The bowl you posted are the size I am getting. Though they are made literally next door to me at the hay broker - they are guaranteed 17% - owner said they run about 20-21% protein most of the time. The goats like them, just they are ridiculously big for a tiny goat (Dolly is probably a Nigerian/Pygmy mix - looks like a slightly stockier Nigerian). The owner was telling me that they should do some that are quarter sized and maybe hit more of a goat market - so maybe.
The bags I'm buying are $9 for 50 lbs. Can't beat the price on them. The pellets I feed are these:
-Guaranteed Analysis-
Crude Protein, not less than 14.00%
Crude Fat, not less than 2.50%
Crude Fiber, not more than 9.00%
Calcium, not less than 0.50%
Calcium, not more than 1.00%
Phosphorus, not less than 0.70%
Salt, not less than 0.75%
Salt, not more than 1.25%
Potassium, not less than 1.20%
Vitamin A, not less than 4,800 IU/LB

-Feeding Directions-

For weaned beef cattle on pasture, feed 1 to 1-1/2 pounds per 100 pounds of body weight every day. Provide adequate roughage and fresh water.
Availability: 3/4" cubes or 3/8" pellets, sacked or bulk.

Plus sweet feed on the milk stand, and the rest get some because I have some that are on the lean side that I picked up earlier this month.

-Guaranteed Analysis-

Crude Protein, not less than 9.00%
Crude Fat, not less than 3.00%
Crude Fiber, not more than 10.00%
Calcium, not less than 0.25%
Calcium, not more than 0.75%
Phosphorus, not less than 0.30%
Salt, not less than 0.70%
Salt, not more than 1.20%
Potassium, not less than 0.45%
-Feeding Directions-

To be fed as a growing ration (1-2% of body weight) or a fattening ration (2-3% of body weight). It can also be fed as a basic grain ration for weaned cattle. Provide fresh water and adequate roughage.
Availability: Sacked or bulk.

I've been debating trying for a higher protein feed - this mill doesn't have unmedicated goat feed. This is what they carry for goat feed:
http://www.stillwatermill.com/index.cfm?show=10&mid=83

Now I do have the option to go to Tractor Supply, but it's over 15 miles from me and overpriced IMHO. My local co-op carries the A&M products and is a lot closer and more affordable, but they don't carry goat products. Goats aren't huge in my area like they are up by OKC and Tulsa.

 

[animalmom]

I try not to buy feed at Tractor as they are usually much higher. The 18% stillwatermill product looks good with its calcium to phosphorus ratio and I like the 18% protein... but you couldn't feed that to your milkers if you are drinking the milk. But you know that.

Yes getting unmedicated goat feed is challenging... and the goats don't like getting jerked around with different feed... not that my goats are set in their ways, or god forbid spoiled.

Count your blessings I'm paying $17.00 for 3-strand alfalfa and am happy for it. Only the milkers get the real flakes, the others get the Alfa Pro. They will give me grey hair!

 

[Bruce]

Maybe you could make a small guillotine to cut those (not) cubes in half??

 

[CntryBoy777]

I know what ya mean about the pounding with a hammer, I'm trying to think of something to do a similar thing, but with a standard alfalfa pellet and an alfalfa/oat pellet for my old girl. She has teeth problems and can't grind her feed or grass properly and it hangs in her throat and causes her to throw her head trying to get it back out....slinging froth everywhere. It isn't as bad since I started crushing the pellets smaller and to dust that she just licks, but I'm thinking it may become a tough decision that is fixing to have to be faced so she won't suffer and continue to lose weight.

 

[AClark]

See that's my idea, I saw on YouTube where a guy made a home made pecan cracker - something like that might just have enough breaking and grinding action. In your case, what about a small flour mill, like the kind that crack and grind wheat? Would she eat it if you soaked it first? Mine turned their nose up at soaked cubes, but it's a thought. Don't worry, it wasn't wasted, horses like soggy food, even if goats are primadonnas. I hate to have to make that decision over bad teeth

Here's another option from that same mill @animalmom - it's their "foal" ration. I'm not sure if my co-op carries this one though, they have mostly cattle products. They have around 20 different cattle feeds but like 4 or 5 horse feeds and only the 1 goat ration. TS is way expensive, and we have Atwoods, but they are around the same price, $14-$16 (I can't remember) for a 50 lb bag - feasible if you're only feeding a handful of goats or smaller goats, not so much when you have big chow hounds.
-Guaranteed Analysis-

Crude Protein, not less than 16.00%
Lysine, not less than 1.00%
Crude Fat, not less than 4.00%
Crude Fiber, not more than 8.50%
Calcium, not less than 0.75%
Calcium, not more than 1.25%
Phosphorus, not less than 0.50%
Copper, not less than 40 ppm
Selenium, not less than 0.50 ppm
Zinc, not less than 220 ppm
Vitamin A, not less than 3,000 IU/LB
Vitamin D3, not less than 400 IU/LB
Vitamin E, not less than 50 IU/LB

 

[animalmom]

It is difficult to get the perfect feed, period. We all make decisions as to what would work for our situation. In the feed you last listed, the copper/phosphorus ratio is not great... but it would work.

I truly understand the frustration of trying to find the right feed for each animal having recently changed feed stores twice... not move across country, just changed feed stores in the same town. The first changed store was all Purina, not a favorite of mine, but it was what it was... except the girls would not eat the pellets. Not for love or money. The second store, a bit more of a drive out for me, and the owner understood that I felt I needed a different feed for the boys and the girls and went through all his suppliers looking for non-medicated feed. Fortunately he found one, got it and the girls eat it. They don't love it like their old feed which I can't get anymore, but they eat it.

Now watch, after all the work you've done your little divas will hike their noses at it. Ungrateful little beasties.