Livinwright Farm
Goat Fancier
I am wondering if there is a way to make feed for my goats during the winter months that is more cost effective than buying the bags of Dumor or Purina.... espescially for my pregger does..... Any suggestions?? 
Cheaper way to feed?
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Emmetts Dairy
Loving the herd life
I dont mix my own feed. So Im not sure. Im sure there is but there is soooo much involved with the nutrition I dont wanna make a mistake and forget something really valuable to them. It just works for us.
So I just pay the piper and buy a good balanced mixed feed grain, quality hay and a good goat loose mineral for them. And we have been successful.
Goats are not cheap...I keep telling my husband its cheaper than putting a kid through college!!!
(I think)
Im sure people do. I choose not to...
Good luck!
So I just pay the piper and buy a good balanced mixed feed grain, quality hay and a good goat loose mineral for them. And we have been successful.
Goats are not cheap...I keep telling my husband its cheaper than putting a kid through college!!!
(I think) Im sure people do. I choose not to...
Good luck!
- Thread starter
- #3
Livinwright Farm
Goat Fancier
I don't fore-see this as being something we will do for very long, just need to find something cheaper due to finances right now. Hopefully we will start selling chicks and eggs soon... so that will help.Emmetts Dairy said:I dont mix my own feed. So Im not sure. Im sure there is but there is soooo much involved with the nutrition I dont wanna make a mistake and forget something really valuable to them. It just works for us.
So I just pay the piper and buy a good balanced mixed feed grain, quality hay and a good goat loose mineral for them. And we have been successful.
Goats are not cheap...I keep telling my husband its cheaper than putting a kid through college!!!
Im sure people do. I choose not to...
Good luck!
Emmetts Dairy
Loving the herd life
We dont sell chicks, cuz you need a license...but we certainly sell alot of eggs! And I tell ya..those eggs pay for alot of feed on this farm for sure!!!
Good luck...I hope you get some regular customers soon!!!
Good luck...I hope you get some regular customers soon!!!
- Thread starter
- #5
Livinwright Farm
Goat Fancier
According to the application for licensing, by the STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, MARKETS & FOOD(in caps only because it's how it was on the form), "apply for a license to engage regularly in the business of buying, selling, and /or transporting live poultry which is to be sold for food purposes."Emmetts Dairy said:
All you have to do is state in your bill of sale/receipt that all poultry being sold is as PET ONLY. NOT TO BE EATEN. this not only covers your butt, but also stays within the laws of New Hampshire.
I always search the laws/ordinances for any and all ways to accomplish my goals. Is this a bad thing?
Emmetts Dairy
Loving the herd life
No its not a bad thing at all!!! Its great!!! You should do your homework before getting into a new venture for certain!!!
We choose not too...for many reasons...we stick with eggs...and it works great for us!!
We choose not too...for many reasons...we stick with eggs...and it works great for us!!
- Thread starter
- #7
Livinwright Farm
Goat Fancier
Emmetts Dairy said:
freemotion
Self Sufficient Queen
I sprout whole grains. I also have not had to worry about feed recalls.
Sprouting increases the nutrient values as well as the bioavailability and neutralizes anti-nutrients found in all grains/seeds. It can be done on any scale, but is quite simple for a small herd/flock. I feed my poultry this, too. No commercial feeds here. I do feed goat minerals, loose, free-choice, and as many veggies as I can get my hands on.
Sprouting increases the nutrient values as well as the bioavailability and neutralizes anti-nutrients found in all grains/seeds. It can be done on any scale, but is quite simple for a small herd/flock. I feed my poultry this, too. No commercial feeds here. I do feed goat minerals, loose, free-choice, and as many veggies as I can get my hands on.
babsbag
Herd Master
Please tell me more about sprouting grains. I understand the concept, but where do you do it, how long does it take, how do you feed it, etc? Please, give us the details.freemotion said:I sprout whole grains. I also have not had to worry about feed recalls.
Sprouting increases the nutrient values as well as the bioavailability and neutralizes anti-nutrients found in all grains/seeds. It can be done on any scale, but is quite simple for a small herd/flock. I feed my poultry this, too. No commercial feeds here. I do feed goat minerals, loose, free-choice, and as many veggies as I can get my hands on.
You might look at your feed bag, percentages of what is contained in the mix. You could take those percentages and get plain grains mixed at the local elevator or feed mill. You could add in a goat vitamin, but leave out the molasses because it doesn't provide any helpful calories. Molasses is mostly used as a cheap binder, keeps down dust and makes the junk misc. fillers palatable to the animals.
I have attended a number of feed programs for horses, and the commercial feed is REALLY expensive if you feed in quantity.
We have a recipe using whole oats, cracked corn, soybean meal, that has worked very well for all kinds of horses in work, lactating, just growing, for many years. Horses look real good on it, prices are lots lower than commercial feed and they are not eating any fillers at all.
Even working hard, our horses consume modest amounts of grain, seldom over a measured pound, once daily. They have good hay or pasture depending on the season. We do feed Vit E and Selenium, and a vitamin to each horse, top-dressing them on daily grain and insuring they get the correct amount in their diets. We are very Selenium poor, so this is extremely important with working animals.
Your County Extension Agent could help you with information on goat diet, to let you create a recipe for your herd and what they are doing.
I buy grain in 400 pound quantities. My elevator said that they just don't get a good mix in the machine doing smaller quantities. I store it in metal garbage cans to prevent rodent problems. No molasses helps prevent other animals getting into the feed, and no mold. Molasses pulls water from the air, and our humid summers can get mold going inside of 10 days! Mold is bad for everyone! No molasses equals no problems.
We have shared our recipe with other horse owners who are amazed at the savings for feed, and how nice their horses look on plain grains instead of the commercial, expensive feeds. They have all said their horses are better, with less feed quantity needed, and it costs so MUCH LESS!
So with a little work, I would believe you could easily come up with a grain mix for your goat herd and save yourself feed expenses of commercial feeds. Not sure how many animals you are feeding, but you do work thru even quantities of grain. My 400 pounds may sound like a lot, but fits pretty well in 4 metal garbage cans for storage.
I have attended a number of feed programs for horses, and the commercial feed is REALLY expensive if you feed in quantity.
We have a recipe using whole oats, cracked corn, soybean meal, that has worked very well for all kinds of horses in work, lactating, just growing, for many years. Horses look real good on it, prices are lots lower than commercial feed and they are not eating any fillers at all.
Even working hard, our horses consume modest amounts of grain, seldom over a measured pound, once daily. They have good hay or pasture depending on the season. We do feed Vit E and Selenium, and a vitamin to each horse, top-dressing them on daily grain and insuring they get the correct amount in their diets. We are very Selenium poor, so this is extremely important with working animals.
Your County Extension Agent could help you with information on goat diet, to let you create a recipe for your herd and what they are doing.
I buy grain in 400 pound quantities. My elevator said that they just don't get a good mix in the machine doing smaller quantities. I store it in metal garbage cans to prevent rodent problems. No molasses helps prevent other animals getting into the feed, and no mold. Molasses pulls water from the air, and our humid summers can get mold going inside of 10 days! Mold is bad for everyone! No molasses equals no problems.
We have shared our recipe with other horse owners who are amazed at the savings for feed, and how nice their horses look on plain grains instead of the commercial, expensive feeds. They have all said their horses are better, with less feed quantity needed, and it costs so MUCH LESS!
So with a little work, I would believe you could easily come up with a grain mix for your goat herd and save yourself feed expenses of commercial feeds. Not sure how many animals you are feeding, but you do work thru even quantities of grain. My 400 pounds may sound like a lot, but fits pretty well in 4 metal garbage cans for storage.
