Comparing Feeds... which one is better? Crummy Selection Here! =(

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

We have a VERY poor selection of goat feed here. I am on the fence about what to feed my milking does and baby goats. All my goats get Sweetlix MM Minerals, calf manna, copper bolus and the does get BOSS.


The first one is the one I would like to switch to.
1. Does anyone see anything obviously wrong with feeding this one: (my tag on the bag is slightly different).

This is what we are feeding now.
2. This is my only other option: :/

 

[Southern by choice]

My biggest concern would be the calcium/ phosphorus ratio. Generally you would want a 2 to1 ratio.
You may want to check the zinc levels also. I really don't know the appropriate levels but I know too much zinc can build to toxicity levels.

I have never tried it but I know many use cattle feed.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

My biggest concern would be the calcium/ phosphorus ratio. Generally you would want a 2 to1 ratio.
You may want to check the zinc levels also. I really don't know the appropriate levels but I know too much zinc can build to toxicity levels.

I have never tried it but I know many use cattle feed.

The Ca/P ratio is fairly similar to the goat feed no?

Also we free feed alfalfa and they have sweetlix meat maker minerals which have 2:1.

I wonder how I could find out the zinc levels of the goat feed?

 

[ragdollcatlady]

If I am reading correctly, I think the first one has a few things going for it. The brewers yeast is high in my book and the kelp and linseed oil (also known as flax), helps too. The fact that horses and their people tend to be pickier helps in that horse products (also being more expensive) will usually have better ingredients. I would also lean towards the alfalfa in the horse feed. Especially if you have the chance to graze your goats at all. The alfalfa in the feed will compensate for some lack in the rest of the diet in that case.

I think you may want to watch for too much calcium if you feed high calcium feed, hay and minerals. If you use high calcium hay and feed, you might want to use the magnum milk minerals that are 1:1, if you use lower ratio hay and feed, I would go with the meatmaker 2:1.

Interesting that the goat one has non protein nitrogen (that doesn't sound good...) and the goat one doesn't have a copper amount listed...or selenium. I officially vote for the horse feed.

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

The first feed isn't so bad. The Ca is a little wack and the fiber is a little low for my taste but not so bad. The second one, protein is too low, protein is easy low. I like the first better myself but since you feed BOSS, UC could be an issue.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

The first feed isn't so bad. The Ca is a little wack and the fiber is a little low for my taste but not so bad. The second one, protein is too low, protein is easy low. I like the first better myself but since you feed BOSS, UC could be an issue.

The bucks don't get BOSS, just the does. And I forgot to mention that I also feed calf manna, which from my research does have the correct ratios. I've also heard it's more about the total diet ratios for the bucks than the individual ingredients. Ie if you are feeding your bucks alfalfa (high calcium) it's ok to feed to something with a tad more phosphorous because it balances out.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Just wanted to report that I have had the does and kids on this for almost two weeks now and the does milk production has gone up and the kids look to be in better condition.