Feeding corn

[Goatfarmer]

We are new to goat farming. Have a Saanen buckling and doeling, an oberhasli mix wether and an oberhasli doe. We have been reading alot and see alot of articles that say "chicken feed" causes problems with the males like kidney problems and such. Just wondering if anyone could tell us if cracked corn or whole corn has the same effect?

 

[wynedot55]

i used to feed my goats corn years ago.an i never had any probs.but i only feed 1 or 2 coffee cans pre goat.

 

[Goatfarmer]

Were you feeding whole or cracked corn. Our goats love cracked corn but we have stopped giving it to them since weve been reading everything and people say its bad for their kidneys. Would cracked corn be any different than whole corn?

 

[wynedot55]

i really cant remember if it was whole or cracked corn.but i know it never hurt my goats.

 

[helmstead]

Corn is terrible for goats - can lead to acidosis, hypocalcaemia, bloat, etc.

 

[wynedot55]

well then yall would hate the way i feed my goats.because i feed my goats a lil chicken feed an 16% dairy feed.an ive fed corn years asgo before it got as high as it is now.

 

[helmstead]

A lot has changed over the years, Wynedot. Goats years ago were FAR hardier than they are today. That has been bred out of them, unfortunately.

Many people feed corn based feeds and get away with it, esp in the larger dairy breeds. When we first got goats, the man we bought them from fed them whole corn, stale breads...and they stole sweet feed from his horses. He SEEMED to get away with it, altho we know now that it was only because he had a high turnover (never kept one long enough for it to be ill, and when he lost them to something, he didn't bother to wonder what it was). For us, 4 months into feeding sweet feed (goat formula, even) and our buck died from UC. A couple months later, hypocalcaemia from it in a doe...and selenium issues from them stealing chicken feed...we learned our lessons and changed our ways. For US, it wasn't working.

Feeding questions will garner a million different answers

 

[Goatfarmer]

So is what you are saying is that we shouldnt even be feeding sweet feed? We have stopped feeding the corn and started feeding 16% sweet "GOAT" feed from TSC. They are all healthy and seem to be doing well. ??

 

[helmstead]

Nope, I don't recommend sweet feed esp for your boys. It will fasttrack you to UC unless you counterbalance it with LOTS of AC.

Go with a pelleted goat feed. If you can shop elsewhere - go with a Purina or ADM feed. IMHO Dumor/TSC is bottom of the pile with it's high corn content and not-quite-right ph/ca ratio.

 

[mully]

Nope, I don't recommend sweet feed esp for your boys. It will fasttrack you to UC unless you counterbalance it with LOTS of AC.

Go with a pelleted goat feed. If you can shop elsewhere - go with a Purina or ADM feed. IMHO Dumor/TSC is bottom of the pile with it's high corn content and not-quite-right ph/ca ratio.

I agree with Helmstead ..leave the corn for the chickens. I use Purina as it is not that much more expensive than other brands and I know that Purina maintains strict quality control and testing of their feeds. Improper feeding is one sure way to having health problems and vet bills.