feeding my two boys....

[pets4me]

the feed store I have in my area sells only kid goat developer ration or a dairy goat ration. I have two wethers, will either of these work for them? The kid ration has 17% protein, 1.00% calcium and .45 % phosphours. Will this be ok for them ? I was told not to feed them this as they are adults, but what else can I feed them?

I have a pretty limited budget and time so don't want to get into having to mix my own feed. Their grazing is limited to the warmer months. They have access to a grass mix hay...they are just "ok" with this...a lot of wastage. I do put the hay in a hay rack, but so much ends up on the ground.

also I can't get loss mineral from my feed store, just cattle mineral blocks...will this work for my two guys?

thanks for the help

 

[ksalvagno]

If there is any way you could mail order the minerals, that would be better. The goats may not lick enough of the block to get the proper amount of minerals.

The important thing with the feed is that it is as low in protein as possible and that the calcium to phosphorus ratio is 2:1. Meaning calcium 2 and phosphorus 1.

I know sometimes we just have to make do with what is available but the lose mineral is really important. You could also feed the boys some alfalfa pellets. I would think your feed store has alfalfa pellets.

 

[pets4me]

I was feeding them a kid grower when they were younger, but was told by the feed store not to feed them this as they are older now and suggested lamb feed??? he said this is fine for them. The calcuim to phospherous is 2-1.

I have been reading that wethers do not need the grain/pellets, just hay is fine. If this is the norm. then I'll finish off the lamb feed and get the loose mineral for them. thanks for your reply and info.

 

[ksalvagno]

It is true with the wethers that they don't need grain. The mineral is important but not the grain.

If you really want to give them some sort of pellet, especially in winter if you are affected by cold winters, then give them the alfalfa pellets.

 

[cmjust0]

the feed store I have in my area sells only kid goat developer ration or a dairy goat ration. I have two wethers, will either of these work for them? The kid ration has 17% protein, 1.00% calcium and .45 % phosphours. Will this be ok for them ? I was told not to feed them this as they are adults, but what else can I feed them?

Do they need feed? Are they thin?

If you feed according to their body condition instead of buying into the mindset that they MUST have bagged feed on a constant basis or you're a bad goat-parent, it sorta opens the doors to different possibilities..

For instance...is it OK to give them a solid x-amount of kid developer every single day only to have them get overweight and take in too much phosphorus? Nope. Is it OK to feed them a bit of kid developer occasionally, if/when their body condition drops below where you want it to be? Shouldn't be any problem, IMO..

Thing is, if you make sure they have free access to decent hay, good mineral, and clean water, they probably won't need nearly as much supplementation as you'd imagine.