Feeding the needs of doelings and milker

[WyoNubian]

We recently, as in a month ago, got our baby girls out on our new pasture. The milker was added a week ago.

We live in an area that was parceled out, years ago, into ten acre lots in wyoming. There is plenty of grass growth, old and new, aside from where my husband tried to start a grass fire two years ago (he was doing a burn pile, and it caught an acre or two on fire). That has regrown with new grass. The girls are in a pasture that is probably three acres (or slightly more). We will be fencing more off soon. There are no trees or bushes, but they a eating a lot of the old dry grass, thistle, tumbleweeds, and wildflowers (the babies love the black eyed Susan type flowers, they eat the heads off them).

Since the girls are reaching weaning, I started to give them a little grain (always feed that while Bree is being milked, or else she would take their portion).

I have no idea about minerals out here in the area, but the girls get free choice loose goat minerals. My chickens keep eating some of that, as the girls don't use much. I do know there is a lot of something magnetic in the soil, as when we drag for nails with a magnet, all sorts of blackish particles stick to the magnet.

Does this sound like it will meet their needs for the time being? Like I say, there is plenty of grass, both old and new, for them to eat.

 

[DonnaBelle]

I use a goat feed pellet, not medicated, for my goats. They get two cups, real measuring cups, twice a day. I have a small barn and have individual feeders on the walls with a chain with a hasp. My goats all have the plastic heavy duty break away collars. I tie each one up to their feeder (they go to stand till I get there to tie them up). That way I know everyone gets their fair share.

I also purchase Calf Manna and Black Oil Sunflower seeds, 50 lb bags. I mix the two bags together, and all the kids and nursing or milking Moms get a l cup of that mixture on top of their regular feed each feeding.

My goats are good weight, not fat, and their hair is slick and shiny.

My goats have a huge pasture with brouse and native grasses.

They don't eat hay in summertime, only for about 3 months in our winter, which is December, January, February and part of March.

We have had the best summer in Oklahoma since I've lived here, 13 years. We have had plenty of rain, spaced out and beautiful temps in the mid eighties in daytime, 60's at night this week. It's certainly not normal. The last two years, 2011 and 2012 we hit the 110's all summer long.

I deworm when my goats need it. I take fecal samples into my vet every 3 months or so. I worm with Cydectin injectable, given orally.1 cc. per 50 lbs. of goat.

Recently I discovered a new coccidia treatment: Toltrazuril. It's a one time treatment, works great. l cc. per 5 lbs of goat.
I used to use 40% Dimethox, but it tastes awful, they spit it out, and you have to treat them for 5 days. I order the Toltrazuril from horseprerace.com.

I feed my wethers and bucks very little grain, a cup a day. They eat mostly brouse and pasture.

DonnaBelle