feeding wethers

[chick_in_Indiana]

I am getting two 5 month old wethers and have been trying to figure out what and how much to feed them. I'm trying to make sense of all the "to feed grain or not to feed grain" and what kind of hay to feed. I have read in the books and magazines that a weedy grass hay is better because it has more roots in it which have more minerals. If I do feed them grain how much should they get per day?? And the hay should be left out all day?? What about if they are able to "browse" all day, do they still need hay during the spring and summer months??

 

[cmjust0]

We leave hay out all the time. For wethers, I'd probably choose something with more calcium in it like alfalfa, clover, lespedeza, or some other kind of legume or legume/grass mix. If I had to feed grass hay or a heavy grass mix, I'd personally skip the grain and feed alfalfa pellets instead. I actually wouldn't grain wethers unless I was feeding a really good alfalfa hay, in which case they may not need graining anyway.

Alfalfa pellets are typically more expensive and aren't typically fortified with vitamins and minerals, but they're high in protein and calcium which is what you want for a growing male -- especially the calcium for wethers. A good loose mineral mix set out free choice and refreshed often should take care of most of the vitamin and mineral needs that they won't be getting from hay or alfalfa pellets. Watch the phosphorus and magnesium content of the mineral, though...the lower, the better.

How much of any feed supplement to give depends entirely on body condition, and everything that's not hay, browse, water, or mineral is something I'd consider a feed supplement. Grain, alfalfa pellets, protein tubs -- whatever. Offer those solely according to condition. The master's eye fatteneth the beast...or slims it down, whichever is necessary. Basically, it's entirely up to you and how you feel about your animals' conditions.

Oh...make sure their water's always, always, always fresh and clean. Nasty water is another liability in the development of urinary calculi. The less they drink, the greater the chances of ammonia, magnesium, and phosphorus getting in too high of a concentration and crystalizing in the bladder, leading to UC.