Goat Feed besides Purina Goat Chow

[ABHanna4d]

I have 2 nigerian dwarfs and Ive been a goat owner for only a few months and have only fed the girls purina goat chow (and free choice brome). When I was at the feed store this evening I was told that instead of paying $15 for Purina, I could just get
"All Stock" (http://www.tractorsupply.com/feed-solutions-all-stock-sweet-12-animal-feed-50-lb--2405890) or
"Sweet Feed" (http://www.tractorsupply.com/producer-s-pride-reg-10-sweet-feed-50-lb--2525519)
Both of these options are cheaper for a 50 lb bag, but I didnt know what the risks were in going away from Purina Goat chow...if there even is any?
This time I bought Purina, but wanted to do some research before I head to the feed store once this bag is out.
The girls are only about 10 months old, we are planning on breeding them late fall for kids/milking next spring. I know once we start milking them alot of this may change, but I just want to do what is best for them and for their little bodies.
I also have a free choice Goat Mineral Block...but they really dont seem to care for it too much

 

[ksalvagno]

I would stick to feed that is labeled for goats. All stock feed is broad spectrum and doesn't have the added minerals and vitamins specifically for goats. You may want to choose a loose mineral for them. Goats usually like that better. I use Sweetlix but Purina does also make a loose goat mineral.

 

[lilhill]

I have 2 nigerian dwarfs and Ive been a goat owner for only a few months and have only fed the girls purina goat chow (and free choice brome). When I was at the feed store this evening I was told that instead of paying $15 for Purina, I could just get
"All Stock" (http://www.tractorsupply.com/feed-solutions-all-stock-sweet-12-animal-feed-50-lb--2405890) or
"Sweet Feed" (http://www.tractorsupply.com/producer-s-pride-reg-10-sweet-feed-50-lb--2525519)
Both of these options are cheaper for a 50 lb bag, but I didnt know what the risks were in going away from Purina Goat chow...if there even is any?
This time I bought Purina, but wanted to do some research before I head to the feed store once this bag is out.
The girls are only about 10 months old, we are planning on breeding them late fall for kids/milking next spring. I know once we start milking them alot of this may change, but I just want to do what is best for them and for their little bodies.
I also have a free choice Goat Mineral Block...but they really dont seem to care for it too much

I think Purina Noble Goat feed is a bit cheaper. It's pelleted, but I haven't used it so can't say what it contains.

 

[Mea]

I also have a free choice Goat Mineral Block...but they really dont seem to care for it too much

Most goats seem to prefer Loose minerals to the blocks. I believe that TS carries the loose.

 

[ABHanna4d]

I also have a free choice Goat Mineral Block...but they really dont seem to care for it too much

Most goats seem to prefer Loose minerals to the blocks. I believe that TS carries the loose.

I saw the loose minerals last night when I was at TS, but didn't really understand the difference...how much loose minerals should they get? Do I leave it free choice, or just add it to their feed everyonce in a while?

 

[cmjust0]

Don't listen to TSC employees*.. About 99.98% of the time, they have no idea what they're talking about -- but they're always willing to talk!

As for mineral, chances are they won't have anything labeled for goats.. If TSC is your best option, you're probably going to have to go with a mineral designed for cattle.

Don't cheap out and buy "American Stockman Big 6 Trace Mineral Salt" or whatever it's called...it should be called USELESS. Flip the bag over and look for sulfates and/or chelates.. If you see the words "copper oxide," put that bag down and find another one. Copper oxide is one of the telltale marks of cheap mineral; it's cheap, it has near-zero bioavailability, yet it allows the mineral producer to claim there's copper in the product. A real win/win for their pocketbooks, but a big loss for your livestock.

It's also the mark of cheap vitamins for humans, I'm finding, but that's a whole 'nuther subject.

If you're keeping male goats, probably best to avoid anything labeled "Spring" or "Hi-Mag," as magnesium is one of the mineral components of urinary calculi.. It's not recommended that bucks and wethers get much supplemental magnesium.

When feeding mineral, set out small quantities free choice and keep it refreshed often. If you leave a big bunch of it out for a long time, it *will* get soiled one way or another and they won't use it.

The consumption target for mineral is usually 1/4 to 1/2 ounce per head, per day.. That should help you to figure out how much to set out per day to keep it fresh.. Two or maybe three days worth of mineral is the most I'd set out at any given time.



* If you happen to be in Indiana at a TSC and the lady's name is Kim...Kim Roll...a la Rollfarms...it's prolly best to listen.

 

[ksalvagno]

I know at the TSC's around me, they do carry a loose goat mineral now. I would see if your TSC has the loose goat mineral. You want the one that says goat on the label.

 

[Roll farms]

The all stock and sweet feed are 12% and 10% protein....goats, especially growing / gestating / lactating goats, NEED 16% feed.

So...you may buy a cheaper feed and save $, but you'd have to end up feeding MORE of it to give them what they need...so is it really a cost-savings if you're feeding 1.5 x as much?

Also, the copper levels in anything meant to be possibly fed to sheep will be WAYYYYY too low for a goat.

Noble goat is a good feed, again, MHO, and I feed all my kids / unbred yearlings nothing but that (and hay and mineral). It has deccox in it to prevent Coccidia so I don't feed it to my adults / milkers ...because A) they usually build up enough immunity that they don't need deccox by that time, and B) I don't want to drink it in my milk....

Dumor goat feed *might* be ok...I don't know, I've never fed it (too expensive, again, mho) but it IS a 16% goat feed that's not medicated...

The TSC where I work carries a Manna-Pro-brand goat mineral, usually...It's a good mineral, IMHO, but the 8 or 10# bag it comes in doesn't go far at my farm, we have too many to feed. For a small herd it should be ok. (Better than a hard block, anyway...)

Until we started carrying purina, I usually sent the goat / chicken customers who were genuinely interested in what was best for their animals (instead of how to feed them the cheapest) to the local feed mill...the PP and Dumor brands TSC carries just aren't as thoroughly researched and tested as I think they should be.

I have faith in Purina so will recommend it...but I still get my chicken feed at the feed mill....and my shelled / cracked corn, too.

LOL at CM....

 

[jodief100]

I agree, Goats need 16% protien. If you are looking for a cheeper alternative, you can add corn to the feed. I usually feed about 1/4 corn with a good brand feed. You can also look for cattle "creep feed" some brands have enough protien.

I would highly recomend loose mineral. Goats often cannot get enough from the blocks to fill thier needs. Offer free feed. For a great loose mineral feeder relativly inexpensive, get 4" PVC pipe, about 3-4 feet long and a Y. Attach the long pipe to the upright and seal off the bottom. The goast eat from the angled Y.

 

[cmjust0]

If you are looking for a cheeper alternative, you can add corn to the feed. I usually feed about 1/4 corn with a good brand feed.

I couldn't disagree more..

Corn is extremely high in phosphorus and very low in calcium.. It wouldn't take very much corn AT ALL to throw the correct 2:1 Ca ratio completely out of whack on a properly-balanced goat feed.