Goats and Grain

[Watch Your Step]

Does a milking doe need any grain or anything like that? Sweet feed isn't good, right, but is there something else she needs? What about pregnent does, do they need grain?

 

[AshleyFishy]

Personally I withhold grain from late pregnant does. Since doing so I haven't had any kids I've had to pull. I do grain my goats year around. For milking does they get a 5% fat 16% pelleted sweet feed, BOSS, manna pro and alfalfa hay pellet mixture, the amount depends on the doe herself.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

When I raised pygmy goats, I watched their feed intake very carefully because a fat, pregnant pygmy doe is a kidding problem waiting to happen. When I got Nubians, I tried the same thing and almost killed my first doe. Heavy producing dairy type does seem to need a better balancing act in their late pregnancy to prevent pregnancy ketosis. Here is a good article that explains it pretty well. http://thelazybfarm.com/dairy-goats-dealing-with-ketosis

 

[elevan]

Very good point from frustratedearthmother...there is a difference between a meat goat in milk and a dairy goat in milk. Their needs are just different. So, it would be helpful to know what type / breed of goat you're dealing with before we give advice.

 

[Watch Your Step]

The pregnent doe is an Alpine/Pygmy cross. This is her first kid. She is 3 or 5, I think. The father is a boer/pygmy cross. She is due September 12.

The milking doe is a pygmy. I believe she is a First Freshener. She is not pregnent.

 

[Watch Your Step]

Any help would be appercaited...

 

[20kidsonhill]

I would go very easy on the high calorie feeds, since the kid has some Boer in it. Then once the doe kids you can go up on grains and alfalfa hay, ect.... maybe 1 or 2 measuring cups a day of a goat grain is all she needs for her gestation. Is she more pygmy like or more alpine like in size? If she is smaller I would do 1 cup of grain/pasture/grass hay, maybe a little alfalfa hay or a little pellets. If she is closer to alpine size you could go up some on the grain during her gestation.

once she kids, you can slowly go up on her feed intake every 3 or 4 days to include, goat grain/corn/alfalfa pellets or hay/black sunflower seeds, calf manna. Depends on how much milk she is giving and if she is more pygmy like or alpine like. But she can work her up to all she will eat a couple weeks after she kids. But should be a balanced diet of hay and grains/pellets and pasture if available.

 

[Watch Your Step]

She is slightly bigger(in height) then our full pygmy. About the smame body type, I think. Maybe slightly more refined. She's getting about a cup (Maybe a little less) of grain and a little bit of hay. Brush (Tree clippings, etc) is her main meal. But she does get a little hay.