Grain for kids?

[Iwantgoats]

Wondering when weaning kids, how long do you grain the babies? I don't grain the other adults. They just get hay and browse, especially the wethers. When my does are pregnant and nursing they get grain of course. Just wondering about the kids. They are eating hay and have been giving them grain. Just don't know if I should keep them on grain for first 6 months, shorter or longer? Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[freemotion]

I think most people grain based on the condition of the individual, rather than on a date. If they are growing well and are in good condition without grain, there is no need to add it.

 

[20kidsonhill]

I stop graining after their first winter when they are over 1 year old, or after they are one month bred. Sometimes in the summer if their is a lot of nice pasture I will get lazy and stop graining older kids/young yearlings older than 6 months for a while, but for the most part i keep them on grain until they are bred for the first time.

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

It probably depends on what your herd goals are. I want our retained does to be large/mature enough to breed as early as possible. Bucks would be getting less as long as they're growing and maintaining condition.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I haven't been graining my kids since they're growing well and getting really nice alfalfa.

 

[elevan]

We grain until they are a year old. Although in nice weather with good pasture we only grain a couple of times a week.

 

[AlaskanShepherdess]

I'm not graining mine at all, they are growing very nicely without out it and are really healthy, and have a perfect amount of fat. If I grained them I would be afraid of their becoming overconditioned at an early stage, which I have read that when they become overconditioned as kids then they cannot lose that fat.

 

[elevan]

I'm not graining mine at all, they are growing very nicely without out it and are really healthy, and have a perfect amount of fat. If I grained them I would be afraid of their becoming overconditioned at an early stage, which I have read that when they become overconditioned as kids then they cannot lose that fat.

I'm curious...you're being in Alaska...are you just feeding hay then?
I'm guessing your pasture isn't ideal most of the year.

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

I'm not graining mine at all, they are growing very nicely without out it and are really healthy, and have a perfect amount of fat. If I grained them I would be afraid of their becoming overconditioned at an early stage, which I have read that when they become overconditioned as kids then they cannot lose that fat.

Are you saying that if they're overconditioned at an early age that it makes them easy keepers as adults? I've never heard of an overconditioned Jr. doe who didn't strip her baby fat as a first freshener.

 

[Roll farms]

My goats get grain year round, they just get a lot, lot less in summer / when dry then they do in winter / when being milked.

Kids get Noble goat until they either move into the doe pen or buck pen....bucks stay on Noble Goat (unless they get too porky) and does get a mix of NG, corn, BOSS, and alf. pellets.