help with raising body condition (pics added 1.21 7/25/2011)

[elevan]

May I inquire:

Where do you get "beet pulp"?

Thanks,

DonnaBelle

Feed store. It's available as shreds and pellets here.

 

[DonnaBelle]

Thanks, Emily

I thought perhaps that was something available to a select few Ohioians.

Beet pulp at the feed store.

Who knew......

DonnaBelle

 

[elevan]

Thanks, Emily

I thought perhaps that was something available to a select few Ohioians.

Beet pulp at the feed store.

Who knew......

DonnaBelle

Our TSC sells quite a bit of it.

 

[Ariel301]

I've found that stabilized rice bran works really well to put condition on a thin goat. I've been experimenting with giving it to my chronically super-skinny dairy doe (her body condition is MAYBE a one, on a good day!) and she's starting to get some padding on her ribs. It's pricey stuff, about $28 for 40 pounds, but a few ounces a day seems to do the trick. I'm giving my skinny goat about a half pound per day and the ones that need just a little weight about 2 ounces.

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

A friend of mine feeds rice bran with excellent results.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I had fairly good results with wheat bran, but the stuff is very light and fluffy and is a pain. Goat sneezes in her feed bowl and you've got wheat bran fluff flying through the air.

 

[doxiemoxie]

As for feeding loose minerals, I've tried several different ways. When I put the minerals over the pellets it always remained in the bottom of their bucket. And my girls rarely seemed to be interested in the minerals when I left the feeder out. But once I got sheep in the same pasture I started bringing the goats a bucket with just minerals in it and they had a half hour or so to nibble before I took it back (sheep can't have copper). I think they actually are getting a better dose this way. It also gives me another chance to interact with them and check them over. They dig in every morning with gusto. Most of their diet is from pasture and olive trees so I like to know they're getting a good dose on the minerals.

 

[redtailgal]

z

 

[Griffin's Ark]

Here are som photos I had put together on a facebook page. Let me know if you can view them.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.139509669454225.30187.100001855770147&l=5304fd4e7c&type=1

I just checked the link to look at the pictures and saw that you are originally a Cheesehead! So am I! I am originally from Milton, Wi. and live just north of Danville, Va. Small world! (chris)

I can tell you an extremely quick way to raise the body condition, but the problem is you have to live in a peanut area. Farmers in eastern VA will bail the peanut plants, call it peanut hay and sell rolls for around $25. One roll will raise the body condition of a small herd of goats in about 2 weeks.

 

[20kidsonhill]

Here are som photos I had put together on a facebook page. Let me know if you can view them.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.139509669454225.30187.100001855770147&l=5304fd4e7c&type=1

I just checked the link to look at the pictures and saw that you are originally a Cheesehead! So am I! I am originally from Milton, Wi. and live just north of Danville, Va. Small world! (chris)

I can tell you an extremely quick way to raise the body condition, but the problem is you have to live in a peanut area. Farmers in eastern VA will bail the peanut plants, call it peanut hay and sell rolls for around $25. One roll will raise the body condition of a small herd of goats in about 2 weeks.

Too bad we can't get peanut hay in the valley, that sounds like a good deal. Are you able to keep the roll outside?

How long have you been living in VA? I moved here after graduating from college for work. Married a Virginian, and been here ever since. I originally lived near wakefield, Va, a little East of Richmond, right down the road from the Famous Virgnia Dinner, home of the peanut Pie.