Let's Look at our Different Feeding Practices *GOATS*

[elevan]

I have been reading this thread and I have a question, if you don't mind me asking. What is the maximum percentage of fat (from a pelleted feed) that you would feed to your goats? I have been looking at this feed, even though it's for horses, and there is a min of 10% fat... so is this too much? I don't supplement with BOSS or anything, except for Purina Goat Minerals free choice. For all those interested the feed is Purina Horseman's Edge Texture 10:10. I have dairy goats and they could use a little weight on them.

that is a good question, I would love to hear the experts opinions. I would think 4.5 on a regular basis would be plenty high enough. Just a guess.

The highest minimum I've ever seen on a goat feed for fat is 4.3%...most are usually at 2.4% - 3.6% minimum...

A 10% minimum fat may be too high...

I suppose it depends on the breed of goat that you have too. My pygmies don't need a lot to put on weight...10% fat would probably have them looking like PIG-mies instead

 

[journeysend]

elevan wrote:

I suppose it depends on the breed of goat that you have too. My pygmies don't need a lot to put on weight...10% fat would probably have them looking like PIG-mies instead

Well I have Nigerians/mixes, a Nubian and an Oberhasli. I bought a bag of this feed to try and they seem to eat much less of it, but are satisfied throughout the day, if that makes sense. I've tried Noble Goat, Dumor Goat, Dumor Mare and Foal, and of course the generic "All-Stock" feeds... and they will cry all day long for food I am using less than half of what I was with the other feeds. So, I'm not sure if there is too much fat but it seems to me that if they are only eating half as much, then the fat content should be approximately the same as other feeds... I may be wrong, this was just my reasoning on the matter.

 

[elevan]

BOSS.....what is it? I keep seeing it in almost every post.

Also, I just talked to the family we are getting our goats from and apparently they feed them Nutrena Naturewise Top Goat, does anyone know anything about it? Is it ok? Do you feel there is something better? If so, suggestions?

BOSS = Black Oil Sunflower Seeds

Here's what I found on that feed:

Nutrena Naturewise Top Goat

Size/Dimensions: 50 lb. bag
Naturewise Goat Feed is designed to be fed to starting, growing, breeding, and lactating goats.
Provides sufficient protein for lactating and growing goats
Provides a balanced calcium/phosphorous ratio and added ammonium chloride to help prevent urinary calculi.
Features
Highly palatable to encourage rapid intake and growth of early-weaned kids.
Balanced energy and protein to aid in optimum growth.
Fortified with vitamins and minerals to help provide the nutrients needed for growth.
Limited copper to help minimize risk of copper toxicity.
Complete feed that can be fed as the sole ration or with limited roughage for the entire life of the kid; or as a protein and energy feed for breeding or lactating does.

Please note that the reason for this thread (topic) is to discuss everyone's different feeding practices. No one is wrong in their decisions of what to feed. You'll need to do your homework and decide what you want to accomplish for your farm and your herd. And make your choices based on that.

My concerns when looking at this feed is that most of the United States is copper deficient and this feed clearly states that it has limited copper. It also suggests that it can be the sole source of feed with little or no roughage...I would do some more research before you make your decision.

If you decide to switch to a different feed you want to do it slowly. So in the beginning you'll want to continue with this feed so as not to upset their systems.

 

[elevan]

Mine is pretty boring. I live in MD and have a few Oberhaslis. For my doe in milk I feed alfalfa, pasture, and a 16% dairy goat ration (a sweet feed *gasp* ). For my young'uns I actually feed a medicated sheep feed b/c I also have sheep, and I give copper boluses to the goats. The buck gets hay only, but used to get a little grain when he was younger. Everyone gets hay, sometimes free choice (young animals) and sometimes not free choice just a set amount. And everyone is supplemented (when I have time) with trimmings from my Paper Mulberry hedge.....a very invasive weed which was used to feed deer in Islamabad where it is from. We have a crapload of it growing, and it's a favorite among the animals. Even the rabbit loves it!

I have a few questions for you:
How long have you been doing the practice of feeding the medicated sheep feed to the kids and copper bolusing?
How often do you copper bolus?



An interesting article on Paper Mulberry being turned into silage for anyone who wants to read it.

 

[elevan]

elevan wrote:

I suppose it depends on the breed of goat that you have too. My pygmies don't need a lot to put on weight...10% fat would probably have them looking like PIG-mies instead

Well I have Nigerians/mixes, a Nubian and an Oberhasli. I bought a bag of this feed to try and they seem to eat much less of it, but are satisfied throughout the day, if that makes sense. I've tried Noble Goat, Dumor Goat, Dumor Mare and Foal, and of course the generic "All-Stock" feeds... and they will cry all day long for food I am using less than half of what I was with the other feeds. So, I'm not sure if there is too much fat but it seems to me that if they are only eating half as much, then the fat content should be approximately the same as other feeds... I may be wrong, this was just my reasoning on the matter.

Makes sense. Please keep us posted on your progress and let us know if you decide to make any changes.

I don't think you've shared your full feeding practice with us...would you care to share?
Be sure to include what state / country / region that you are in.
What specifically are you feeding? What are you adding to supplement it? And how does your feeding program change seasonally?
Please include or edit to include the type(s) of goats that you raise

 

[elevan]

No one is wrong on this thread (unless you feed tin cans and old leather boots )

Exactly. And that's why I haven't posted.

Come on Goatherd...I wanna hear what your feeding practices are

 

[maggies.family]

BOSS.....what is it? I keep seeing it in almost every post.

Also, I just talked to the family we are getting our goats from and apparently they feed them Nutrena Naturewise Top Goat, does anyone know anything about it? Is it ok? Do you feel there is something better? If so, suggestions?

BOSS = Black Oil Sunflower Seeds

Here's what I found on that feed:

Nutrena Naturewise Top Goat

Size/Dimensions: 50 lb. bag
Naturewise Goat Feed is designed to be fed to starting, growing, breeding, and lactating goats.
Provides sufficient protein for lactating and growing goats
Provides a balanced calcium/phosphorous ratio and added ammonium chloride to help prevent urinary calculi.
Features
Highly palatable to encourage rapid intake and growth of early-weaned kids.
Balanced energy and protein to aid in optimum growth.
Fortified with vitamins and minerals to help provide the nutrients needed for growth.
Limited copper to help minimize risk of copper toxicity.
Complete feed that can be fed as the sole ration or with limited roughage for the entire life of the kid; or as a protein and energy feed for breeding or lactating does.

Please note that the reason for this thread (topic) is to discuss everyone's different feeding practices. No one is wrong in their decisions of what to feed. You'll need to do your homework and decide what you want to accomplish for your farm and your herd. And make your choices based on that.

My concerns when looking at this feed is that most of the United States is copper deficient and this feed clearly states that it has limited copper. It also suggests that it can be the sole source of feed with little or no roughage...I would do some more research before you make your decision.

If you decide to switch to a different feed you want to do it slowly. So in the beginning you'll want to continue with this feed so as not to upset their systems.

Thank you elevan. I have to admit, reading through these threads is making me a bit nervous! It just seems so complicated! So many options out there and I haven't a clue. LOL I did order that book you suggested last night. Looking forward to that. Now I am just scouring trying to figure out the basics they need for feeding and then go from there. I'm sure it wont feel as intimidating once I start "getting it".

 

[willowbreezefarm]

Awesome idea for a thread!! I love reading and seeing how everyone elses routines are around there barn.

Here is my feeding routine:

Location: Virginia in the Valley very close to WV line.

Breed raised: Nigerian Dwarfs and Pygmys

I always practice fresh clean cold water in the summer and I use two heated water buckets for warm water in the winter.

Summer: 1 cup twice a day of our local Co-Op's goat grain. It is made with local minerals needed in our area and it is NOT medicated and it is only made in a sweet grain only. They get one scoop of BOSS with every meal.
They do get to go out and browse in the field everyday and they browse on 7 acres with some wooded areas.

Winter: Depending on my goats weight by winter I may bump there grain ration up but this is rare since my goats seem to do well on just one cup twice a day. Again I still feed the goat grain from our local co-op. They seem to like that very well and I havent had any issues with it yet. They also get one scoop of BOSS with there meal.

I dont use the loose minerals my goats dont seem to like it as well as the Billy block I get them from TSC. So I have two of those up in the barn. I do not feed baking soda free choice unless one of my goats are showing signs of upset stomach.

I give the annual CD&T shot once a every year.

I like to worm twice a year, it seems to work well for my girls. I worm in the spring with the Safe Gaurd horse tubed paste and the fall I use the generic Ivermectin horse tubed paste. You are proberly wondering how I get the correct dosage? Well you weigh your goat and take the weight of your goat and x by 3 and you get the weight you use on the tube. I have not had any issues with worms using this method and my goats have been fine with using horse paste. Plus horse paste is CHEAPER then buying one small goat liquid wormer.

They do get there hooves trimmed regularly.

My goats LOVE leaves and beet stems/leaves as treats. They sometimes take carrots and apples too.

Well this is what I do. May not seem like much but its what works for my herd.

Oh forgot to mention... I also like to take my goats on walks.. Hope that is not weird but all of our goats walk on leashes and so we like to walk them. They love it cause they get to browse as we walk and its also good exercise for them

My next goal is to get a LGD. We have a area in VA that is an adoption place for the Great Paranesse dogs and sometimes they have young dogs and pups there for adoption. I would much rather adopt then buy from a breeder. But we will see..

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Mine is pretty boring. I live in MD and have a few Oberhaslis. For my doe in milk I feed alfalfa, pasture, and a 16% dairy goat ration (a sweet feed *gasp* ). For my young'uns I actually feed a medicated sheep feed b/c I also have sheep, and I give copper boluses to the goats. The buck gets hay only, but used to get a little grain when he was younger. Everyone gets hay, sometimes free choice (young animals) and sometimes not free choice just a set amount. And everyone is supplemented (when I have time) with trimmings from my Paper Mulberry hedge.....a very invasive weed which was used to feed deer in Islamabad where it is from. We have a crapload of it growing, and it's a favorite among the animals. Even the rabbit loves it!

I have a few questions for you:
How long have you been doing the practice of feeding the medicated sheep feed to the kids and copper bolusing?
How often do you copper bolus?



An interesting article on Paper Mulberry being turned into silage for anyone who wants to read it.

Well, way back before I "knew any better" I had a Nub/Alpine wether with my sheep flock and he ate the same thing the sheep ate...medicated sheep feed and no copper boluses or anything. He never had a problem with UC, never had a problem with lack of copper. Maybe I was lucky, who knows. My kids don't get much grain, maybe a half pound a day if that. They're only about 4 months old, and I bolused them at weaning time. They're not going to stay on grain long, just until I see they're big enough to come off it. My doe I copper bolused in Jan or Feb and haven't since. She had some weird curly rough hair coat after I bolused, so I'm still not sold on the idea of bolusing regularly.

 

[Goatmasta]

I don't remember where I found it anymore(I do remember it was a little difficult to find), but I have a "Feed Mix Calculator" it is an excel file. It calculates protein, fat, fiber, calcium, and phosphorus. So you just list the weights and details of your feed, boss, hay etc... and it tells you what the combined levels of your mix are.. If any one is interested let me know and I will email it to you.