Lets make a UC thread

[meme]

I have heard that feeding Alfalfa to bucks and weathers may cause UC because the Calcium is so high in it. I personally don't think it would be an issue but I guess it could. Food for thought...

I keep hearing that too, I think the calcium to phosphorus ratio is something like 8:1! Definitely doesn't sound good, but a lot of people have fed it to bucks and wethers for years with no issue. According to Storey's Guide, a mixed grass would have a near-perfect ratio. That doesn't really make sense though, how would you know what kind of grass is in the particular mix you are feeding? I am at a loss. The high blood calcium cm was talking about does make a lot of sense, I have never heard that theory before though.

When I was a lot younger, I had two pygmy wethers for 4-H. The leader never mentioned U.C, and she had a very large herd and is well-known in the goat world. We only had them for two years, but they only ever ate alfalfa and didn't have any issues.

ETA, a random thought, but is there some phosphorus supplement I could feed him so the ratio wouldn't be too off? That could either really help a lot or pretty much doom him. Also, does the way they are castrated have any influence on their susceptibility?

Edit again, I found this old thread - http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=14840&p=1