Lumps on goats skin (pics included)? Ideas and advice needed

[Lady Jane]

About the alfalfa. Funny story, I had the vet come over a couple weeks ago to check the herd. She has worked with goats before but she is mainly a cattle vet. She was concerned about Jolie Filles weight. Yet, when we told her that we had gotten a couple bales of alfalfa for the girls to give to them once a week, she didn't think that was necessary and thought we would be fine with just Timothy.
Also, the farmer we bought all of the goats from only gave his heard Timothy. *shrug* And he was goat dairy farmer with a huge herd.
Would the alfalfa pellets be cheaper then the hay? And could I just add them to the grain when I feed her? The other goats don't necessarily need the alfalfa because their not in milk right?

 

[Livinwright Farm]

I have never given her a shot and I don't know for sure, but I don't think that the previous owner did either. At least not recently before I got her.
I have given her alfalfa before but I didn't buy it this week. Can I get BOSS at TSC? I have been wanting to add it to the goats diet but am not sure where to get it.
They are getting Golden Blend Goat minerals free choice. I was also giving baking soda but read on here that it is not necessary. There seems to be a split/mixed opinion on that.
I have been using Dumore sweet feed with 16% protein because I did not see an obvious difference in the ingredients listings so I thought that the added price to Purina was due to it being a name brand.

hmmm.... hopefully someone more experienced with the lumps will butt in.

Yes, TSC carries BOSS The brand they carry is in a bright orange bag.
and, you can save some of the plumper seeds for planting come spring/summer(once the muddy season is mostly gone). They DO grow! I have some started inside already.
I do strongly suggest adding the beet pellets to your milking doe's diet. if for nothing else than as a milking stand treat. You soak the pellets(1 part pellet to 2 parts COLD water for 2 hrs). Most does enjoy it so much they take their time and you can take a little longer in milking them.

 

[ksalvagno]

If she is the only one that really needs alfalfa, then I would just buy the pellets and add to her food.

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

I think Timothy may be higher in calcium than some other grass hays, but I know it's not nearly as high as alfalfa... Anyone know if Timothy will cut it for calcium if it's the only hay they're getting?

The alfalfa will also provide some extra protein, but if you can substitute a larger amount of Timothy for alfalfa and maintain ratios you can always add calf manna to get the extra protein. I'll be curious to hear from those in the know!

 

[Iluvnigees]

I have never given her a shot and I don't know for sure, but I don't think that the previous owner did either. At least not recently before I got her.
I have given her alfalfa before but I didn't buy it this week. Can I get BOSS at TSC? I have been wanting to add it to the goats diet but am not sure where to get it.
They are getting Golden Blend Goat minerals free choice. I was also giving baking soda but read on here that it is not necessary. There seems to be a split/mixed opinion on that.
I have been using Dumore sweet feed with 16% protein because I did not see an obvious difference in the ingredients listings so I thought that the added price to Purina was due to it being a name brand.

20kids: I don't know about the dark scab thing. That one isn't lumpy it's just rough dark skin with a white dot in the center as you can see. To be honest, she's got me quite befuddled. good question.

Could that spot be a bite? Does she have a fever? Those two rear lumps are to parallel to be random. I don't know much about lymph nodes but could it be a spider bite or something causing an infection.

 

[20kidsonhill]

We don't milk, just keep the kids on the doe, and hadn't used alafalfa hay in 15 years of raising goats, but this year I talked my husband into buying a bale a day(45lbs) for my 18 does, while they are nursing and the kids are growing like crazy. The does are looking really good, I also feed a bale of mixed 2nd cutting grass hay(50lbs) a day, along with
1 lb of 16% pelleted goat feed per doe, with 1/4 to 1/2 lb of crimped corn, and about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of dried beet pulp per doe. Beet pulp is also new this year.

 

[Livinwright Farm]

About the alfalfa. Funny story, I had the vet come over a couple weeks ago to check the herd. She has worked with goats before but she is mainly a cattle vet. She was concerned about Jolie Filles weight. Yet, when we told her that we had gotten a couple bales of alfalfa for the girls to give to them once a week, she didn't think that was necessary and thought we would be fine with just Timothy.
Also, the farmer we bought all of the goats from only gave his heard Timothy. *shrug* And he was goat dairy farmer with a huge herd.
Would the alfalfa pellets be cheaper then the hay? And could I just add them to the grain when I feed her? The other goats don't necessarily need the alfalfa because their not in milk right?

Either the pelleted or the Lucerne Farms' shrinkwrapped & Molasses misted shredded alfalfa "bale" would be better in price than buying bales of alfalfa hay like you would for timothy or 1st or 2nd cuts!
I am really suprised at how many goat dairy farms do not feed primarily alfalfa hay to their does! I know it is more expesive than regular grass hay... but it makes their milk so much sweeter and less "goaty", not to mention higher in butterfat.
Feeding BOSS along with primarily alfalfa hay will make the butterfat levels incredible! Not to mention their coats will become silky soft & salon shiny!

 

[Livinwright Farm]

We don't milk, just keep the kids on the doe, and hadn't used alafalfa hay in 15 years of raising goats, but this year I talked my husband into buying a bale a day(45lbs) for my 18 does, while they are nursing and the kids are growing like crazy. The does are looking really good, I also feed a bale of mixed 2nd cutting grass hay(50lbs) a day, along with
1 lb of 16% pelleted goat feed per doe, with 1/4 to 1/2 lb of crimped corn, and about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of dried beet pulp per doe. Beet pulp is also new this year.

What is crimped corn

 

[20kidsonhill]

We don't milk, just keep the kids on the doe, and hadn't used alafalfa hay in 15 years of raising goats, but this year I talked my husband into buying a bale a day(45lbs) for my 18 does, while they are nursing and the kids are growing like crazy. The does are looking really good, I also feed a bale of mixed 2nd cutting grass hay(50lbs) a day, along with
1 lb of 16% pelleted goat feed per doe, with 1/4 to 1/2 lb of crimped corn, and about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of dried beet pulp per doe. Beet pulp is also new this year.

What is crimped corn [url]http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-confused004.gif[/url] [url]http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-confused004.gif[/url] [url]http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-confused004.gif[/url]

It is flattened and cracked open, but not ground up. Maybe some people refer to is as rolled corn.

 

[Livinwright Farm]

We don't milk, just keep the kids on the doe, and hadn't used alafalfa hay in 15 years of raising goats, but this year I talked my husband into buying a bale a day(45lbs) for my 18 does, while they are nursing and the kids are growing like crazy. The does are looking really good, I also feed a bale of mixed 2nd cutting grass hay(50lbs) a day, along with
1 lb of 16% pelleted goat feed per doe, with 1/4 to 1/2 lb of crimped corn, and about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of dried beet pulp per doe. Beet pulp is also new this year.

What is crimped corn [url]http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-confused004.gif[/url] [url]http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-confused004.gif[/url] [url]http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-confused004.gif[/url]

It is flattened and cracked open, but not ground up. Maybe some people refer to is as rolled corn.

I have never seen it before... when I give corn, I give: fresh, cracked, or scratch grains)