Meat Goat v/s Dairy Goat Feeds

[helmstead]

As you stated you dont have alot of lactacing does you are milking..you find it not to be a problem to use a medicated feed for all it works for you and thats okay.

I'm a dairy farmer and use my does for milking...not meat.

All herdmans will have differant opinions on feeds and what works well for them....so no one right or wrong here.

A) I milk my WHOLE herd. We just rarely GET any of that milk for ourselves because we feed bottle babies with it. This spring, I had FOURTY lactating does, FYI, and should have somewhere in the ball park of 20 this fall in milk. I'm currently milking 3.

A-2) We don't eat our goats, either...nor do our customers LOL. I use a meat goat product to feed to them majority of them, but I'm still a dairy farmer

B) We are not discussing how you want to feed here, no one has tried to convince you to use medicated feed. But, yes, it was wrong to make a broad statement to the effect of 'meat' formulas being 'bad long term' for dairy goats, which is why I composed this thread.

 

[Emmetts Dairy]

Again: My condradiction to using a meat formula for dairy is "MEDICATION" in the feed. I dont do it...and dont recomend it. Thats my personal opinion. I never stated it would be bad for the animal per se. My opinion is based on use of animal and nutritional needs for thier use. But in my post on this thread I stated I am not a fan of using medication long term is because of resistance to the drug. Its a HUGE problem in the livestock world...

This is why I feel medicated feed is not the most desired feed for an all purpose general feed. This is my opinion. This is how I feel. I personally give medication to sick animals only. Thats how I feed my herd and tend to thier health issues.

Let me put it this way...we make a batch of cookies...butter, sugar, flour, eggs...its just a plain cookie...and pretty much the base ingrediants for all cookies. Agreed? We add chocolate chips or penut butter..they become differant cookies. Thats how I feel about the feeds. Once you add differant things to the feeds they become used for differant stages, uses etc.

I personally dont believe that medicated goat feed will kill your dairy herd for them long term per se. I know that. But its a personal opinion I have and I dont like to medicate when its not necessary. For various reasons posted.

I think I have been clear on my opinion on feed and why I do what I do. I dont think feeding goats is so black and white.

I think everyone gets where were both coming from by now!!! I will definatley elabortate on broad statements in the future!!

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

I thought we were talking about UNMEDICATED meat goat feeds being basically the same as dairy formulas...? Or I'm lost.

 

[PattySh]

No unmedicated meat goat feeds available locally, all have a coccistat added. I agree I won't feed my milking does medicated feed (we are milking 5 currently and the family is using t he milk). I am basically worried that using a medicated (labeled for meat goats) feed long term on male animals might be harmful to their livers etc. Going to do some research and consult my vet before making a decision. Meanwhile not using grain on the young buckling and my 2 bucks are hay only and good weight. I am the one who lost 2 bucklings and believe started this issue, Still not sure if it was the grain I am noting alot less water consumption with the new good quality mixed grass hay. When we had to substitute older dryer hay the water consumption went way up (doubled). It is back to normal. Still thinking it was the hay and possibly an impaction or choke. The two we lost were first at the hay feeder more aggresive eaters, the other two more laid back. Still feel terrible because it was a vehicle losing a transmission that we could not transport hay from elsewhere like I normally do this time of year when my supplier has little left.He delivers so I took what he had because the cutting season is very late this year. Won't do that again ever this time of year. Normally his hay is excellent but he had little left as I had filled my barn for the year and miscalculated. I am hoping the worst is over. Trying not to dwell on our losses and spent alot of time outside enjoying the goats and other animals today. I so much appreciate all the information available on this site (wish they would put a chat thingy on!).

 

[20kidsonhill]

No unmedicated meat goat feeds available locally, all have a coccistat added. I agree I won't feed my milking does medicated feed (we are milking 5 currently and the family is using t he milk). I am basically worried that using a medicated (labeled for meat goats) feed long term on male animals might be harmful to their livers etc. Going to do some research and consult my vet before making a decision. Meanwhile not using grain on the young buckling and my 2 bucks are hay only and good weight. I am the one who lost 2 bucklings and believe started this issue, Still not sure if it was the grain I am noting alot less water consumption with the new good quality mixed grass hay. When we had to substitute older dryer hay the water consumption went way up (doubled). It is back to normal. Still thinking it was the hay and possibly an impaction or choke. The two we lost were first at the hay feeder more aggresive eaters, the other two more laid back. Still feel terrible because it was a vehicle losing a transmission that we could not transport hay from elsewhere like I normally do this time of year when my supplier has little left.He delivers so I took what he had because the cutting season is very late this year. Won't do that again ever this time of year. Normally his hay is excellent but he had little left as I had filled my barn for the year and miscalculated. I am hoping the worst is over. Trying not to dwell on our losses and spent alot of time outside enjoying the goats and other animals today. I so much appreciate all the information available on this site (wish they would put a chat thingy on!).

Yes, things happen in farming and you have to just move on. Trying to think about what could have caused it has to be seperate from the thought what did I do wrong. Really just have to step back and not beat yourself up. We have all been there, well I know I have been there.