More Feed?

[Stacykins]

I just took weights on my two Nigerian Dwarf girls, and am a bit surprised at much much they do NOT weigh. Hefting them, I really thought they weighed more. I stood on a scale and held them for a weigh, subtracting my weight (which I took right then for accuracy). Unless the scale is off...

Suzie Q weighs 20lbs, and she was born in February. Dulce de Leche was 25lbs, and was born in March.

Their diet is free choice hay (alfalfa mix), and at night 1/2 cup of purina goat chow and a tablespoon of BOSS each. Plus whatever browse they eat during the day. I didn't want to overdoo the grain, but I guess they might need more. I got some calf manna to add to their diet. So, eventually, how much should I work up to, for both the calf manna and the goat chow per day? Should I feed the grain by weight or volume (ounces and lbs or cups)? Whatever they get each day, they'll get it in two meals, one morning and one evening.

 

[DonnaBelle]

Girl, I don't know what Nigerian Dwarfs are supposed to weigh, but that's a serious question and I'm giving you a bump.

DonnaBelle

 

[Goatherd]

I wouldn't matter if your scale was off or not. The combined weight, minus your weight, will tell you what they weigh regardless of the actual numbers. If you weighed 100 pounds and then 80 when you re-weighed yourself, the goat would weigh twenty pounds. If you weighed 300 pounds, then 280 after the re-weigh, the goat would still weigh 20 pounds.

Your goats may or may not be underweight. If you have photos, that would help considerably in making the assessment. All animals are individuals and have specific and personal body structure. Possibly a 20# goat, based upon it's individual build, isn't too small at all. Possibly not.

I am a proponent of feeding grain and from what you say you are feeding, I would say it's sounds like a bare minimum amount. It's easy to say "cups and tablespoons," but some don't actually measure and just estimate what they feed. If you are truly feeding 1 tablespoon of BOSS, I would humorously say "that's like peeing in the ocean." It really wouldn't make any difference at all. One tablespoon is virtually nothing in the scheme of their diet. Feeding twice daily is what I do and I find that the goats are much more satisfied with this routine. Again, you have to do what works best for you.

The calf manna is a good idea if you want to beef up their nutrition or you could consider shredded beet pulp which would add bulk as well as give the goats a feeling of being more satisfied.

Some say that weighing food is the only way to go, others use measuring devices and others eyeball it. Do what you feel most comfortable doing. If you do increase their diet, the body transformation is going to take some time. You should see results over several weeks of the increased food. Again, being individuals, individual goats metabolize foods differently and will visually show difference at different rates of time.

You may not even need to add anything from what they are presently eating, just increase the amount. You can increase the amounts until you see an improvement in their body structure and then slowly back off to an amount that will maintain the more appropriate body weight.

 

[Stacykins]

Thank you so much, Goatherd! I guess I was just concerned, since I read so many things saying "too much grain - BAD!" that I was afraid to give them more. I will slowly increase what they are getting. Also, here are pictures, taken a few days ago. I was trying to get them set up, but since I have only two hands, and one of those had the camera, they are only pseudo set up. They get so excited about the camera, sometimes!

Suzie, she is the goat who weighs 20lbs

Dulce de Leche

 

[ksalvagno]

They do both look good. I do like to feed grain too. I get mine up to a cup of grain a day and I have Nigerians.

 

[Goatherd]

Keep in mind, I have full sized goats. That being said, your goats look perfectly fine to me. I would describe them as "dainty and petite."

As far as feeding grain, that is a topic that ranks right up there with disbudding horns. Everybody's right and everybody's wrong.

I will say that the topic of feeding grain is somewhat detrimental to someone who is new to goats or not sure about what they are doing. Providing a complete, nutritious diet with hay, minerals (if they even use them) and water is not easily done. Too much grain is certainly bad, but applying common sense when you are selecting a method of feeding any animal makes all the difference to a successful diet.

 

[that's*satyrical]

They look fine to me too. Not too thin. It wouldn't hurt to add some calf manna though. They are still growing so whatever extra food they get will go into growth.

 

[marliah]

I think they look good too. And I only give my non lactating girls about a cup a day.

 

[Stacykins]

Glad that they look alright. Thanks, all!

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

They look great!! I wouldn't say the are thin or fat. Very nice and quite eye catching too.