Nutrition and condition discussion

[SDGsoap&dairy]

One of these years I'm going to have to breed her Nubian and keep a daughter, see if Chaos (our buck) can improve her capacity and depth.

I would want to do the same. What's funny is that her hips look really wide still. Has she always been an easy kidder? She really has some nice qualities to contribute, despite the narrowness.

 

[RabbleRoost Farm]

Oh don't worry about me, I'm all about internet safety.
No job is my main issue. :/

I would have no problem bartering though, so I guess if I could find some local goat raisers that keep it on hand I might be able to work something out.



I think your Nubian is cute (yay spots!), but yeah, if I owned her I'd wonder why she was like that too. But with the input about conformation it makes sense. Edit: Yes! Breed her back to Nubian!
I want to see those floppy eared spotty babies!


Do goats really like beet pulp?
I've always read that you have to soak it and be all fancy, but I doubt Tansy would go for something soggy. She's a little bit of a picky eater. As in, won't eat pine or hay if she thinks it isn't right, whereas my other goats would.

 

[freemotion]

All of my goats like beet pulp. You don't have to soak it, but I do, as it makes it bulkier and slows them down on the milking stand. If you get the amount of water just right (I use hot water and put enough to cover it and a bit more, like cooking rice) and let it sit for a bit (half hour? Less?) it will not be soggy but more like fresh beets. Sort of.

 

[ksalvagno]

If it is shredded beet pulp, then you shouldn't have to soak it. I used to feed it to the alpacas if I had a girl that needed more conditioning. They would scarf it down. I believe they still sell the beet pulp with molasses on it. You could always try that. I bet she would like it with molasses on it.

 

[TheMixedBag]

Since she's not really showing interest in the sweet feed, I gave her 2 scoops alfalfa pellets, 2 scoops beet pulp and a half a scoop Calf Manna, and so far, she's pigging on it.

I may also be imagining, but she's looking better overall now that Maverick's gone and I started her on different feeds. She's still got loose stool (more like dog poo right now), but I cannot find my full tube of Probios, so I kinda just have to let her ride with it. It's not really bothering her much, so we'll see how it goes.

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

Since she's not really showing interest in the sweet feed, I gave her 2 scoops alfalfa pellets, 2 scoops beet pulp and a half a scoop Calf Manna, and so far, she's pigging on it.

I may also be imagining, but she's looking better overall now that Maverick's gone and I started her on different feeds. She's still got loose stool (more like dog poo right now), but I cannot find my full tube of Probios, so I kinda just have to let her ride with it. It's not really bothering her much, so we'll see how it goes.

Wasn't she on a 16% dairy ration before? Switching feeds would certainly contribute to soft poop. I've only ever seen sweet feed at 10% protein... if I needed to cut costs and had to choose between feeding sweet feed and calf manna or just a 16% dairy concentrate alone I would definitely feed the 16%.

Glad to hear she's looking better!

 

[TheMixedBag]

It's got molasses in it, so it's a sweet feed/grain/dairy ration thingy. It's Busch Goat Feathercreek Dairy Ration, 16%. If I could feed it by itself, I would, but she won't have it, so it's back to the pellets and calf manna with a bit of the ration mixed in just to use it.

 

[RabbleRoost Farm]

Oh she'd definitely go for it if there was molasses on it!
Good idea.
I'm not sure what the feed store sells, or how much it is even, but I'll see what I can do tomorrow. I think I'm definitely getting more minerals to put out, and from now on that'll always be free choice.
If they have something for copper in the right price range I might pick that up too. Heh... I feed my goats better than I do myself.
(I don't take any vitamins... Shh!)

I want to grow a huge plot of turnips and beets and winter squash and things to keep them going through the winter this year... I mean, a couple packets of seeds is a heck of a lot cheaper than buying bag after bag of grain and tons of hay all winter long when there's nothing green except for the pine trees. :/

I could sink a plastic drum into the dirt and fill it with root veggies and have a primitive root cellar sort of thing. Stuff it with hay and cover it with a few square bales and you're set.

 

[RabbleRoost Farm]

I'm really glad your doe is gaining too MixedBag!
It's always good to see them improve.

Anyone feed sunflower seeds? Or any other seeds for that matter - I hear they're very good for goats. I bet they might help with weight, but a bag of black oil sunflower seeds is expensive...

Sorry for so many questions... This is supposed to be a discussion, not a FAQ section! :/

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

Sorry for so many questions... This is supposed to be a discussion, not a FAQ section! :/

This is a discussion AND a FAQ section.

I do feed BOSS. It's around $19 per 50 lb bag here, but that's a whole lot of BOSS considering the amount fed. We top dress with it for our lactating does or anyone who looks like they need the extra fat. They only get a handful, so a 50 lb bag will last.