I am fortunate enough to have an organic feed supply store in town, and they have some good options. Our first goats will be coming home soon, and I'd like to slowly change them over to organic feed if they are not already on it.
One question I have is about hay vs pellets - I have allergies, and do a LOT better with pellets (which are no problem) than I do with hay (which gives me itchy eyes and sneezing every time). I do fine with straw bedding, and most other plants, but grass hays are no fun for me. Are alfalfa pellets okay in lieu of hay? Any potential problems from doing that? Obviously I want to do what is best for the goats.
Our feed store also has (and recommends) the following: Fertrell's Premier Goat Minerals and Sweetlix Caprine Milk Minerals, Kelp Meal, Diamond V Yeast, Feed Sulfur, Sodium Bicarb / Baking Soda, Azomite Trace Minerals, Dolomite 10AG, Redmond Organic Trace Mineral Salt
What are the benefits of each of these? I know salt is important, and baking soda can help with rumen pH values for the goats. Kelp meal I would imagine provides vitamins similar to leafy greens. Anyway, are all of these really necessary to have free choice? (I imagine if you get one of the mineral mixes, that it takes care of at least some of that?)
Thanks all.
Amy
One question I have is about hay vs pellets - I have allergies, and do a LOT better with pellets (which are no problem) than I do with hay (which gives me itchy eyes and sneezing every time). I do fine with straw bedding, and most other plants, but grass hays are no fun for me. Are alfalfa pellets okay in lieu of hay? Any potential problems from doing that? Obviously I want to do what is best for the goats.
Our feed store also has (and recommends) the following: Fertrell's Premier Goat Minerals and Sweetlix Caprine Milk Minerals, Kelp Meal, Diamond V Yeast, Feed Sulfur, Sodium Bicarb / Baking Soda, Azomite Trace Minerals, Dolomite 10AG, Redmond Organic Trace Mineral Salt
What are the benefits of each of these? I know salt is important, and baking soda can help with rumen pH values for the goats. Kelp meal I would imagine provides vitamins similar to leafy greens. Anyway, are all of these really necessary to have free choice? (I imagine if you get one of the mineral mixes, that it takes care of at least some of that?)
Thanks all.
Amy