Summer feeding for ND goats

[animalmom]

I've found weight tapes to not be very accurate. This method involves some math, not my best subject, but is accurate for figuring weight.

Also you can get copper bolus sized for kids, if you have kids. I have Nigerians and have had no problems using the adult goat bolus on my wee goaties... outside of fighting with them to get the bolus down the throat.

I use a mineral that has a lot of copper in it already so I have not had to bolus for a few years.

Here is where I get it: http://www.newcountryorganics.com/s...thy-organic-minerals-for-goats-50-lb-bag.html

Got to warn you the shipping is expensive, like $20+ per 50# bag, but even with that it is cheaper for me than the 20# bags of minerals I was buying that had half the copper.

Can't address your beet pulp question as I don't use that.

 

[Georgia Girl]

Just a tarp? I have a pallet, but in Alabama it gets pretty humid. I always thought leaving it outside would ruin it.

I live in a humid area also and hay placed under a tarp will mold and the tarp will develop moisture on the underside from humidity. We have used a tarp barn(hoop house) and it worked well, we put down 4 x4"s on the ground and held them in place with rebar, then bought 3 hog wire panels and attached them to the 4 x4's ,rounded as hoop shelter, then placed one of the silver colored tarp over this and left both ends open for aeration. We put one of the large peanut hay rolls under it on top of a pallet to keep it off the ground and it has lasted about 8 months without molding for the 6 goats I have. Th hoop house also survived the big storm that came though twice.

 

[Ridgetop]

If you are feeding grain at all switch to dairy cattle grain and it will have copper added to it. Our soil here in so Cal is pretty good in copper and selenium so even when there was big hysteria about copper deficiencies in goats years ago, we never had any problem out here. If you want to make sure your pasture is nutritionally sound have a nutrition test run on your pasture grass and also on the pasture soil for mineral levels. if the selenium level in the soil is high, you do not need extra selenium. If the nutrition level in the pasture is not good enough you will need to supplement even in the summer with either higher nutrient hay, or a concentrate feed.

 

[breezy2u]

I've found weight tapes to not be very accurate. This method involves some math, not my best subject, but is accurate for figuring weight.

Also you can get copper bolus sized for kids, if you have kids. I have Nigerians and have had no problems using the adult goat bolus on my wee goaties... outside of fighting with them to get the bolus down the throat.

I use a mineral that has a lot of copper in it already so I have not had to bolus for a few years. View attachment 62919

Here is where I get it: http://www.newcountryorganics.com/s...thy-organic-minerals-for-goats-50-lb-bag.html

Got to warn you the shipping is expensive, like $20+ per 50# bag, but even with that it is cheaper for me than the 20# bags of minerals I was buying that had half the copper.

Can't address your beet pulp question as I don't use that.

That mineral looks like an excellent option! I'll pay shipping if it means not having to wrestle the goats. My billy won't allow me to touch him at all so I was going to have to leave him out but now I can just give them all the minerals!

And thank you for the weight info. Next time I have them on the milking stand I will get weight on all of them (minus the stinky billy).