supermommy
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Whats the diffrence? Im so confused!
sweet feed vs regular feed at TSC?
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lilhill
Loving the herd life
Not exactly sure which regular feed you're talking about, but sweet feed, like Purina Goat Chow, is grain w/molasses in it. The "regular" feed could be pelleted feed.
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supermommy
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ok so really it doesnt matter which one you use? I bought the sweet feed and then was worried maybe its more like a treat type thing?
lilhill
Loving the herd life
I use the Purina Goat Chow along with alfalfa pellets and grass hay. It's just a matter of what works for you and your goats.
ohiofarmgirl
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if you have dairy gals (that you milk for you) you might want to make sure that the sweet feed ISNT medicated.
we found a great sweet feed (not at TSC) that our dairy gals loved.. but it was medicated. so we had to move on.
but as long as the protein is acceptable for you.. why not use it? one of my breeders mixes his own sweet feed and his goaties love it.
we found a great sweet feed (not at TSC) that our dairy gals loved.. but it was medicated. so we had to move on.
but as long as the protein is acceptable for you.. why not use it? one of my breeders mixes his own sweet feed and his goaties love it.
You might also hear sweet feed referred to as "textured" feed, btw.. Same thing..
Personally, I don't like textured as well because it gives the goat an opportunity to cherry pick the tasty bits and ignore the rest.. If you're talking young males...and they find the corn tasty...could be problems.
Personally, I don't like textured as well because it gives the goat an opportunity to cherry pick the tasty bits and ignore the rest.. If you're talking young males...and they find the corn tasty...could be problems.
Roll farms
Spot Master
It depends on the % of protein.
At our TSC, we carry a white bag w/ blue and red writing / drawings of horses, cows, etc. on it. It is a 12% protein feed...not enough for lactating or gestating does if fed straight, IMHO. I believe it's called, "Sweet Mix".
They have a 10% Producer's Pride sweet feed.....wayyy too low in protein.
Most 'goat' feeds are 16% protein....The Dumor sweet for goats is 16%. I have a friend that uses it and is quite pleased w/ the results.
There's also a Producer's Pride sheep and goat dq feed (medicated) that has no / low copper in it, since it's also a sheep feed. Ok to start kids on, I guess, but not for long term.
I use the Noble Goat medicated for our kids, 16% protein and has ammonium chloride in it for UC prevention, and deccox for coccidia prevention.
I 'custom mix' our adult goat ration, using the 12% sweet feed above BUT I add a 36% protein dairy goat pellet, BOSS, and a little shelled corn (in winter) to it, it averages out to 16-18% protein. Then I top dress it with DE, kelp, goat mineral, and Opti Zyme.
At our TSC, we carry a white bag w/ blue and red writing / drawings of horses, cows, etc. on it. It is a 12% protein feed...not enough for lactating or gestating does if fed straight, IMHO. I believe it's called, "Sweet Mix".
They have a 10% Producer's Pride sweet feed.....wayyy too low in protein.
Most 'goat' feeds are 16% protein....The Dumor sweet for goats is 16%. I have a friend that uses it and is quite pleased w/ the results.
There's also a Producer's Pride sheep and goat dq feed (medicated) that has no / low copper in it, since it's also a sheep feed. Ok to start kids on, I guess, but not for long term.
I use the Noble Goat medicated for our kids, 16% protein and has ammonium chloride in it for UC prevention, and deccox for coccidia prevention.
I 'custom mix' our adult goat ration, using the 12% sweet feed above BUT I add a 36% protein dairy goat pellet, BOSS, and a little shelled corn (in winter) to it, it averages out to 16-18% protein. Then I top dress it with DE, kelp, goat mineral, and Opti Zyme.
ohiofarmgirl
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Roll - thanks for posting your mix... do you know if you can use Calf Manna instead of the 36% goat pellets?
countrywife
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I personally found with sweet feed it made them like 3 year olds- if they thought the candy was coming, they would not eat anything else. I switched to a goat chow/all stock feed mixture. No sweet feed for anybody on our farm.
ksalvagno
Alpaca Master
I use a goat texturized (sweet) feed. My goats gobble it all up. No picky eaters here. All the goat breeders that I talk to in my area all feed the sweet feed. So far I have had no problems with it.
You have to decide what is right for your animal. Nothing wrong with the sweet feed and nothing wrong with the pelleted feed. Pure preference and how your goats are doing on it. If your goats are healthy and doing great, then keep doing what you are doing. If you goats are sick and having problems, then you need to start looking at things.
You have to decide what is right for your animal. Nothing wrong with the sweet feed and nothing wrong with the pelleted feed. Pure preference and how your goats are doing on it. If your goats are healthy and doing great, then keep doing what you are doing. If you goats are sick and having problems, then you need to start looking at things.
