Sweet feed?

[HankTheTank]

My new doe Bonnie was being fed sweet feed at her old home. Now, correct me if I'm wrong here, but isn't that just like feeding a child on candy alone? Especially for a pregnant doe, it wouldn't really have very much nutritional value, would it? I'm switching her over to an actual goat grain, but I was just wondering about the sweet feed...I'm somewhat confused

 

[Queen Mum]

There are all sorts of "sweet feed" formulas. One is a grain/pellet mix with molasses. One is corn, oats and barley with molasses. One is a mix of grains with some minerals and molasses added. But some sweet feed mixes are fairly well balanced.

If all she got was sweet feed, and she got no other minerals or other nutrients like alfalfa or decent hay (my former landlord fed his goats exclusively sweet feed and NO HAY or minerals or alfalfa) She is probably malnourished.

If she got sweet feed and other nutrients, I wouldn't worry. You can change her diet gradually and get her on a balanced diet that you feel is appropriate.

Goats really need mostly hay and browse. Grain and feed mixes are supplements. They aren't intended to be the main feed source for goats. It isn't good for their rumens. Feed lot animals get grain and pellet mixes because it is convenient and puts on fat.

 

[HankTheTank]

I'm fairly certain she is a little malnourished. I'm not really sure if she got any browse at all, or minerals, and I'm sure she needs to be dewormed. She seems to be overall healthy enough, but she seems a little....off? (I guess that's the best word) compared to my other goats, who are much bigger and seem a lot healthier. I'm gonna give her some more time and good care to get re-conditioned......I fixed up my other doe pretty good when I first got her, I can do it with Bonnie!

 

[elevan]

Sweet Feed is such a misnomer, as Queen Mum pointed out.

When some people say sweet feed they are referring to All Stock pellets...if that is the case, then no your goat shouldn't get that imo.

And as Queen Mum stated, goats do best on hay / browse with feed / grain as a supplement as needed...if the animal is to be a long term animal. There is less concern for long term health in a terminal animal (destined to be a food source) and many of them get a lot more grain / feed.

 

[Mamaboid]

We feed what is labeled as a "sweet feed", it is a mix that our local mill mixes just for goats, so the name can definitely be misleading.

ETA: our goats put on conditioning as soon as we got them switched over from the feed we were feeding them.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Yeah, if you look at my 13% Sweet feed for horses, 16% feed for goats and 16% Feed for sheep, it all looks the same, but each is different and mixed with different minerals, etc.