URGENT!!! Really skinny dairy goat needs to gain weight

[babsbag]

I pay 15.50 for 100lb bale of alfalfa or 170.00 for 1200-1400 lb.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

@Feo Remember to go SLOWLY when introducing these new feeds!
Obviously you want to get her back into shape, but rushing to quickly could have a detrimental affect.

I read a while back about someone who suddenly lost 6 goats within 72 hours. They sent them out for a necropsy and there was
No bloat
No coccidia
No parasites
Nothing contagious
Rumens full of grain and hay

It ended up being Protein induced pneumonia. This happened when they suddenly switched the hay they were feeding. It was to much protein to fast.

You are feeding a 15% feed I believe you said.
Calf manna is 25%
DO NOT give her more then the bag says. Go very slow with this one!
The beet pulp and Chaffhaye are considerably less, but you still need to go slow. Alfalfa hay can have a higher protein level but it depends on when it was cut etc.

 

[Feo]

An average sq of alfalfa here is $14

That is the most expensive hay I have ever heard of!! At my cousins (in Pennsylvania) I have been to there auction and hays is $2.00 a mixed square bale (40-47 lbs) and $3-3.50 for alfalfa. The problem is I am too young to drive & I can't get anyone to drive me that far for hay. $14 is a lot- but I am sure you animals are worth it.

(Edited by staff 9/15/2016)

 

[Feo]

@Feo Remember to go SLOWLY when introducing these new feeds!
Obviously you want to get her back into shape, but rushing to quickly could have a detrimental affect.

I read a while back about someone who suddenly lost 6 goats within 72 hours. They sent them out for a necropsy and there was
No bloat
No coccidia
No parasites
Nothing contagious
Rumens full of grain and hay

It ended up being Protein induced pneumonia. This happened when they suddenly switched the hay they were feeding. It was to much protein to fast.

You are feeding a 15% feed I believe you said.
Calf manna is 25%
DO NOT give her more then the bag says. Go very slow with this one!
The beet pulp and Chaffhaye are considerably less, but you still need to go slow. Alfalfa hay can have a higher protein level but it depends on when it was cut etc.

So is there a better one for me to get?

 

[Southern by choice]

We have paid much worse than that. Fortunately we buy the large 1000 lb bales now.... still costly.

 

[Feo]

Okay, I just ordered 50 lbs of goat feed, 50 lbs of alfalfa pellets, and I will go to Tractor Supply to get beet pulp on Tuesday. I decided to get beet pulp because I have had success with my horse gaining weight with it, and is very high in fiber and calories. So if in total she is supposed to be getting 3 pounds a day (or more, we'll see) I should give her 4 cups normal feed, 1.5 cup beet pulp, and 4 cups alfalfa pellets (this is going by 3 cups in a pound). Is that right? Or is beet pulp an addition to feed, not part of the daily 3 pounds? For my horse, it was added to her normal feed amount but she was large enough to handle it if it swelled, and I dont know if my goats rumen is.

 

[babsbag]

I have read about the swelling of beet pulp but never experienced a problem with it. What you have proposed sounds like a good starting place. She will be getting hay in addition to this right? I would try and leave hay in front of her all of the time. Did you look for the Chaffehaye? Or was that even mentioned in this thread?

Are you still planning on sending in the fecal?

 

[Feo]

Thanks! Yes, she always has hay available. The Chaffhaye is not anywhere near here so sadly I won't be able to try it. I will send in the fecal sometime before Wednesday.

 

[babsbag]

I have a friend that was keeping her goats in very good condition with alfalfa pellets, that's it. She has since gotten a truck and get hay, but for over a year she fed only pellets. I am not suggesting that as they need the long stem fiber, but hers did ok.

You have minerals out for her too?

 

[Feo]

Yes. Always access to loose minerals and fresh water.