Winter with goats

[KleinsCoop]

This is my first winter with goats. We have a 2 year old saanen and a 2 1/2 year old alpine/boer cross. We are milking our saanen once a day, but she is slowly drying up. Both are in a homemade insulated pallet barn with lots of hay, get fed sweet feed once a day and a heated water tank.

My question is: what all do I need to do to keep my goats happy and healthy during the winter months? Like special supplements or anything? We are in western pa with pretty cold temps. Today is 13 with windchill of -4.

 

[OneFineAcre]

You didn't mention minerals you need loose minerals
Other than that nothing special
Heated water is good

 

[Pearce Pastures]

x2 on the minerals. We offer both loose minerals and a soft mineral block (not the hard kind).

No special feeds needed, and actually, things like corn and sweet feeds are bad news. Nix the sweet feed and switch to regular feed---they may not like it at first but will get over and you will avoid other issues caused by the molasses in sweet feed.

Lots of hay will help them keep warm as a full and functional rumen creates heat (kind of like having an internal compost heap going on). Anyone who says that corn is a "hot" feed needs to look up what that actually means---it does not create warmth.


You have shelter and heated water, so not much else to do there.

 

[KleinsCoop]

I did not mention minerals, but I do have it available for them. They refuse them. I've been trying since May to get them to eat their minerals, but they just let it sit there. I've tried block and loose minerals. They are very picky eaters. We planned to change the sweet feed over to regular when this bag is through. It was mainly for the one goat being in milk.

Thanks everyone!

 

[danielle]

Actually sweet feed is good for them during the winter months keeps them warm in so dose corn to my dad in grandma always gave their goats in sheep sweet feed never bothered them just help kept them fully longer in the winter then regular feed or just hay

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Again, corn and molasses add calories (that are not likely needed), and do not create heat. They can cause digestive problems and even polioencephalitis, which I have seen happen and it was really sad and unnecessary. I am sure people do it and may have not had a problem but it is a chance and the money spent on these would be better put towards a good hay.

The misconception that feeds keep animals warm is because of the misunderstanding of the term "hot feeds". These feeds are processed more quickly and have higher caloric value, which is why they are labeled as hot. This energy is usually stored as fat (which not healthy), contributes to parasite growth, can cause acidosis and reduce rumen function. Hay, however, takes longer to digest, ferments and actually produces heat value, and is better for them overall.

Hay, water, minerals, and if it is felt it is needed, a small ration of unsweetened feed, is all that they require.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

In case extra reading is wanted, while there are many University articles available on the issue of feeding sweet feeds, this one is fairly easy to follow.
http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/ruminant_nutrition/Optional Reading Materials/Polio_Vlietstra.pdf

 

[danielle]

Oka feed lots feed them corn in sweet feed during the winter to help keep them warm I've even ask a vet they said it dose help keep them warm I do believe it can make them fat if over feed I live in iowa so its a cattle in hog state in now sheep their is not alot ppl that mess with goats so the feed store has goat feed but it's $15 dollars a bag in the summer time which I don't feed during the summer I just give them hay in they forage the rest in winter time goat feed Gose up to $23 dollars a bag usually it is all bought before I can buy some so I use sweet feed in corn I never over feed just a half cup of feed in a half cup corn the rest is hay I never had one bloat or have the runs before I've had good result

 

[jodief100]

Back to the original post.....

Shelter, out of the wind and snow. Some kind of bedding to get them off the frozen ground. Hay, mineral and feed, water that is not frozen. Love and attention. Pretty much all they need. If they are pregnant and expecting in the cold, then they may need some more space and attention but it sound like you have it covered.

I agree with the sweet feed. Unnecessary and it molds easily which can cause serious health issues. I disagree on the corn. Corn provides quick energy, which they need. Soybean hulls are better if you can get them.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Pearce and Jodie are exactly right.

I rarely give my goats extra concentrates in winter unless there is truly a special need for it.

However, once we've had a killing frost/freeze and forage supplies/quality declines they will have good quality hay available 24/7.

(Not sure how to respond to Danielle because I find it hard to decipher the post.)