I am NOT a nutritionist. I base this information on personal experience. I have my opinions LOL. But each producer needs to understand the need of their own herd and adjust appropriately. Please take this information and adjust to best suit your herds needs. This is basic feeding needs.
Grass Hay: Coastal, Timothy, Sudan, Clover (usually mixed with other grasses), Oat, Tall Fescue*
Hay should be fed free choice unless the herd has good browse. Grass pasture is not always enough for goats. They need roughage for proper functioning rumen. Hay provides that needed roughage when a variety of browse is not available. Hay should be horse quality, clean, dry and well stored, free of mold, stickers and toxic weeds.
*Read on Tall Fescue toxicity here
http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/a...
Alfalfa:
Alfalfa is needed for every goat. Yes, even bucks and wethers. It provides calcium to help balance the phosphorus found in browse, graze, hay, minerals and grain. Much discussion and arguments have been battled over whether to feed to the boys. To help prevent Urinary Calculi, Please feed alfalfa. Alfalfa hay should be clean and dry, well stored. No mold. You can buy Alfalfa Hay, pellets or Chaffhaye. All should smell fresh.
How much do I feed?
Not knowing the quality browse, hay and other food choices you have, I can not say an exact amount your herd needs, however, I would start with at least 1/2 flake alfalfa hay, or 1 pound Chaffhaye or 3 cups Pellet per adult Doe and adjust based on what she is offering and her condition. Bucks would get this starting amount. Kids would start with a small handful of Alfalfa hay or Chaffhaye or 1/2 cup pellets. Small breeds, Nigerian and Pygmy I would start with a Kids size serving and adjust as you see the need.
Grain
Ok, here is one of those opinions lol I don’t feed corn. It doesn’t offer much in a way of nutrients and although a small amount wont hurt, too much can cause Acidosis. If you take a handful of corn and soak it in water, that will give you an idea of whats happening with it in the rumen. If you feel the need to feed corn, only feed a small amount of cracked corn, never whole.
Opinion Number 2 Sweet feed. Yes your goats love it. But its like feeding your kids sugary cereal when there is better choices. Sweet feed has too much molasses. Too much molasses messes with the rumen and can cause loose stools. It also molds easier so if you feed the sweet stuff, keep a close watch for mold.
Grain for Goats in service or growing: Moms in milk or pregnant, Bucks in Rut and kids still growing and a goat who is under conditioned. There is no need to feed grain to Pet goats not being bred, not being milked. Adult wethers DO NOT need grain at all if in good flesh.
How much to feed?
Start with 1 cup pellet grain or mix per head. 1/2 cup for Nigies or kids. Increase based on what their needs are. Using a 3# coffee can as my scoop, My 160# Saanen doe gives me a bit more then a gallon of milk per milking ( thats over 2 gallons a day) gets 6 pounds of grain on the table 2 times a day. This keeps her milk production comfortable for her and keeps her weight up. My 130# Saanen doe who is dry get 3 pounds grain on the table but my 120 pound Lamancha get 4-4.5 pounds on the table who gave 3/4 gallon, but struggled to keep weight on. You can quickly see there is not a science amount. There are charts that say, up grain to such and such per gallon of milk given, but I have noticed each goat has its own needs and does not always fit in that chart. Learn your herd and you will know how much to give.
I recommend 14-16% pellets grain or mix your own. Do not buy all-stock or all species feeds. Buy specific for goats nutritional needs.
When feeding a pellet, and wanting to add other goodies, be sure to measure out what they need first then add the additions, such as BOSS, Beet pulp or calf manna etc so not to dilute the Feed pellet.
A few mixes if you want to mix your own. ALWAYS do 1:3 of mix to alfalfa source to keep calcium level at least a 2:1 ratio with phos.
Mix Number 1
Mix Number 2
Mix number 3
Loose Minerals
Blocks are too hard on goats teeth and tongue and too high in salt. Buy Loose minerals made for goats and feed free choice. I prefer to serve a daily amount and freshen daily. Do not top dress feed with minerals. Allow the animal to choose when they need it and how much. One exception to top feeding is the Kelp mineral blend (recipe to follow)
The kelp blend is also good food.
Home made mineral:
UPDATE: Land of Havilah now has a blend called Herbamins that can replace other loose minerals. Her web site has all the info.
SALT, goats do need some source of salt. Since they dont need much, blocks are ok or Loose salt, himalayan salt rocks or Cobalt Salt lick which we use here. We were in the need of Cobalt so provide a block of it which is mostly salt.
Baking Soda
Baking soda should be fed as needed not free choice. Goats make their own Bicarbonate when they chew a cud. It's best not to do for the body what it needs to do for itself. Especially for our Bucks. Baking soda raises the goat's pH, where urinary stones dissolve in a lower pH (acidic conditions) so that's why it's not good for boys. There is an article explaining more on this.
Garlic
Garlic can help boost immune systems, act in place of antibiotics and help ward off Parasites. Since feeding garlic to our Goats we see less lice issues.
SO in conclusion: Hay, Alfalfa, Grain pellet or mix, Loose minerals, salt and fresh water. Any browse foods you want to walk them to or cut and drag in :)
Remember..we aim for a 2-1/2: 1 Calcium and Phosphorus ratio ..take everything into account.
Grass Hay: Coastal, Timothy, Sudan, Clover (usually mixed with other grasses), Oat, Tall Fescue*
Hay should be fed free choice unless the herd has good browse. Grass pasture is not always enough for goats. They need roughage for proper functioning rumen. Hay provides that needed roughage when a variety of browse is not available. Hay should be horse quality, clean, dry and well stored, free of mold, stickers and toxic weeds.
*Read on Tall Fescue toxicity here
http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/a...
Alfalfa:
Alfalfa is needed for every goat. Yes, even bucks and wethers. It provides calcium to help balance the phosphorus found in browse, graze, hay, minerals and grain. Much discussion and arguments have been battled over whether to feed to the boys. To help prevent Urinary Calculi, Please feed alfalfa. Alfalfa hay should be clean and dry, well stored. No mold. You can buy Alfalfa Hay, pellets or Chaffhaye. All should smell fresh.
How much do I feed?
Not knowing the quality browse, hay and other food choices you have, I can not say an exact amount your herd needs, however, I would start with at least 1/2 flake alfalfa hay, or 1 pound Chaffhaye or 3 cups Pellet per adult Doe and adjust based on what she is offering and her condition. Bucks would get this starting amount. Kids would start with a small handful of Alfalfa hay or Chaffhaye or 1/2 cup pellets. Small breeds, Nigerian and Pygmy I would start with a Kids size serving and adjust as you see the need.
Grain
Ok, here is one of those opinions lol I don’t feed corn. It doesn’t offer much in a way of nutrients and although a small amount wont hurt, too much can cause Acidosis. If you take a handful of corn and soak it in water, that will give you an idea of whats happening with it in the rumen. If you feel the need to feed corn, only feed a small amount of cracked corn, never whole.
Opinion Number 2 Sweet feed. Yes your goats love it. But its like feeding your kids sugary cereal when there is better choices. Sweet feed has too much molasses. Too much molasses messes with the rumen and can cause loose stools. It also molds easier so if you feed the sweet stuff, keep a close watch for mold.
Grain for Goats in service or growing: Moms in milk or pregnant, Bucks in Rut and kids still growing and a goat who is under conditioned. There is no need to feed grain to Pet goats not being bred, not being milked. Adult wethers DO NOT need grain at all if in good flesh.
How much to feed?
Start with 1 cup pellet grain or mix per head. 1/2 cup for Nigies or kids. Increase based on what their needs are. Using a 3# coffee can as my scoop, My 160# Saanen doe gives me a bit more then a gallon of milk per milking ( thats over 2 gallons a day) gets 6 pounds of grain on the table 2 times a day. This keeps her milk production comfortable for her and keeps her weight up. My 130# Saanen doe who is dry get 3 pounds grain on the table but my 120 pound Lamancha get 4-4.5 pounds on the table who gave 3/4 gallon, but struggled to keep weight on. You can quickly see there is not a science amount. There are charts that say, up grain to such and such per gallon of milk given, but I have noticed each goat has its own needs and does not always fit in that chart. Learn your herd and you will know how much to give.
I recommend 14-16% pellets grain or mix your own. Do not buy all-stock or all species feeds. Buy specific for goats nutritional needs.
When feeding a pellet, and wanting to add other goodies, be sure to measure out what they need first then add the additions, such as BOSS, Beet pulp or calf manna etc so not to dilute the Feed pellet.
A few mixes if you want to mix your own. ALWAYS do 1:3 of mix to alfalfa source to keep calcium level at least a 2:1 ratio with phos.
Mix Number 1
- 6 parts whole oats
- 2 parts Calf manna
- 2 parts BOSS ( black oil sunflower seeds)
- 1 part beet pulp shreds
Mix Number 2
- 4 parts whole oats
- 2 parts Barley
- 1 part split peas
- 1 part BOSS
Mix number 3
- 3 parts whole oats
- 3 parts barley
- 1 part BOSS
Loose Minerals
Blocks are too hard on goats teeth and tongue and too high in salt. Buy Loose minerals made for goats and feed free choice. I prefer to serve a daily amount and freshen daily. Do not top dress feed with minerals. Allow the animal to choose when they need it and how much. One exception to top feeding is the Kelp mineral blend (recipe to follow)
The kelp blend is also good food.
Home made mineral:
- 10# kelp
- 16 oz Dr Christophers Vitalherb
- 2 oz pumpkin seed (if needed for selenium)
- 1 oz brigham tea (if needed for copper intake)
UPDATE: Land of Havilah now has a blend called Herbamins that can replace other loose minerals. Her web site has all the info.
SALT, goats do need some source of salt. Since they dont need much, blocks are ok or Loose salt, himalayan salt rocks or Cobalt Salt lick which we use here. We were in the need of Cobalt so provide a block of it which is mostly salt.
Baking Soda
Baking soda should be fed as needed not free choice. Goats make their own Bicarbonate when they chew a cud. It's best not to do for the body what it needs to do for itself. Especially for our Bucks. Baking soda raises the goat's pH, where urinary stones dissolve in a lower pH (acidic conditions) so that's why it's not good for boys. There is an article explaining more on this.
Garlic
Garlic can help boost immune systems, act in place of antibiotics and help ward off Parasites. Since feeding garlic to our Goats we see less lice issues.
SO in conclusion: Hay, Alfalfa, Grain pellet or mix, Loose minerals, salt and fresh water. Any browse foods you want to walk them to or cut and drag in :)
Remember..we aim for a 2-1/2: 1 Calcium and Phosphorus ratio ..take everything into account.