How bad is pig feed for goats?

Sylverfly

Chillin' with the herd
Joined
May 7, 2014
Messages
25
Reaction score
1
Points
34
I'm very careful about making sure my goats only eat goat feed, but lately they are being impossible! They are determined to eat pig feed! scaling walls to get in the pig stalls, picking "locks" to get at the feed in the storage room, sneaking it out of the scoop on the the way to the pig dish even. If I could figure out how to get them interested in gold and get them to fort Knox I'd be rich for sure. I've heard pig feed is bad for goats but how bad? They just get a lick or two and seem satisfied with that, this is a new development but they were exposed to a buck so could be pregnant. Is this a weird pregnancy craving or maybe a nutritional deficiency issue? What exactly makes it so bad for them anyway? would a few tablespoons at feeding be ok to let them have? Its an organic sow/pig feed thats nearly powder.

The goats get grass hay, alfalfa pellets, BOSS, sweet grain mix made at the same place, carrots, beets, apples, pine trees, baking soda, loose minerals, mineral block, and vitamin E. Is there something else I should give them?
 

Southern by choice

Herd Master
Joined
Jun 11, 2012
Messages
13,336
Reaction score
14,682
Points
613
Location
North Carolina
I know nothing about pig feed but as far as the nutrition...
One thing we have found with the organic feeds (for goats) and this is why we don't use them, is the Calcium Phosphorus ratio is way way way off.
Of course there are different organic feeds and I am not suggesting it is all, but the ones we have looked into did not have great values, too many things were off.

You may want to look at the labeling and see if they are lacking anything... other than that goats are brats. If they even think another animal is getting something different they want that.
 

M.L. McKnight

Overrun with beasties
Joined
Mar 18, 2014
Messages
337
Reaction score
146
Points
93
Location
Mississippi
Pig feed isn't really bad for goats, it is usually just made of stuff that goats don't need. Acidosis may become a problem if they eat too much and corn isn't really good for bucks but if your herd is just being true to their kind, sneaking out, scaling walls and inventing new ways to give you a headache- then I'd say they are just being nosy goats. I keep bungee cords on my feed bins because my goats tried doing the same thing as yours.
 

jk47

Loving the herd life
Joined
Nov 8, 2013
Messages
264
Reaction score
68
Points
133
Location
California
If the feed is medicated then it might be bad for them depending on what's in it
 

Gerard Dawn

Just born
Joined
Sep 5, 2014
Messages
3
Reaction score
2
Points
8
It depends on the feed, off course there's pig food that won't be good for goats, but again there is some food that would be suitable for other animals besides pigs.

My advice would be that you check the ingredients to see if they are any that won't be suitable for goats in the pigs feed.
 

Pearce Pastures

Barn Babe
Joined
Jun 14, 2010
Messages
5,315
Reaction score
1,065
Points
383
Location
Hanna, IN
Be careful with it. Goats have sensitive systems and we have all seen folks on here lose animals because they got into another animals food. I doubt a pinch would hurt but it would be best to just make sure it doesn't happen.
 

treeclimber233

Loving the herd life
Joined
Jan 12, 2010
Messages
542
Reaction score
25
Points
111
One way to keep from being mobbed at feeding time is get a bucket you can put a lid on and snap it on. The goats are getting "rewarded" for bad behavior by getting a taste of feed every time they mob you. If you have a lid on the bucket and they don't get a taste they will eventually stop. Well at least that works for me.
 
Top