Grain for pregnant does?

[Farmingscots]

Well, it’s starting to get chilly and we used up the alfalfa/timothy mix pellets we were giving as a “treat” (just about a cup a day) -now we put some “all stock” grain pellets in the treats tub, and we thought it was good timing to help our one goat have a little grain the morning to warm up for the day. But she might be pregnant. This would be her first time (and ours too) and we haven’t had a blood test yet. But I saw a post on Facebook saying no grain for pregnant does…now I’m wondering if we were about to walk into a trap. Can anyone chime in on this, please?

 

[Mini Horses]

mine expect their feed to be more than hay!

Do you have only one goat???? They like company
-- you need more . Also, the breed you have has an affect on what & how much to feed. Daily forage is critical, beyond pellets.

In general, last couple months of pregnancy is when fetus grow most in size. Don't overfeed but, yes they need more sustenance than non preg maintenance. Now, when lactating, way more calories are needed for that milk. If the doe is then one you will be milking for own use, about a lb of feed for lb of milk she's producing daily. What and how much to feed is dependant on what the goat has for pasture, hay, their use, their type.

So, what breed do you have, age and plans for her?

 

[Farmingscots]

We started small but she’s not alone. We have a dexter heifer and a mini Nubian and they are buds. And super happy. They forage and eat grass hay. They are hopefully both pregnant and our herd and farm will grow and we will start making our own milk products next summer.

 

[Farmingscots]

I forgot to explain age. They are both going to turn two this summer.

 

[rachels.haven]

Goat pregnancy should be a nutritional plain of ascending nutrition. A limited amount of grain is good for does, daily and then twice daily if the kid load is large. By the end they should be getting the "nice stuff" in general because due to kid mass they run out of room for a lot of bulk. IDK who says no grain for pregnant does. Never heard that one before.

 

[Farmingscots]

Thank you. As a first time goat owner I’m 1.) worried easily by what I don’t know and what I hear others say
2.) realize that I’m doing a lot better than I think I am.

Learning what is normal and what are the signs of happiness in my livestock is key.

 

[Ridgetop]

We always grined ur pregnant does, but that is because we were on a 10 month lactation (on test) and since they were milking they got grain pound for pound of milk. Then a 2 month rest before kiddig again so still got some grain. Because goats need copper in amounts which are toxic to sheep, we fed dairy cattle grain.

 

[Farmingscots]

I’ve heard about this copper need/difference with sheep. I’ve also heard that the area I live in is zinc deficient. So far my goat only nibbles occasionally when I provide minerals or baking soda. Her cow friend helps make sure it gets knocked out or rained on because I haven’t figured out a way to rig it up in trays on the wall. Junie the cow might find a way to break those off the wall for fun…oh the joy of animals!

Anyways, back to the grain question: when you wrote “pound for pound” do you mean grain:goat’s weight or grain:milk’s weight?

 

[Mini Horses]

Grain -- milk. A gal is about 8#

 

[blessedfarmgirl]

I feed alfalfa and grain to my pregnant does. I start out with a smaller amount of grain(about a 1/4 pound or one cup, but I have small goats), then double or triple that the last month of pregnancy depending on the goats condition and how big they look. Then I give them as much grain as they want while I'm milking them. The pound for pound is a good general rule, but some of mine don't want to eat that much. I also give free choice grass hay and a flake or two of alfalfa hay for my 4 girls to share every day. As far as minerals, if they are zinc deficient you can give the 50 mg zinc tabs for humans. You can get them very cheaply at Walmart or your local pharmacy. I give those in their grain and they don't notice. The signs of zinc deficiency are hair loss around the eyes and lots of flaky skin. I gave those tablets once daily for a full week and then once weekly after that when I saw some flaky skin and hair loss and it was all cleared up in less than a month. I also give extra selenium during pregnancy, once a month. I use the gel and sandwich it between animal crackers. You can also use the injection, BoSe which you can get from your vet. Make sure they are getting a high quality free choice loose mineral, meaning they always have access to it. And I would only offer baking soda if you suspect bloat. You can also give them some kelp for an extra vitamin and mineral boost, though kelp is a bit pricy. I only usually give kelp before breeding and during the last month of pregnancy.