What do you feed your goats????

[Speedy94c]

I have heard everything from you need to feed 6% to 8% to feed 16% goat feed. I am at a lose to know what should I feed.
I can get feed that is close to out of date but not yet at about 1/2 price at times but ive also been told not to change their feed for it may cause the scours.

What should I do? I want to get some in bulk but you have to get 1 1/2 tons at a time.
All your thoughts and help will be appreciated.
Thanks Steve

 

[ksalvagno]

I use the 16% goat feed. I don't have enough goats to buy in bulk as the feed is not their main diet. I have Nigerian Dwarfs and I only give them 1 measuring cup, once a day for their feed.

 

[Roll farms]

"Bargain" feed is never a bargain...and frequent diet changes are a bad, bad idea w/ goats.

My kids and bucks* get 16% feed w/ deccox and ammonium chloride, top dressed w/ Goat Power mineral (also fed free choice) and Black Oil Sunflower Seed.

*Bucks are only 'fed' during / right after breeding season, the rest of the year they're on 'hay only'.

The adult does get a 12% feed mixed w/ mineral and BOSS and a bit of corn in winter (around 10%). I also supplement the bred does w/ Kelp for added iodine.

Everyone's feed is top dressed w/ a probiotic powder to keep the 'good bugs' going in spring, when I deworm or vaccinate, and after they kid.

The dairy / heavy kidding boer does get alfalfa hay, everyone else gets grass hay.

I'm not saying this is the 'right' way to feed YOUR goats, just how I feed mine...but I don't change their diets, ever...or if I decide to make a change, I do it gradually.

 

[Calliopia]

Bargain feed is NOT a bargain. I learned this lesson the hard way this month. TSC had some 14% senior horse feed that was marked down to 6.00 a bag because of date. I was going to give it to the chickens as scratch and it ALL molded with in a week.

Ours has bunch of feeds on clearance right now but I won't touch the stuff anymore.

 

[()relics]

Every goat has a different nutritional need based on age, sex, use, health. To try and feed one type of feed/hay to all your goats regardless of their need would be foolish and wasteful. As RF has pointed out already, rations are changed depending on what specific animal you are feeding. Best to buy a feed specifically formulated for goats, then add ingredients to complete your ration eg: BOSS, oats,corn,probiotics,decox. It is more work at feeding time but it can help you target specific needs which will save you money in feed costs and should benefit your animals.
as far as bulk feed...I have found that if I go to the feed store a few weeks in advance and tell them I will be buying 10 bags of goat feed, they are more than happy to throw in a bag for free...Then, as long as it is properly stored in your barn, you will have no problem...jmo

 

[DonnaBelle]

I learned the hard way about keeping Black Oil Sunflower seed too long.

I had about l/2 a bag left over from feeding the birds last spring.

I gave some to the goats and they had the scours big time. I had to give Probios for about 3 days, not cheap. So in the long run, have fresh feed, the money you save might cost a lot more later.

I stuck my nose down in the bin and the smelled sour. YUK>

Also, feed will get those "grain bugs" if it's not fresh, yuk.

I get one bag at a time now, just enough to feed for a week.



DonnaBelle

 

[MysticScorpio82]

"Bargain" feed is never a bargain...and frequent diet changes are a bad, bad idea w/ goats.

My kids and bucks* get 16% feed w/ deccox and ammonium chloride, top dressed w/ Goat Power mineral (also fed free choice) and Black Oil Sunflower Seed.

*Bucks are only 'fed' during / right after breeding season, the rest of the year they're on 'hay only'.

The adult does get a 12% feed mixed w/ mineral and BOSS and a bit of corn in winter (around 10%). I also supplement the bred does w/ Kelp for added iodine.

Everyone's feed is top dressed w/ a probiotic powder to keep the 'good bugs' going in spring, when I deworm or vaccinate, and after they kid.

The dairy / heavy kidding boer does get alfalfa hay, everyone else gets grass hay.

I'm not saying this is the 'right' way to feed YOUR goats, just how I feed mine...but I don't change their diets, ever...or if I decide to make a change, I do it gradually.

Why are bucks only fed hay except for breeding season? Does it effect their smell?

 

[Roll farms]

Because they don't "need" it....they get fat / lazy...and it's not good for them to get too much grain when they're not 'working'.

I start giving them grain about a month before breeding is to commence, to put a little weight on them before they go in w/ the does. Chaos, who was a bit fat before breeding season, has now worried himself down about 25#. He will be given grain for a few weeks (slowly tapering off) once he's away from the girls, b/c I don't want him going into winter under-conditioned.

The feed doesn't effect their buck smell one way or the other...

 

[BetterHensandGardens]

I'm not saying this is the 'right' way to feed YOUR goats, just how I feed mine...but I don't change their diets, ever...or if I decide to make a change, I do it gradually.

Why alfalfa hay vs. grass hay, and should either grass or alfalfa be 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th cutting?

 

[Roll farms]

I always try to avoid first cutting, it makes better bedding than hay b/c of all the stems.

Other than that, I buy what's available / affordable.
Our goats don't need $8.00 a bale racehorse hay.

Alfalfa has more calories / protein / calcium, etc.
If they're not making babies or giving milk, again, they don't "need" alfalfa. And if you have enough browse / pasture, they don't "need" any hay.

This is just my 2 cents worth, to each their own.