Help/Input needed

Patty0315 · #21 02/13/08, 08:07 AM

I do feed my boys grain when in rut , BUT I have never had aUC problem. If I did they would look skinnie in rut because I would not chance it .

Feeding a good hay and they will be fine. If you want to give them a handfull of oats soaked with ac that should not be a problem.

My girls get 3 parts oats , 1 part corn and 1 part calf manna. Much better and cheaper than prebagged goat chows.

Patty

susanne · #22 02/13/08, 08:10 AM

different forums have different ideas and different breed of goats. there is one forum for example, lead by a young girl (she does an awesome job) and most of the goats they have are pygmies and nigerians. i come to the conclusion that they have a different management than what i would do with my nubians.
or go to a board where mostly boer breeder are present. totally different then dairy breeder. i would say a difference like dogs and cats.

everybody has to find for himself witch management fits the best for their situation and location.

here is one of my boys this winter. no grain, only hay and alfa pellets
Help/Input needed - Goats

moonspinner · #23 02/13/08, 08:13 AM

Patty, what kind of hay do you feed? Susanne, what a handsome guy!

Backfourty,MI. · #24 02/13/08, 08:16 AM

moonspinner, he has not been on Dumor for a few months & no Purina for 3 wks. Our water has high iron but it goes through a water softner for their water. I give them free range minerals for goats with baking soda that I add, apple cidar vinegar water mix and a good alfafa/grass type hay. This the 1st time I have ever had this problem & have always given our previous bucks & wethers grain. We just got this buck last 4th of July he was 2 months old. Our Vet said each animal is different just like people some get stones & some don't. I don't plan on giving them grain since everyone here thinks it's a bad idea. I was just looking for an easier way to give him the AC each day and also make sure he gets all that he needs for nutrition needs. We sure like this little guy & don't want to put him down. My DH will not let him have surgery, but he doesn't seem to be straining or in pain( we only stopped the AC for 2 days-I won't do that again for awhile!) It is very frustrating to me though! Couldn't hardly sleep last night for all of this going through my mind about the boys & girls foods, etc! OH Well, it's got to get better sooner or later!

Backfourty,MI. · #25 02/13/08, 08:19 AM

Beautiful Buck, Susanne!

DQ · #26 02/13/08, 08:22 AM

wowsusanne he makes my heart go pitter patter!! he's exceptionally handsome!

jordan · #27 02/13/08, 08:33 AM

I think you'll get as many different answers as you have questions. Everyone will have different management techniques as well.

Though many people may pipe up saying they have had no problems feeding grain, the bottom line is Backfourty HAS and that is what needs to be addressed. In this situation, feeding any grain (regardless of what or who makes it) would be foolish.
Since the buck in question seems pre-disposed to UC, his management will of course have to be different than what you've done/fed in the past. He may just need more time to get the chow completely out of his system and get things back in balance

3 weeks is not that long a time and the UC would have seriously depleted his bodies reserves.

I give mine an herbal supplement through the fall and winter months as well to help keep them in condition.

Patty0315 · #28 02/13/08, 08:43 AM

My boys get a good mix hay which includes some clover.

Good luck

Patty

fishhead · #29 02/13/08, 10:06 AM

From what I've read it's the balance between calcium and phosphorus that gets tilted towards too much phosphorus (grain) that causes the stones so maybe it would help to look for a way to add more calcium to his diet. I've also read that the ratio can be more than 2:1 calcium/phosphorus without causing any problems.

I just talked to one of the girls in our lab and she said that softeners will only remove low concentrations of iron and that there is a special salt that is used to clean softeners used in high iron water. High levels of iron require an iron prefilter.

So..... have you checked iron level in the water after it's gone through the softener?

Backfourty,MI. · #30 02/13/08, 10:14 AM

No I haven't tested the water after going through the softner but I will do that.
I'm not giving up on the little guy, I don't plan on putting him back on any type of chow & will just keep giving him the AC. The vet did say he would give it the rest of his life & on Fias co. farms site it says to top dress their food daily with AC for Bucks & wethers.
I really appreciate all of Your help & THANKS SO MUCH! EVERYONE!