Feed Store doesn't have goat ration...

mammabooh · #21 05/20/14, 11:54 AM

I find the smell of calf manna absolutelty revolting, so I don't use it. The breeder I got my original stock from used to mix it in with her other feeds, but has since eliminated it. She's now feeding like most folks here...no GMO and is feeding whole grains.

Pony · #22 05/20/14, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mammabooh

I find the smell of calf manna absolutelty revolting, so I don't use it. The breeder I got my original stock from used to mix it in with her other feeds, but has since eliminated it. She's now feeding like most folks here...no GMO and is feeding whole grains.

Calf manna smells kind of like licorice to me.

mammabooh · #23 05/20/14, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony

Calf manna smells kind of like licorice to me.

Maybe that's why I dislike it so!

Alice In TX/MO · #24 05/20/14, 12:38 PM

Calf Manna stinks. Expensive AND stinky.

Ford Zoo · #25 05/20/14, 05:32 PM

I would really have to review the label of Calf Manna again, but years ago I had a bit and did add a handful to top dress the goats' feed, not much I do remember that.

copperpennykids · #26 05/20/14, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sahmoffour

Wow, this forum is so awesome.

I will run a fecal first to make sure it's not just a worm problem. And I think I'll go with the majority as it does follow my line of thinking of less is more, and I'll start with some whole oats top dressed with a bit of BOSS.

What are everyone's thoughts on calf manna?

I just want to warn you...whole oats as the main source of ration for high production goats (anything routinely hitting 1 gallon a day) will result in goats struggling with ketosis and milk fever come kidding time. For some reason, the further north you go the harder hit the goats are.

If you are feeding Nigies (the are a whole 'nother kind of goat!) or lower producers you can get away with this (kind of ).

And for all you folks that want to get mad at me - I can NOT tell you the number of folks who fed whole oats as their main source of ration that I had to help with ketosis and milk fever. And I was just one of many mentors across the country helping folks.

CraterCove · #27 05/20/14, 07:14 PM

Copper, is that even with calcium rich feeds in the browse like blackberry, alfalfa or perennial peanut? Is there something in the rolled oats that inhibits calcium uptake?

sahmoffour · #28 05/20/14, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by copperpennykids

I just want to warn you...whole oats as the main source of ration for high production goats (anything routinely hitting 1 gallon a day) will result in goats struggling with ketosis and milk fever come kidding time. For some reason, the further north you go the harder hit the goats are.

If you are feeding Nigies (the are a whole 'nother kind of goat!) or lower producers you can get away with this (kind of ).

And for all you folks that want to get mad at me - I can NOT tell you the number of folks who fed whole oats as their main source of ration that I had to help with ketosis and milk fever. And I was just one of many mentors across the country helping folks.

I have Kikos, so hopefully I won't have that problem! Would it help to go 50/50 alfalfa pellets/whole oats with a top dressing of BOSS?

copperpennykids · #29 05/20/14, 11:08 PM

barley is better - even at 100% of your feed ration. Top dressed with BOSS should help.

I really think that you should investigate the feed breakdown of the various feeds that you are considering implenting - become your own nutritionist as it were - at least you will have an inkling of what you are trying to accomplish.

When I proposed the idea of whole oats to dairy cattle farmers (whose livelihood depends on the production of their dairy cattle - Holsteins, for the most part) they all looked at me like I had a 5th eye... as they said (that stuff is only useful to horses or a little bit of roughage). goats are phenomenal at converting a variety of feed stuff into useful food for themselves but to get the best from them you need to feed them what they need...sooner or later the piper must be paid. Can you get barley at about the same feed cost as oats?

CraterCove · #30 05/21/14, 07:32 AM

So looking at barley it has twice the protein of oats, less fats and close to three times the carbohydrate total. The only things I see is that it has less lysine as a rule than oats but it has more thiamine.

I am going to have to check it out now and see what I think.

copperpennykids · #31 05/21/14, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraterCove

Copper, is that even with calcium rich feeds in the browse like blackberry, alfalfa or perennial peanut? Is there something in the rolled oats that inhibits calcium uptake?

Yes (sorry can't give you the "scientific" explanation) but yes, oats interfere with the calcium uptake. Saw it happen (experience) and then visited with a fellow with degrees in animal science and nutrition with a life time of experience in both cattle and goat dairies - played out that way for him in various parts of the country.

CAjerseychick · #32 05/22/14, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraterCove

So looking at barley it has twice the protein of oats, less fats and close to three times the carbohydrate total. The only things I see is that it has less lysine as a rule than oats but it has more thiamine.

I am going to have to check it out now and see what I think.

Yeah my goat guru likes a combo of barley and oats... (since we are currently down to 3 goats we just buy it premixed, pretty cheap in 70 lb bags, and we do bet the molasses version as a treat)....

CraterCove · #33 05/22/14, 12:50 PM

Phosphorus, Oxalate, too much sodium, and sulfate don't exactly inhibit calcium uptake but they do cause calcium to be excreted in urine and feces leading to deficiencies.

It's a puzzle to which one is always trying to see if they are missing pieces and rearranging the pieces creates a different picture. It's one of the most interesting parts of animal husbandry and homesteading.

Clovers_Clan · #34 05/22/14, 05:41 PM

A big THANK YOU to everyone who has given info about barley and oats. Yet again I didn't even know what I didn't know and wouldn't have known to ask the question!

Cannon_Farms · #35 05/22/14, 09:09 PM

Cattle, goat and sheep feeds tend to be the middle quality of the feeds where chickens are on the bottom (hence making goats sick when eaten) Because ruments are able to adjust to have some amounts of mold in their feed vrs horses are unable to there for horse feeds are typically a higher quality feed stuff, no ones going to make much off a company if their goat dies, but take a fancy warmblood and your going to get your butt handed to you if your company makes their horses sick. We feed out milkers purina mini horse, they do extremely well off it and it contains the alfalfa they wont eat otherwise and then use nutrina wrangler stock feed that is a higher quality then the junk at TSC

Cannon_Farms · #36 05/22/14, 09:12 PM

I have used boss, oats, barely and alfalfa pellets with pretty good results but its just cost prohibitive and most the alfalfa pellets wound up on the floor.

CAjerseychick · #37 05/22/14, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannon_Farms

I have used boss, oats, barely and alfalfa pellets with pretty good results but its just cost prohibitive and most the alfalfa pellets wound up on the floor.

For some reason mine love alfalfa cubes (even though its kinda hard for them to eat) it is something they work on over all day not a pour it into the bucket and they eat it right then kinda thing...

GoldenWood Farm · #38 05/23/14, 02:51 PM

I feed a mixture of barley, oats and BOSS myself

. The kids do get a 18% goat grain my friend came up with and now our local feed mill makes. But the rest of my herd gets my own mix, 4 parts barley, 3 parts oats and 1 part BOSS. So far so good here, even my heavy milkers keep their weight well

.

Justine