Mineral block question

comehomesoon · #1 10/27/06, 09:31 AM

Ok so I have two pygmies that are about 11 mo old. One doe and one weather. They get let out all the time to free range and then hay in the barn at night along with baking soda. I also provide a mineral block for them, it crumbles bretty easy and they seem to love it but they will go through one in about a week in a half! It seems like a lot to me. They are all acting fine and eating fine. Should I be concerned, are they missing something?

AllWolf · #2 10/27/06, 09:41 AM

Just my 2 cents here but I would not be giving my goats a mineral block because it's not good on their teeth and can break them plus I have heard that a mineral block doesn't provide all they need. Get some loose goat minerals instead of a block. I use for my goats loose minerals is Ultralyx for goats not sheep. Other people use like Golden Blend Goat Mineral or Sweetlix. I have never used them brands but Ultralyx for my goats. Goats need lots of things to keep them healthy..

Good Luck with your goats..

suzyhomemaker09 · #3 10/27/06, 09:46 AM

you're most likely getting a block that has molasses in it...picture kids with candy...

DocM · #4 10/27/06, 09:53 AM

I use sweetlix meat maker goat mineral blocks (and loose minerals, some goats prefer one, some the other) and it takes 10 does a week to go through one.

I haven't found that they suffer any broken teeth, these blocks are made for goats. If you do use a block, make sure its formulated for goats - sweetlix makes several. Stay away from horse or sheep blocks, and dairy cattle blocks don't contain the right concentrations of copper.

comehomesoon · #5 10/27/06, 09:56 AM

No this is made specifically for goats and is not a hard block at all, not like my horse salts at all. We dont have a lot of variety around here as far as options for our goats. I will check next time I go to the feed mill to see how much mollasses is in it, that very well could be a big part of it. Thanks guys

ozark_jewels · #6 10/27/06, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comehomesoon

No this is made specifically for goats and is not a hard block at all, not like my horse salts at all.

Sounds like a mineral and protien block which a lot of Boer breeders use when not supplementing any grain. I used them for my does raising their kids and they did very well on it. I still kept loose minerals out for them as well. It is a soft block and will not hurt their teeth. Its made to be bitten off in chunks. If they are getting that, then they won't need any grain.