Sweet goat feed

[mrs.H]

Another question. If I feed Sweet Goat feed, is that the grain ration or do I still need to feed a seperate whole grain? And will feeding alfalfa as well mess up the protien/calcium and whatever else ratio?

I'm reading a lot of info from many sources and am feeling a bit overwhelmed. I don't even have goats yet for petes sake!

[Patty0315]

Feed a good goat pellet or mix your own. You do not need or want sweet feed.

Patty

[TexCountryWoman]

I quit feeding ANY sweet feed whatsoever and am having so much more success.

People like Vicki have helped me alter my goats diet to improve my management and one thing that has really helped was going to a dry grain mix and going to all the alfalfa pellets they can eat. Goats need a source of calcium and that is provided by alfalfa not by grain. Alfalfa also provides protein. Goats need calcium to make milk and bones and without plenty of it you will have problems. Start slowly with the alfalfa pellets and work up to at least 3 lbs a day per doe.

Sweetfeed caused acidosis in the rumen and in the past, i have lost goats to bloat because of it. I now use a dry grain mix consisting mostly of regular oats (like you would feed horses). I add a small amount of corn (very small amount as it has less protein and I use it to add a bit of fat only)...I also add a bit of BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds)

I also use beet pulp as an additive on the milkstand..

Always supply plenty of hay, clean water and a loose mineral mix with lots of copper in it and one NOT made for sheep.

Oh, the grain needs to be limited, not free choice....dry does need very little or none....bucks and wethers should NEVER be fed grain as it can cause urinary problems (under some circumstances they are fed grain, but steps are taken to prevent the urinary problems, a subject for another thread)...hope this post was not confusing....Diane