Alfalfa pellets

[shepherdess1]

I have two dairy goats, Alpines, I am trying to boost their nutrition because they are a bit thin after kidding and are lactating. I am trying to add alfalfa pellets, but they wont eat them. I give them a 16% protein feed, goat chow, which they aren't too fond off either, I get them to eat it by mixing it with corn. They get alfalfa and grass hay, they eat that, why are they so fussy about their grain?

[TennesseeMama23]

I haven't heard anything good about goat chow.

Add some black oil sunflower seeds to their grain, they love them and they will help out on some pounds. I give mine about a cup each daily.

[shepherdess1]

Yeah, they sure don't care for the goat chow! What could I feed instead of that? I'll try the black oil sunflower seeds too, do they eat the shells and all?

[TennesseeMama23]

Yes, they eat shells and all.

I feed "Dairy Feed" from our local co-op. It is made for cattle, but it is good for goats, too.

ETA: getting a mental picture of my herd queen shelling sunflower seed with her lips, LOL

[mamajohnson]

My girls dont like the alfalfa pellets either. The do like steam rolled oats/corn/sunflower seeds mixed. And sometimes they like hay, sometimes not.
The rabbits love the alfalfa pellets tho. (glad someone makes use of them!)

[dbarjacres]

I've tried alfalfa pellets 3 times now. The first time a couple years ago, they nibbled at it and walked away, even mixed with grain, they wouldn't eat the grain, so gave it to the bunnies. Last year I had a very thin mini mancha doe that I purchased and needed to get weight on her, so was trying everything. Tried alf pellets again. This time, they gave me a rather rumpled bag. When I got home, they were half powder and tan colored and didn't smell good. She wouldn't even look at them, so I dumped them out.

Jump to this last week. Lamancha doe freshened and is getting thinner by the day (yes, she's dewormed, just not a "thrifty" gal). Bought another bag from my normal coop and they smell good and fresh and she devours them as does everyone else - just put out a scoop to see of the others would eat it and sure enough they did!

[southerngurl]

I feed mine a mix of rolled barley, whole oats and black oil sunflower seeds.

My nubian was thin after kidding. I fed her beet pulp (about 2 cups 1-2 times per day) with extra black oil sunflower seeds and it didn't take long at all for her to look much better.

[shepherdess1]

Thanks, maybe I'll try the beet pulp and the sunflower seeds too!

[joken]

My girls won't eat them either if they have another choice. Don't give them anything else and they will eat them. They get spoiled very easily and would always prefer grain. Ken in Oregon

[BlueHeronFarm]

I just mixed up alfala pellets, beet pulp and sunflower seeds 2:2:1 to add to their regular feed during milking. (Non-grain calories to keep them busy on the stand) and mine think it's the greatest thing ever. I must be lucky - they seem to eat anything. I think if you add seeds, it helps spur interest in anything...they love the seeds.

[genebo]

I feed my does alfalfa cubes, not pellets. The cubes are compressed tightly and are too big for a goat, so I break them into pieces about 1/2" long. They love them done that way.

I also feed my does corn gluten pellets, 16% protein. I mix it with 12% sweet feed and whole kernel corn. I add loose minerals to it and feed it as a treat every morning. The goats are on pasture and hay the rest of the time. They get fat on it.

I also treat them with stale bread and sunflower seeds. Sometimes I pour a little corn oil on the feed. One of my does gets dandruff, and the corn oil cures it.

Genebo
Paradise Farm
Church Road, VA

[Sarah J]

I've never had a problem getting my goats to eat alfalfa pellets. They think it's the greatest treat they've ever had...for the first week or so. But I use it for my does as their only source of alfalfa. They have regular grass hay for roughage, but alfalfa pellets for their protein and calcium source - and they love it! Their grain is only given on the milk stand, starting at 100 days preggers - oats, corn, wheat bran, soybean meal (though I'm changing that to barley this summer as we're growing it ourselves) and each feeding gets a top dressing of BOSS. YUMMY!!!

I'd offer the pellets every day - or each time they get on the stand. I bet they start eating them when you're not looking and busy with the udders. It's just different. Although I would think that the goats would LOVE "different". Give them time. And if you want them to eat only alfalfa pellets instead of hay - don't offer them anything else - they'll eat it when they get hungry!

-Sarah

[Starsmom]

Mine love alfalfa pellets, barley pellets too. Will eat them over anything else. The does also love the goat chow. Heck, mine even go after the chicken scratch. I guess they aren't finicky eaters.