Question!!

[Bear43]

I just got 2 baby billy goats,and wasent really ready for them so I didnt have any milk replacer for them .I was told that calf replacer will work just as good for them.(I raise calves and have plenty of calf replacer)I went out and got some milk from a friend so I dont have to use replacer for the little ones.Has any one ever heard of this??any replies would be great.

[southerngurl]

From what I understand, the replacers don't usually work well. Plain old cows milk seems to be best, other than goats of course.

[prairiecomforts]

Milk replacer of any kind is awful stuff!! It is better to feed baby goats - goat milk if available and if not get whole milk from the grocery store. All I add to the whole milk is a little corn syurp. I know that some people have a recipe that uses buttermilk and some other things, but that really isn't needed. Good luck with your bottle babies!

[goatkid]

Milk replacer is not good for goats. We even tried the stuff made specifically for goats the first year we were in goats and had problems with bloat and scours. If you can't get hold of any goat milk feed whole cow's milk.

[ozark_jewels]

Do you know anyone who has a family milk cow or cows?? Raw cows milk raises beautiful kids and I raise mine on it almost exclusively. If not, I'd reccomend whole milk from the store.

[Bear43]

Thanks soooooooo very much for all the replys.

[white eagle]

I've used goat milk replacer no troubles here with scours or bloat. What cause the scours and bloat is if you do not mix it correctly. I have even used goat milk replacer mixed with goats milk to make it go farther and no problem there either. I have heared horror stories of goat milk replacer are killers. That is not true. Plus it depends on the brand you use of what I know. Plus I have also raised kids on cows milk out of the store no problems there either.

GL with your kids.

[Jim S.]

Back when I raised bottle babies, I raised them on Co-Op goat milk replacer with no troubles. (Always the contrarian! LOL)

[mary,tx]

You do not want to feed replacer made with soy. If the calf milk replacer is milk based and not soy based, I'd be okay with it. You might use it half and half with regular whole milk for awhile. But if you are buying milk at the store, I'm thinking you'll tire of the expense pretty soon.
jmo
mary

[Jim S.]

Mary, that's why we quit bottle-feeding pretty quick. Does NOT pencil out, expense wise, unless it is high-dollar registered stock. Even then, when labor cost is added in, it's a toss-up.