Kelp?

[Laura Workman]

I've just started giving my girls kelp. To my surprise, they have hit it like a school of pirahna. I have been giving it free choice. Can they overdose? Should I be limiting their intake? I could mix it with the Sweetlix mineral I'm using. Any thoughts?

[southerngurl]

Yea, they will back off after a while. I would mix it with the minerals to keep the dust down and to encourage them to eat the minerals as well.

[fcnubian]

What is kelp for?

[jimandpj]

Mine did the same thing when I first started offering it to them. They slowed down after a while. I never bothered to mix it with the minerals.

PJ

[Jillis]

Originally Posted by fcnubian

What is kelp for?

Kelp is rich in many trace minerals and some vitamins that are essential to goat health (and other animal health!). It is a particularly good source of dietary iodine, which will prevent certain gaot ailments and pregnancy problems.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Do you get it at the feed store or online? Is it 50 lb bags?

[Laura Workman]

Some feed stores carry it. I paid around $50 for a 50 pound sack.

[Alice In TX/MO]

AACK! How much do you feed at one time?

[Laura Workman]

I don't know how much they normally eat, as I've just started feeding it, but they've been cleaning up about 3 cups in the mineral feeder in a day. This is four Mini Manchas and a standard Oberhasli. And yeah, the price is a shocker, but it is a supplement, not basic feed, so they use less. Plus, I've already noticed a marked decrease in their desire to eat my goat shed, so that's worth something.

[hoofinitnorth]

I've always liked the idea of feeding kelp (and I do feed a small amount to my goats and horses and fowl) but I was cautioned by the writings in Goat Medicine about the iodine needs of goats being VERY VERY low and the iodine in kelp being way above what they should be asked to tolerate (would have to look it up but it's a LOT less than the 500ppm/pound that the kelp I have provides). I'm still reading on this and other nutritional considerations...

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

Kelp is now in my mineral mix, thank goodness no more mixing, but when I did mix, I used 4 parts mineral to 1 part kelp. With Kelp, just like with anything else, I want my girls to go to their high copper mineral for thier salt cravings. I dont' want them eating the kelp or bicarbonate instead. So when I did mix, I mixed it in with their loose minerals.

I also am not from the school that believes just because a goat eats something with relish like kelp or baking soda or molassas it is good for them and they somehow crave it because they need it. Just like sugar coated cereal for our children, they like it because it's mostly sugar. Everything in moderation, even for the goats, and luckily our kelp is only $30 per 50 pound bag. Vicki

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by Rose

Do you get it at the feed store or online? Is it 50 lb bags?

Rose, last time I bought Kelp in West Plains at Hirschs, it was around $30 per bag. With just your three, a 50 lb bag would last a long time. They will eat it like gangbusters until they get enough, then they will back off. But when I fed it, I used it like Vicki, 4 parts mineral to 1 part kelp. This keeps their consumption down.

[Jillis]

I also mix it with my minerals. The same proportions that Vicki and Emily stated.
hoofinitnorth---500ppm/pound! Whoa! I seriously doubt any one of my goats would scarf down a pound of kelp a day! Mixed in the minerals and spread out between all the goats they really get only a scant amount. The iodine prevents a lot of nasty birth defects.

[hoofinitnorth]

Jillis - no of course not, I'd never offer a pound of kelp to a goat (or even a small group of goats)! It's just how things are rated/analyzed - per pound. IUs/pound is similar. So of course you have to reduce it down to the amounts you are feeding. So if you feed one ounce, 16oz=1#, you divide 500ppm/16 oz to find out how much the goats are offered in your mix. I don't have my books in front of me at the moment to see how much they say goats should have of iodine, but I remember it was very little. The question really is how much above what they need can they tolerate? Many nutrients are required at very small levels but the animals can handle taking in much more without harm. Of course kelp has other trace minerals that are likely beneficial to them so I still believe it is helpful to feed it, but as Vicki said, in moderation.