Ok I need to know what I should be feeding.

[ONThorsegirl]

I only have a couple goats, but would like to get a couple more (once funds are present, being a college students has its pros and cons)

I need to know how to get copper into my goats? I have gotten 2 types of Dairy ration in the past and nothing on the tag says their is Copper in the feed, I feel thats an issue with my doe and her lower weight, she is getting better and looking better (other than my last post about her runs).

Is there a good mineral or supplement I can add to get copper into her and the others? I have a Trace mineral block with them but it only has 330ppm Copper, and they aren't to interested in it. Becuase I also have sheep our loose sheep mineral has no copper in it of course.

Is there anything I can add? Where do you get the copper boluses? I don't mind giving them a bolus! Also could Dairy ration have Copper in it with out it being in the feed list?

What do you all feed your goats? I will give you examples of my setup etc.

My Doe right now is open and not milking
She will be bred and will raise her own kids, right now I don't have time for milking with school etc.
I offer free choice hay(grass, some legumes)
Access to salt, water and trace mineral lick

They are currently in the barn but in the summer months are on pasture and wont be on grain unless I have them seperated.

What could I be feeding them right now to put weight on and as a maitanence feed?

I have access to several types of feeds and I work at a feed store.
Dairy Ration
Beet Pulp
Alfalfa Pellets(but I do feed free choice hay)
etc. etc.

Any help would be great!

my biggest concern in Copper.

[MrHank]

We are in KY but Tractor Supply sells a Goat Block that sells here for 8.00. It's got copper in it. We switched from that due to a lot of waste to Sweetlix 16:8 loose mineral with Rumensin. You mix 1.1lbs for 48.9lbs of grain. It also helps with cocci prevention. We mix it with rolled oats, cracked corn and shredded beet pulp. Seems to be working for us.

[ONThorsegirl]

The Sweetlix would be perfect, and its such a small amount needed for the feed. Where do you get the sweetlix?

I'm thinking I might see about the Dairy mineral we sell at work, and see what is written on the label, its expensive though!

Melissa

[Feral Nature]

Of course I am way down here in Texas but I would feed them alfalfa pellets. Alfalfa hay would be great. Grass hay of course.

If they are not 'working", that is growing, gestation, or lactating, then they don't really need any grain or dairy ration. Maintenance can be just alfalfa. if you must feed a grain or dairy ration, then just feed a very small amount of oats. Routine and consistency is key. Not a treat of something one day and a diet change the next. Pick a feeding program and stick with it.

make sure your goats are copper deficient before you bolus. examine your mineral program to see if that itself could be the problem.

I do copper bolus my goats and it does help them tremendously. I also feed them "Cargill Right Now Minerals" for Cattle. They are loose minerals and come in "Emerald", "Bronze" etc...but "Onyx" is the best.

copper
http://www.saanendoah.com/copper1.html

[deafgoatlady]

hey You can buy sweetlix goat meat loose mineral on jeffers. It is only 12.75. I think that is cost..

[MrHank]

We originally found the sweetlix on Jeffers but the shipping on a bag was as much as the bag of feed itself, so we went to their website and it lets you ind a dealer near you, so that worked out pretty well.