Feeding lactating does

ahahahni1 · #1 02/15/08, 11:51 AM

I feed my girls a dairy mix made locally. They have coastal free choice. I am assuming I need to add alfalfa to their feed. I am told there is a local feed store that sells an alfalfa pellet that lots of goat breeders use here since alfalfa is so high here right now. So its a two part question how much should I feed her and should I add alfalfa and if so how much.

BlueHeronFarm · #2 02/15/08, 11:54 AM

We end up doing about 2 to 1, alfalfa to grain, I think. We generally give the alfalfa off stand (to keep them all busy while one is being milked) and grain on the stand.

This year, with machine milking, the alfalfa will be fed in a big trough after they get milked, in groups of 5.

ahahahni1 · #3 02/15/08, 12:02 PM

so if using alfalfa pellets would it still be 2 to 1

BlueHeronFarm · #4 02/15/08, 12:04 PM

Yes, sorry - I meant pellets. We don't ever get the hay around here. Or if we do it's bonkers expensive.

I think others may suggest even going 3:1 -- but as you know - there are as many ways to feed a goat as there are goat owners.

I think most dairy rations contain a good amount of calcium, though -- so you have a good starting point, IMO.

ahahahni1 · #5 02/15/08, 12:12 PM

Yeah I can't believe the difference in their coats going to dairy mix. I heard it was the cottonseed stuff in it that makes their coats so nice. I am going to start isolating this one doe at feeding time since the bigger girls are pushing her away from the feed. What measurement do you use per doe. Right now I am feeding one scoop (those large plastic ones) to the handle into each of three hanging buckets for 8 goats. If I isolate her what amount of feed would I feed just her.

BlueHeronFarm · #6 02/15/08, 12:15 PM

We give between a half scoop and 3/4 scoop of grain on the stand.
They get a scoop each of alfalfa to fight over before/after.

...so I guess we're not quite 2:1, are we?
Well - we will try to be this year.