My doeling has stopped growing

ONThorsegirl · #1 02/22/08, 07:03 PM

My Doeling that was born in the summer has stopped growing...she has been 25kg for a long time. (I know she isn't heavy at all)

Her History:
She is a purebred Nubian.
I bought my doe bred, and she had 3 kids on July 1.
The Doe weighs 120lbs, in good shape and has a great BCS.

She is fat, you can't feel her spine etc.
She poops normal, little raisins.
She is getting Grass hay/some clover probably a 60/30, or 75/25 ratio.
She has free choice to loose salt. She is currently being fed only about 1 pound of whole corn.
Free choice Water at all times.

I have wormed them a while ago (probably a long while ago...after thinking about it) and it was sheep Ivomec Drench I have heard that the dosage is so low for sheep that it take alot of Goats so I may have to use my safeguard or Valbazen.

I haven't done a Fecal yet.

We haven't ever had a problem with Coccidiosis,yet, on the farm. With our sheep or cattle. No saying this isn't her problem.

What do you think I should do?

Melissa

RiverPines · #2 02/22/08, 07:38 PM

Gosh. I have noticed that often young goats just have growth stops for awhile, especially in winter!!

Most of my goats have done their growing only in the warm months.

Makes sence to me, since they need to generate warmth in winter instead of putting the energy into growing.

steff bugielski · #3 02/23/08, 05:12 AM

I would add some protein to her diet. If she is going to grow she needs protein.
My vet once told me if a goat is getting too little protein it will poop separate balls, if it is getting too much protein it will all clump together, so somewhere in the middle is just right, little balls that stick together.

goatkid · #4 02/23/08, 09:23 AM

Corn has calories, but isn't as nutritious as other grains. If this were my doeling, I'd slowly switch her over to some type of goat developer pellets 16% protein, or if you can't find that in your area, a mixture of dry COB with BOSS and a handful of Calf Manna or Milk Plus pellets. I'd also feed her alfalfa pellets. Remember, make any feed changes slowly so as not to make her sick. Some kids do have periods where the seem to stop growing. I have a late April doeling who did that. To be on the safe side, I gave her a course of sulfa in case she did have cocci and then wormed her.