must be the feed

[steff bugielski]

I am so very pleased this year with my milkers. Now mind you all but one doe who has kidded are grade goats. No milk in their blood what so ever.
Although this is the first year I actually have been weighing the milk I have NEVER had such big, beautiful, full udders before.
The kids are 3 weeks old and I got 6lbs, 5.8lbs, 5lbs and 5.5lbs from what i would call my best milkers. That is morning milk since babes are still with them all day. I have 8 others milking just not as impressive. The only thing different has been the whole grains. They don't even eat alot of alfalfa, I offer it they just don't want it. I have upped their hay.
I will try to post a pic of the girls back side later today.
Best part of all they all have does this year. I know who I'll be keeping. Big Grin

[moonspinner]

Could you be more specific on your grain makeup?

[steff bugielski]

Last summer I switched from bagged feed to whole oats and corn. I feed 4 parts oats, 1 part cracked corn. I feed about 1 1/2 lbs grain morning and night top dressed with 1/3lb of soybean meal. The protein is around 18-20%. I do offer alfalfa pellets but many don't like them. I feed grass hay free choice, free choice minerals and of course fresh water.
These four goats are not new to me they are 4 and 5 years old and most were all born here. They have kidded before some with singles and a single again some with twin having twins before and one with twins after only having singles.
The only difference is no by-products in their feed.

[cathleenc]

don't you worry about their calcium needs?

[steff bugielski]

You know I did have some very big concerns at birthing. I lost one doe who refused to eat the alfalfa once she delivered. I tried every thing even rabbit food. finally i spoke to my vet. I would have spoken to him earlier but he was away. I feel very confident in his knowledge of goats having raised them for 40 years. He said first off stop all alfalfa a week before their due date. So that they have time to produce their own from their reserves. No matter how much the intake they must pull it from their reserves, it is just how the body works. By feeding too much calcium they do not pull their own till they deliver , then try to pull it all at once and it cause milk fever. As for calcium after delivery alfalfa is great to boost milk production but if they are getting good quality hay there is no need to worry. Many of mine simply don't like the pellets and there is no alfalfa hay avail. They do get minerals that have calcium in it and according to my vet the hay I am feeding, local hay, is quite high in calcium. They eat tons of it.
All I can say is they look great, excellent condition, milk real well and have healthy babies.