FOOD? Most milk/best health

topside1 · #1 03/05/08, 08:23 AM

While sitting on my milk bucket this morning I began to wonder? With feed prices going through the roof ie. (cracked corn 9.75). The US dollar falling and the stock market tanking. Some grains in short supply or not even available due to drought and overseas demand. Well sorry to ruin your morning, but here's my question? If hard times were coming, which one type pellets or one type grain would be the most beneficial to milk production and the overall heath of my herd? You can only buy one. which would it be, and Why? Thank you as always,,,,great forum with great folks...

pookshollow · #2 03/05/08, 08:34 AM

I would think your best bet would be alfalfa pellets - or better yet, good 2nd cut alfalfa hay if you could get it.

Leo · #3 03/05/08, 08:46 AM

I second the alfalfa pellets. And growing the grain to supplement, I'm trying BOSS and millet this year.
Megan

topside1 · #4 03/05/08, 10:52 AM

Anyone else...way would you feed alfalfa pellets? thanks

jBlaze · #5 03/05/08, 10:54 AM

I feel the same way. It is hard to buy feed. I see animals selling for cheap because people can't afford to feed then, and then I think, Well, I am feeding mine, and should be charging more for the animals I sell because I put more into them. I'm not really sure how to deal with that, it bothers me. Grrr.
I would agree, alfalfa is important, but I don't know about being the only. I would say alfalfa hay and a grain of some sort. I would have sait barley, but that hasdoubled in price in the last year. ~

mtnmenagerie · #6 03/05/08, 02:12 PM

as far as hard times go... i would fall back to what the "old timers" relied on. CORN. it is very "growable" (yes, i think i just made that word up). also, it can be hand harvested, and hand "processed".
it might not be the only thing you want to feed when it's as easy as picking it up from the local co-op. but, as long as there has been livestock here in the appalachians, i bet there has been corn grown to feed them.
i've heard stories about my great-grandparents... during the depression, basicly the whole family (and livestock) survived on corn. every day for dinner, my great-grandma would make two pans of cornbread. one for the family, and one for their coon-dogs (which my grandpa never lived a day without!)

just my two-cents worth

yarrow · #7 03/05/08, 03:37 PM

The ONLY grain we've fed this year is whole oats and top dress with black oil sunflower seeds. We feed ZERO corn now. I was fearful that I would see a decrease in milk production when we switched from the 16% goat ration.. but that hasn't been the case. All the girls look good (actually better LOL) we had NO kidding problems, nice sized kids, no one really small & no HUGE stuck bucklings LOL. The sacs were all easy to tear, the placentas passed with ease. The girls do get 17% alfalfa pellets & grass hay... All the does handled being pregnant so well. No swollen ankles, no udder edema. I don't have a girl thats not a ff that milks under a gallon per day, even the ff's all milk at least 7lbs.. I do keep out a good mineral at all times.
susie, mo ozarks

midkiffsjoy · #8 03/05/08, 04:01 PM

Everything I've read says you HAVE to feed a at least 2 part, and no more than 5 part calcium (alfalfa pellets) to 1 part phosphorous (grain) in order for them to get what they need and not have problems. Good Luck.

And I've recently read they should be getting 3 lbs TWICE a day. Let me know if any of you think that's a little over kill to feed 6 lbs of feed per goat a day + grass hay.

Rowdy · #9 03/05/08, 10:51 PM

I've switched to a local feedstore's nonmedicated pellet. It is 15% protien, and it has molassaess in it (which I'm trying to avoid, but...) It is $6 per 50# instead of the $11 for TSC's goat ration, or $12.50 for oats. I only have another four weeks of having to feed them though. I can't wait for them to go back on just browse/graze.

midkiffsjoy · #10 03/06/08, 12:32 AM

Browse graze is why my does kidded with no milk. Make sure they are getting enough calcium. (I dont want what happened to us to happen to you)

Rowdy · #11 03/06/08, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midkiffsjoy

Browse graze is why my does kidded with no milk. Make sure they are getting enough calcium. (I dont want what happened to us to happen to you)

Mine get feed during the last month or so of their pregnancy, and then for another month or more after kidding. I've kept some on longer, some shorter, just depends on how things look at the time.