Market wether question

Obe-Willow · #1 04/01/08, 04:20 PM

I just got my market wether for this years 4H fair and I was wondering if anybody had any tips on how to put as much weight on him as possible before youth fair in late July? The lady I bought him from let me weigh him on her animal scale and he weighs 60 pounds at 4 months old and I am looking for him to be around 120-130 pounds by the time 4H fair comes around.
I am feeding him "Show goat express" a market goat feed and was wondering how much I should feed him per day? I am feeding mostly alfalfa with grass hay on the side (This is what he was eating at his previous owners).

And if anyone has any advice on how to tame him that would be helpful also.
Thanks for any help!
Marisa

copperpennykids · #2 04/01/08, 09:48 PM

If Show Goat Express has molasses in it, then you need to feed 2-3 X/day up to
3 lbs. /day. Anymore than this is just waste and you run the risk of foundering your kid.

If Show Goat Express does NOT have molasses, set up a creep feeder and let him have free access to it. He will self regulate consumption.

Alfalfa is best for growth. We usually feed grass hay the last 2 weeks as it tends to "trim" their tummy, making them look sleeker and showier.

Lots of fresh water.

Taming him = spending time with him. Have a few treats in your pocket that you can give him when he gets friendly. If he is your only show wether, isolating him helps tame them up quickly - he will become dependent on you for company. Practice walking him and setting him up too.

Goatsandsheep · #3 04/01/08, 09:58 PM

3 to 4% of body weight. Which for 60lbs would be 1 1/2lbs a day divide between two feeding. If he just start out on grain slowly work him up to this amount. Try to weight him once a week or a least once a month. Also weight your feed don't guess or think a one pound coffee can holds one pound of goat feed it doesn't all the time. G&S

Obe-Willow · #4 04/02/08, 10:55 PM

Thank You!! It is a pellet feed with no molasses's.
I think we will separate him so that he can have as much food as he wants because he is in with my two yearling bucks and they do not let him eat at will, he has to wait until they are done, so I think it will be best.

Thank You everyone!
Marisa