O.k., now WHY are they not eating?

Lada · #1 12/31/08, 06:44 PM

Ugh, these girls are going to be the end of me.

I thought my two dairies were looking too thin for my liking. They were getting just alfalfa pellets and hay, both free choice. I added a couple cups of cracked corn about two weeks ago, and they were just devouring everything. I started them on COB two days ago, and increased the amount of grain they were getting. I also started filling up the hay feeder twice a day, as they were emptying it out when I was just filling it once a day.

They've gone from completely attacking the food and devouring all of it in a matter of minutes, to this morning their hay wasn't even gone, they ate their grain, but not all of it, and this evening when I gave them their alfalfa, they just nibbled it, nibbled the hay, drank some water..... I took them for a walk (I do this whenever the weather is decent and let them browse for a half hour or so) and they nibbled here and there. So they are eating, but just not going crazy like they used to.

They're acting fine. The one was frisky and butting and dragging me all over the yard. I watched them both poop and pee and no issues there either.

Maybe this is just normal eating and before they just weren't getting enough (bad goat mommy)?

Goat Servant · #2 12/31/08, 07:45 PM

How old are they? Did you have a cold snap & it has warmed up some?

Chaty · #3 12/31/08, 08:30 PM

Well it sounds like to me they are caught up with being so hungry and now they know the food is comming...They will eat when they get hungry and I know mine will knock me down for food. How old are they? Are they bred and if they are their rumins depending on when they are due wont let them eat as much each time. I think they sound fine to me and if they completely stop eating then I would worry alot. Does this make sense??? As long as they are eating they should be fine. Give them some baking soda just in case they have a upset tummy.

Lada · #4 12/31/08, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goat Servant

How old are they? Did you have a cold snap & it has warmed up some?

One doe is almost three, one is two. Yes, we recently had a big warm-up (it was 68* here last weekend) and it was cold the week before. Starting to cool down again (supposed to be 15* tonight).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaty

Well it sounds like to me they are caught up with being so hungry and now they know the food is comming...They will eat when they get hungry and I know mine will knock me down for food. How old are they? Are they bred and if they are their rumins depending on when they are due wont let them eat as much each time. I think they sound fine to me and if they completely stop eating then I would worry alot. Does this make sense??? As long as they are eating they should be fine. Give them some baking soda just in case they have a upset tummy.

I am hoping that is it. They were both bred in October. They do act fine, and they are eating. I gave them some baking soda and some probios this evening. I keep going out to check on them and I think I'm getting on their nerves. They keep coming out of the shed and just standing there like "WHAT do you want now?!?"

AnnaS · #5 01/01/09, 08:07 AM

They can get an acidic rumen from any amount of grain they're not used to. They need to grow enough of the right kind of rumen bacteria to break down grain components, and that takes time. Does can also get an acidic rumen for a variety of other reasons, all of which involve grain feeding.

The easiest way to deal with this is to have a free choice baking soda or rumen buffer available. Either is available at most feed stores in a 50 lb bag. Does quickly learn to self-medicate with a buffer.

Lada · #6 01/01/09, 12:10 PM

I put some baking soda out with the minerals last night. This morning it looked like they had been into it a little bit.

I just gave them a pound of grain this morning, and they ate it quickly, but still had hay and alfalfa leftover from last night. I went ahead and filled the hay again, and I'll see how they're doing on alfalfa tonight when I go out.

I think they're fine, just trying to adjust to me being a goof and trying to feed them enough, but not too much.... :blush: