A silly question...

[goatkids]

I have a question about whole grain vs. pellets. I know that when a nigie is pregnant, you should not feed them grain during the first few months of pregnancy... and I had just guessed that, that meant pellets too. Someone told me however, that it is not the same. So my question is, are pellets OK to feed to pregnant nigies, or will they have the same affect as grain on the growing kids (making fewer, larger kids)?
Thanks so much!

[billooo2]

It all depends on what the pellets are made of. They can take grain and run it through a pellet machine........voila!!!! you have pellets!!!!

Personally I like to know what I am feeding. "Pellets" seem like "Mystery Food" to me.

But that is just me........

[DQ]

some pellets are just ground up grains. some pellets are a "complete feed" meaning that they can (supposedly) take the place of all feed including hay. start reading feed labels and learn what all the info means. I'm not a fan of pellets either. the reasoning behind making a pellet can be so that the producer can use whatever is cheapest at the time of manufacture to achieve the neccessary protein/fiber etc.... that means it really is....mystery food....

[goatkids]

Yes, I am very particular about the food I feed my goats... I have a local made organic pellets, has, in order, corn, wheat middlings, whole grain barley, soybean meal, flaxseed meal, roasted soybeans, alfalfa pellets, and then some vitamins and supplements like magnesium, salt, copper, and things. I know it is a good idea to find out what each thing actually is, I know in a lot of things (people food too) the manufactures just throw in whatever under some big name...
Anyways, I was just wondering because I have some pregnant goats, and am feeding them some pellets (not very much) to help stay warm... but it they were going to make kidding harder- than I would cut those down or entirely out. So, thanks for your thoughts.

[hoofinitnorth]

Take caution when hearing blanket statements like NDs don't need grain this time or that time. Make sure you understand why the person is telling you this. Ask them why.

Your goats may or may not need grain at various times of their lives, depending on what you are asking of them and what they need to stay in condition in your environment under your management.