How to give AC if you don't grain your goats?

[valsey]

I only give my wethers grain in the winter. But I need to get their teaspoon of AC into them everyday - quickly and easily with no struggles. Dealt with UC and do NOT want to deal with it again.

Any ideas on how to get the AC into them daily without adding it to the feed?

[Cannon_Farms]

its a bitter tasting product, if you have a tsc near you, you can get there feed that has amonium cloride in it and just give them a small amount daily.
Many people us the apple cider vinagar in drinking water to prevent stones from forming, if I was a goat id rather drink vinager than ac.

[valsey]

I wonder if vinegar is just as effective. We cannot afford to get UC again - not financially or emotionally! That was costly surgery and frankly, I'm surprised my guy even survived it.

Do you know how much vinegar to use? And would it be okay for the donkey to drink it?

[valsey]

Can anyone tell me how to post this as a poll?

[Cannon_Farms]

I dont, but people with horses use it in the drinking water and so do chicken people. Hopefully some one can chim in that told me about it, I dont remember who it was as it was last year.

[deafgoatlady]

I always use the ACV in the water for my goats all the time. They love it! LOL..

[Qvrfullmidwife]

if they are not getting grain why give them AC as I thought that the UC mainly arises from grain feeding?

[Starsmom]

ACV is not a substitute for AC. When I need to give a daily dose, I mix it with a little water and syringe it their mouth. They don't like it, but at least they get it.

[KSALguy]

if your not feeding grain you dont need to use AC, a male goat that eats hay and brows only is not going to get UC,

[Chaty]

I only give it to my guys once a month not every day...1 time a month is fine as this keeps the crystals at bay...I dont want to over do it. ACV only keeps the algae out of the water but they like the taste.

[Backfourty,MI.]

Apple cider vinegar will not work Instead of the AC. I have also dealt with AC & it is not a nice thing to deal with for sure. Once your animal has has UC they need the AC everyday no matter if you give grain or not. Also if your water is very hard & high in iron that can also have an affect & contribute to UC.
Mine love the rabbit pellets & they are pretty much already 2:1 ratio calcium to phosorus so I mix 1 1/2 tsp of ammonium chloride with 1/4 cup of the rabbit pellets, I add either a little molassas or veggie oil to make it stick.

Minelson here on HT als made up a recipe with AC in it & my wether loves them but my buck doesn't.
I can give it to you but I think if you do a search it wasn't that long ago when I asked her for it, you'll see it or I can find it & bump it up.

[Cannon_Farms]

Too much AC can cause just as bad of problems, just thought i would throw that out there.

[MB]

I just sprinkle mine on. The lick everything up.

[valsey]

It's my understanding that I should give a teaspoon a day since Rocco has had a bad bout with UC. And Guido, who has not, should get it also. Keep in mind Rocco got UC when I was feeding him only ONE cup of goat food per day. It could be the water, the soil, any number of things - whatever it is, we obviously need to counteract it. His minerals are the correct ratio and so was his grain.

My friend suggested bread and peanut butter with ac on it - they didn't care for it and it was as much a hassle as rationing buckets.

maybe syringing a bit every day. Any other ideas?

[Minelson]

I do the dosage balls. I make 24 at a time and give Frankie one a day. It's about a 1/4 teaspoon a day. I decided on this dosage because he is a mini and not on any grain.
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup Slippery Elm bark (binds everything together and good for digestion)
2 Tablespoons AC
MIX
Add a splash of water
1/2 cup molasses
Mix and kneed into a dough. Divide into 24 equal size pieces and roll into balls with palms of hand.
Sprinkle a little more Slippery Elm Bark on them and roll to coat (this helps them from sticking together in the plastic baggie) Throw in the fridge.
If you want to dose a full teaspoon a day then you would need to adjust the recipe. There are 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon so between 6-7 tablespoons

[saanengirl]

Many of the goat mineral mixes contain ammonium chloride. Goats that are not receiving grain really need to be receiving a mineral mix.

Personally I don't feed my goats anything with AC though. There can be problems with too much. Since I just keep does except for temporarily during breeding season I have no need to feed AC.

[valsey]

Originally Posted by saanengirl

Goats that are not receiving grain really need to be receiving a mineral mix.

There can be problems with too much.

Can you tell me what problems can be caused by too much AC? I wasn't aware of this.

Also - they have free choice minerals.

[valsey]

Originally Posted by Minelson

I do the dosage balls.

This might do the trick! Similar to Molly's herbal worming dosage balls. Very good - I'll give that a try. Thanks!

[Minelson]

Originally Posted by valsey

This might do the trick! Similar to Molly's herbal worming dosage balls. Very good - I'll give that a try. Thanks!

That is where I got the idea Thank you MOLLY!