What to feed goats??

[bluemoonluck]

I'm pretty sure I'm going to take the mixed breed goat doe that my friend has offered me when I move this summer (she bought a "heinz 57" doe last year to keep her horse company, and didn't know she was preggers....triplets later, she can't keep them all!). And I'm planning to get a Nigerian buckling to put in with her, not sure where I'll get one but based on what I've seen I'm sure there's plenty of goats in Utah. These will be my first goats and I'm very excited!!

I've been doing research regarding goat feed on the net, and I'm more confused now than I was before I started! I have rabbits and I've owned horses in the past, but that's all I know about livestock

The goats will be kept on about 1/2 acre of grass pasture (which I know they won't eat).

I feed my bunnies hay, but never alfalfa hay (too much protein when combined with their pellets). Can I feed the goats the regular old hay that I feed my bunnies - timothy/orchard grass/clover/etc - or do they HAVE to have alfalfa?

For grain, do I feed a goat feed, or a horse feed, or what? Do I have to mix stuff into it (soybean meal, BOSS, beet pulp)?

For minerals, should I feed a salt block or loose salt? I know they need copper, but isn't that already in their grain???

Can they get the "hay stretcher" that they sell in the feed stores (basically its pure alfalfa hay in pellet form) instead of alfalfa hay?

I really need help determining what is a sound diet for my goats.

[Alice In TX/MO]

If you aren't milking them, feed them grass hay. Provide minerals that are loose and have copper.

They don't need grain if they aren't making milk.

You can KILL THEM with kindness and overfeeding.

[bluemoonluck]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

You can KILL THEM with kindness and overfeeding.

That's kinda what I'm afraid of!

So if the does aren't milking they don't need alfalfa or grain, just grass hay and loose minerals with copper? Gosh that's easy, I can handle that without any problems!

Why is it that every dang site I've seen with instructions for feeding goats goes on and on about corn oil and soybean meal and BOSS and which grain to feed? Don't they know they're confusing the living daylights out of us newbies???? LOL!

[lamoncha lover]

thanks for the info. I feed all my goats grain. ...maybe not such a good idea. Of 8 one still is skinny and all the others look pretty fit. Maybe too fit? thanks

[BothFeet]

No alfafa hay! Many people believe this leads to bladder stones and bladder stones are deadly. Orchard grass or mix is perfect! If you have a local, trusted hay seller ask for reccomendations. I always make a mineral lick available as well.

Watch out for that buckling too. I was pretty naive when I sarted with goats. They breed like crazy!!

[Alice In TX/MO]

NOT a mineral block licker. Goats have smooth tongues, not rough like cattle.

Loose mineral with copper. But NOT if you have sheep with them.

Yes, it's confusing.

[DQ]

my goats eat pasture. in fact when I put my two pygmys (my first goats that are here forever) out into the browse area they make it a point to go through the electric fence to get back to the pasture to graze. the boers and lamanchas seem to prefer the browse. it is more of an individual thing. my thinking is.... pasture is just hay that isn't cut yet. you need to be extra careful about parasites if they are in a pasture situation though because it is much easier for them to become infected due to eating close to the ground.

as everyone else has said they don't need grain if they aren't "working". if you want to feed something just to develop a feed routine (handy for daily head counts and check ups especially if they are on a large acreage) then feed some beet pulp or alfalfa or a tiny smidge of oats or sunflower seeds. a small handful of just about anything won't hurt them. I often grab the first thing my hand falls on when I need to call them in. be it scratch feed or a banana peel. they all know they have a chance at a treat if they come to a whistle.

alot of the advice you read will be geared towards milking, showing or breeding animals not just pets. thats why you find all the detailed feed .

[RiverPines]

"The goats will be kept on about 1/2 acre of grass pasture (which I know they won't eat)."

Um, yes they will eat it!!!

Goats are browsers which is the style of their feeding behavior. They walk around nibbling here and there, a bite here and a bite over there.
They eat almost everything green, including grasses.

Sheep are grazers, the slowly walk along with the nose to the ground in the style of a lawn mower.
They too eat just about anything green including bushes if they happen upon one and its tasty.

[Minelson]

Mine love eating out in the pasture
I feed horse quality grass hay 24/7. 1/2 cup BOSS 2 times a day for a treat (for 3 mini's) Loose minerals 24/7. Baking soda available 24/7. Fresh water. Browse on 10 acres and they mostly spend time on the grass.

[bluemoonluck]

Everything I've read so far has said that goats will eat weeds and brush but not grass. Believe me, I'll be pleased as punch if they eat the grass too!

Minelson - why do you make baking soda available to them?

[Minelson]

If they eat too much they will nibble on it to settle their stomach...just plain A&H baking soda

[DQ]

Originally Posted by bluemoonluck

Everything I've read so far has said that goats will eat weeds and brush but not grass. Believe me, I'll be pleased as punch if they eat the grass too!

?

I have read that too. even on this forum. mostly, I think it is just people repeating what they have read somewhere and they are perpetuating a myth or it is a round about way for them to try and reduce parasite problems for newbies, and it is simply not true. most goats do prefer leafy stuff but .......my daughter prefers chocolate over brussel sprouts too it doesn't neccesarily have much to do with what is appropriate food. mine had only pasture until we moved and they all (20 something) ate it just fine. they like the seedheads and the new shoots.

I do want to stress caution that they should not be allowed to graze pasture down to a few inches and parasites most certainly will be a nagging problem especially on only 1/2 acre. it might be a situation where it would be best to restrict their access to the pasture to only a portion of the day and provide some supplemental feed at other times. it depends on how strong a pasture you have.

[kreddish]

My goats will eat everything they are not supposed to eat Really, mine prefer greenery to everything else... thank goodness we have enough of it year around I do suppliment with good quality goat feed... but not too much.