What/how much should I be feeding them?

[Wonderland]

I have 6 Nigerian Dwarfs: 4 currently dry does, one who should be preggers and due in November, and a whether. I really wish I had a way to feed them separately, but I don't, so I feed with the pregnant one in mind.

This is what they're currently getting:

3 quarts 12 % all stock. I CANNOT find 12% goat feed, in any of the stores here. But I read in my book Storey's Guide to Raising Dairy Goats that pregnant ones are not supposed to get more than 12% feed until right before kidding so the babies don't get too large. I would rather have goat pellets, but I definitely don't want the babies to be too big! When she gets closer, I'm going to switch back to the 16% feed they normally get.

The brand of 16% goat pellet I get them is Dumor- is this a good brand, or should I look for a different one?

1.5 Quarts Alfalfa Pellets. Is this enough for them? Or should the alfalfa - grain ratio be different? Sorry I can't remember what brand the alfalfa is....

They also get Bermuda hay, Sweetlix minerals, and baking soda free choice.

This is the guaranteed analysis for the mineral:

Calcium (Min) .............................. 14.00%
Calcium (Max) ............................. 16.80%
Phosphorus (Min) ...................... 8.00%
Salt (Min) ...................................... 10.00%
Salt (Max) ..................................... 12.00%
Magnesium (Min) ....................... 1.50%
Potassium (Min) ......................... 1.50%
Sulfur (Min) .................................. 1.50%
Iron (Min) ...................................... 1.25%
Manganese (Min) ....................... 1.25%
Zinc (Min) ..................................... 1.25%
Cobalt (Min) ................................. 240 ppm
Copper (Min) ............................... 1,750 ppm
Copper (Max) ............................... 1,810 ppm
Iodine (Min) .................................. 450 ppm
Selenium (Min) ........................... 50 ppm
Vitamin A (Min) ............................ 300,000 IU/lb.
Vitamin D-3 (Min) ........................ 50,000 IU/lb.
Vitamin E (Min) ............................ 400 IU/lb.

They are also in an area that still has some browse. They've eaten most of the "good stuff" (or what they seem to think is the good stuff, haha) down, but there is still tons of grass and such out there.

Sorry this has gotten so long. I want to do everything right and the feeding is the part that confuses me the most. No matter how much I read about it, I'm always confused about which brand is better, how much each goat should get, etc.

So, I would really appreciate it if the more experienced people out there could tell me how good my feeding plan is, or what I need to change? They're all in good condition, not too fat as far as I can tell, nor too skinny (based on feeling spine, chest, and above the rump, not stomach size.)

Thanks everyone! SO SORRY this is so long!

[mygoat]

Free choice quality alfalfa hay (or hay plus alfalfa pellets), excellent loose mineral, baking soda, pasture and water as a base. As for grain, MOST goats do not need it. Only does within 1 month of kidding and during lactation, growing kids till about 8 months or so (breeding age), and heavily used breeding bucks need any grain at all. Everything else does NOT need grain. I feed milking does 1 lb of grain every 3 lbs milk produced. I mixed my own grain mix, using oats, corn, Boss, alfalfa pellets, shredded beet pulp etc. I varied it slowly depending on the doe and what worked. The base was oats and alfalfa pellets, a little boss, shredded beet pulp if the doe got thin, and corn in the winter because it's a 'hot' feed. All changes were made SLOWLY but it did vary between seasons and between each doe. I sold out of the herd right around the time I was considering getting a 'base' mix of oats, boss, and alfalfa pellets - then would add corn or shredded beet pulp as needed. There's another thread about a good grain mix, which is just oats and a little bit of BOSS.

[greif]

is clover hay ok? there is some clover in the pasture and thats what they go to first, they acually don't like alfalfa at all

[mygoat]

My goats hate clover, love alfalfa. It's probably just what they're used to. But no, clover does not have the good protein or calcium content that alfalfa does. They will like it once they get used to it.

[Wonderland]

Thanks for the input I wish I could separate them, so they could each get what they need individually. :/

[Wags]

Originally Posted by mygoat

My goats hate clover, love alfalfa. It's probably just what they're used to. But no, clover does not have the good protein or calcium content that alfalfa does. They will like it once they get used to it.

I can get clover pellets here - and 100% clover is running over 20% protein, so they backed it off with grass seed screenings and it now right around 16%. Just slightly higher than the 100% alfalfa pellets I usually get. But the fiber and calcium is lower. My goats didn't like it very much, so I've switched back to the higher priced alfalfa pellets.