Feeding mix questions

[deineria]

I want to mix our own feed for the goats, partly due to being able to know what is actually in the feed and partly because I believe it would be less expensive.
We have limited feed options really. We can by the TSC medicated goat feed or Purina or the local feedstore mix. That is all I can find.
We feed Purina. As mentioned in post before, Purina just says - grain by products or something as the first ingredient. Not ideal, certainly.
Can I do my own mix with oats, alfalfa pellets and corn?
Would that do with minerals and hay free choice or would I end up
with deficient areas in vitamins and such?
We are getting ready to do BO-SE and Copper bolus with everyone here since I just got it in. What might be another area, if any, such a mix would leave them lacking in?

We have Nubians, Pygmies and Kinders. The bucks get alfalfa and hay and minerals only at this point. I am wondering if I ought to give them something else as well.

[HappyFarmer]

The answer to your question lies in testing your hay, forage, and the bulk grains to determine their values, antagonists for your area/feed, then you would supplement accordingly. The origin of the bulk grains will play a role, too, for instance if it is locally grown, and your local soils are deficient in Selenium, then the grains will be deficient also.

Even the bagged feeds oftentimes do not supply enough for all areas at all times. Yes you could change your feeding regime, and they will do fine on the change, until (read IF) you start seeing deficiencies or toxitities, at which point you would need to do some detective work to find out just what you are deficient or toxic in.

We've been feeding whole oats, cracked corn, alfalpha pellets, & boss for over a year now, supplementing with kelp, meatmaker loose minerals, and goatlyx tubs. The herd looks great, except we need to copper bolus about every 8 months or so as this is still not enough copper for our area/feeding regime.

I suggest making the change s-l-o-w-l-y, and take notes on your herd's status i.e. coat, eyes, feet, weight, birthing, estrus, worm status, etc over the next 6-8 months. These are the places and time-frames deficiencies will show up.
HF

[billooo2]

Can your local feed store do a custom mix for you? I have to buy 800 lbs. at a time, but it ended up saving me about 30% when I compared it to the cost of a nationally known goat feed. Is there anyone in your area who is having a cutom mix done? If so, then they may be able to help you out as to what mix seems to work in your area.

[deineria]

I get the impression our local feedstore, though they make their own feeds, do not do custom mix feeds, but I should ask. It would be helpful to know what others are feeding in the area, but very few, if any people, keep dairy goats within a few hours of location that I can find.

[KimM]

Hi Bill. What does your mix consist of?

Originally Posted by billooo2

Can your local feed store do a custom mix for you? I have to buy 800 lbs. at a time, but it ended up saving me about 30% when I compared it to the cost of a nationally known goat feed. Is there anyone in your area who is having a cutom mix done? If so, then they may be able to help you out as to what mix seems to work in your area.

[topside1]

I'd just like to let you know what I do...I buy a dairy ration (pelleted 18%) for all my animals. Right or wrong it makes my chores simple and everyone enjoys the blend. Goat milk production is up each year and calves always have a healthy look to them. Keep looking for a feed mill or store that can provide options. I'm buying 1/2 ton per visit, the grain pellets are loaded into my provided trash cans....I'm paying $13.50 per hundred...One last bit of news I use to mix my own blend at the house,,,wow that got old quick. At the time I was milking six goats per day...FYI that's when I decided on a dairy pellet....Topside

[billooo2]

Originally Posted by KimM

Hi Bill. What does your mix consist of?

PM sent

[deineria]

I'd be interested in your mix as well

[deafgoatlady]

I always get feed from feed stores and i get them make the feed for me. I get COB for the winter time but this winter I didnt use corn. I used is oats and boss. It works out great! It is so much cheaper for me..

[sammyd]

this is what we use, We got it from another mill that mixes for a commercial goat dairy.
about the smallest batch our mill will run

215 lbs cracked corn
110 lbs oats
95 lbs 38% protein pellets
40 lbs molasses
1 lb vitade
12 lbs 2-1 mineral
40 lbs black sunflower seeds
works out to just a touch over 13 cent a pound at our local prices.


We also feed the goats free choice 2nd crop alfalfa hay and the cows get free choice first crop alfalfa or alfalfa/timothy hay.
The goats like it and look quite good. The cows look sweet too.

[Backfourty,MI.]

I always had problems with feed items from TSC & I don't buy anything Purina so I started mixing my own feed.
I do rolled oats, Barley, sunflower seeds, & rabbit pellets by ADM alliance(I know rabbit pellets-I CANNOT find an alfafa pellet anywhere that my goats will eat!), in winter cold months I add a little corn.
Been doing this for along time & everyone seems & looks Great. Only the girls get this not my boy's.
I don't use BO-SE & since switching to Cargill's Right Now Onyx mineral I haven't had to bolus either.

We do have local feed stores that mix there own feed for people but usually it has mineral & molasses mixed in it & I don't want that stuff in there.


deineria, what your feeding your boys is fine.

[ozark_jewels]

To my does I feed grass hay, alfalfa hay and/or alfalfa pellets(if the goat is growing, pregnant and/or milking), whole oats and a bit of BOSS or cracked corn for the fat. And of course loose minerals. If you need to see how my goats do on this, please check out the website. I've not been happier with their health since switching from commercial mixes to just the whole grains, good hay and loose minerals. The last several years have been great with rarely a problem.
My bucks get grass hay and alfalfa hay or alfalfa pellets. When they go into rutt, they are started on a pelleted goat ration because it has AC in it. They get this for the whole breeding season and until they are back into decent condition. After they are back into good condition for the winter months, I take them back to just grass hay and alfalfa. If you expect your buck to work well and stay healthy, don't let him be a rack of bones during rutt and going into winter.

[deineria]

I'm hoping to do the above and find good results. Thanks! Glad to know that diet works for your does. They all look great.

[HappyFarmer]

Topside1 I like the looks of your doe. She's a nubian, correct? Her coloring is nice, back straight, and looks like she might have some muscling there under that coat. How old is she?
HF

[Lone Pine]

Great looking Doe! We are going to check with our local mill about putting together a mix for our girls. Thanks for the great info!