Wether Feeding?

ericnovak · #1 04/08/10, 05:13 PM

I heard on another thread that you don't have to feed your whethers grain as they can be on a hay diet. Someone also said it causes more problems if they are on grain then if they aren't. Our wether and our milk doe stay together, so when I feed her grain should I separate them? Does she need grain in her diet as well?

-Eric

**mygoat** · #2 04/08/10, 05:23 PM

The doe, if lactating or in late pregnancy, does need grain. Dairy does are normally fed while in the milk stand, to keep them busy while being milked. She should be fed 1lb per 3lb milk produced as a BASE diet. Depending on the doe, she may need more or less to keep in good condition. Keep in mind that it is NORMAL for dairy does to SLOWLY loose body condition over the 10 month lactation, especially if they're heavy milkers - they'll be putting all their effort into making milk, which is desirable. You will want them to still be a good flesh and look healthy, however. She should also be getting free choice alfalfa hay, or free choice grass hay with free choice alfalfa pellets while in the milkstand.

Wethers, however, do NOT need grain. Free feeding him a high quality grass hay or quality hay with little alfalfa should be just fine. Since your wether and doe live together, I suggest free feeding a very high quality grass hay free choice, then supplementing the doe's diet with alfalfa which is absolutely necessary to provide her with the extra calcium required for lactating does. Feeding grain and hay can cause a wether to have an imbalanced phosphorus to calcium ratio, which is the cause of urinary calculi or bladder stones. Since they have such a narrow urethra, the pain is extreme and often the goat has to be put down because of it.

**mygoat** · #3 04/08/10, 05:28 PM

Forgot to add -

They should of course have free choice access to a QUALITY loose mineral and baking soda, too. Especially watch copper and salt content. For goats, you want high copper and low salt. I use Sweetlix meatmaker which is a 'good' mineral but is the best I can find in my area. A better one that I wish I could find is Cargill Right now Onyx.

And depending on your area, you may have to supplement additional copper as boluses (because copper in minerals is not as easily absorbed or completely adequate) and give selenium shots (BoSe) as well, for optimal herd health and production.