So what exactly do you feed?

[MaddieLynn]

We are THIS CLOSE to talking my dad into letting us get dairy goats. THIS CLOSE, I tell you!! In the meantime, I wanted to get some more specifics on what exactly y'all feed.

I'm wanting to know what kind of hay, what grain, what minerals, and how much everyone is using on their dairy goats. Ready... set... GO!

[Pony]

Best hay you can find. I'm fortunate in that there are alfalfa/clover growers nearby who keep me supplied with good hay.

I also feed alfalfa pellets and oats. Other grain as it is available.

Loose cattle minerals, but MFA recently got in some very lovely goat minerals with plenty of copper. w00t!

[KnowOneSpecial]

My five goats are on mostly pasture. They get some alfalfa pellets and some goat chow mixed in every day. I have a tub of minerals on one side and baking soda on the other. The rarely touch it.

[Alice In TX/MO]

If we have 250 members here, there will be 250 answers to "What do you feed your goats."?

The basics are good hay, alfalfa in some form, a small amount of Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, and just enough grain to support health and make milk.

Baking soda and a high copper LOOSE mineral.

No molasses coated feed.

Fresh water.

[AuntKitty]

I totally agree Alice. I saw such a difference when I switched from a goat pellet to alfalfa pellets, whole oats, BOSS, peanut hay & the Cargill Right Now Onyx minerals. Like night and day. So much easier to keep them in condition without getting fat.

Kitty

[Pony]

If you keep your goats on a good basic diet, they will thrive.

Can't say how disappointed I've been to see goats I've sold looking just.. well, sad is probably a good word. No shine to the coat, slowed growth, just don't have that lovely glow of a healthy, happy goat.

It doesn't take but a little attention to the feed and watering to ensure optimum health in goats. I don't know why people don't take better care of their investments.

[CornerstoneAcre]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

No molasses coated feed.

Fresh water.

Not to hijack...but why? My feed has molasses in it (25# per 500# of my grain mix - just to hold it together with the soybean meal).

they've been on this feed for over a year now.

[mygoat]

I too feed a molasses feed. It's no problem unless it's a lot of molasses, IMO.

I feed the local mill's goat grain mix. Dairy protein pellet (mostly Soybean, some vitamins/minerals maybe), oats, corn, extra selenium/vitamin E, and molasses to get the se/vit e to 'stick' and to keep dust down. I mix this with alfalfa pellets at a rate of 2 parts grain to 1 part alfalfa pellets for my dairies.

They also get free choice 2nd cutting grass/alfalfa hay. I run my boers and mini meat goats in with my dairies, and I find this works well.

I use sweetlix magnamilk or meatmaker minerals, free choice. I also offer baking soda free choice. I mix Ammonium Chloride (urine acidifier, helps prevent bladder stones) in the minerals for my wethers/bucks.

MOST of my animals don't get grain. I creep feed kids, and dairy goats get 1lb grain per 2-3lbs milk produced. I feed grain to does starting about a month before kidding, then on through lactation for the dairies, and through early lactation (first month) for the meat breeds.

[eclipchic]

I feed what the breeder I bought my goat from fed her before and it seems to work for us. Our milker gets free choice alfalfa blend hay, minerals and baking soda, then at milking time gets about 1/4 cup boss (black oil sunflower seeds), some Purina Noble goat dairy pellet and alfalfa pellet. We have other supplements too like Diamond X yeast and Kelp and tums she gets a small amount of daily. Our wether just gets hay, mineral and baking soda. Occasionally we treat him to a small amount of boss but its pretty rare. They both keep on good weight and seem well.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Molasses is sugar. Not good for healthy goat rumen bacteria. It also has trace iron in it, which interferes with absorption of copper.

["SPIKE"]

Tennessee Farmers Coopertive 16% pelleted goat ration. This is what they were eating when I got them. They also get Forage-Master goat minerals.
Between these two, that should cover most of their vitamin and mineral needs also. Both contain copper. Both contain selenium. Both contain calcium and phosphorus in acceptable ratios.

They also get BOSS. They hay they get is rotated between lespadesea serecea and mixed grasses. For extra roughage, I add a little beet pulp to their rations.
This time of year there is not as much good brousing material, but they have been really enjoying the acorns.

SPIKE

[Hollowdweller]

I feed a pound of 16% and then an extra pound for every 2 lbs of milk produced. Then about 1 bale of alfalfa or alfalfa orchard grass hay (50 60 lb bale) for 8 goats and fresh water. Per day.

[Pony]

I used to feed ration with molasses in it, but I cut back, then went to zero processed sugars. (Yeah, I feed the goats better than I feed myself...)

Tell you what, though: If I find a screaming sale on feed that has molasses in it, I will mix it in with the regular ration.

It's all about proper ratios. Balance things out, and it's all good.

[Oat Bucket Farm]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

If we have 250 members here, there will be 250 answers to "What do you feed your goats."?

The basics are good hay, alfalfa in some form, a small amount of Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, and just enough grain to support health and make milk.

Baking soda and a high copper LOOSE mineral.

No molasses coated feed.

Fresh water.

Yep, that covers the basics.

[Oat Bucket Farm]

Originally Posted by Pony

I used to feed ration with molasses in it, but I cut back, then went to zero processed sugars. (Yeah, I feed the goats better than I feed myself...)

Tell you what, though: If I find a screaming sale on feed that has molasses in it, I will mix it in with the regular ration.

It's all about proper ratios. Balance things out, and it's all good.

We don't feed molasses feeds either.

Speaking of processed sugars, I need to go eat a cookie.

[mygoat]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

Molasses is sugar. Not good for healthy goat rumen bacteria. It also has trace iron in it, which interferes with absorption of copper.

The sugar it self is not bad for goats OR for the rumen bugs, actually. Rumen bugs would use them as an energy source.

The trouble with molasses actually lies in that, in large amounts, itcauses changes in the different levels of various VFA's produced by the bacteria in the rumen, causing acidosis in excess and rumen upset with sudden feed changes.

As for trace iron - yes, especially blackstrap molasses contains iron. But, MOST feeds especially forages contain trace iron levels. It will NOT cause a problem with copper if you're supplementing copper levels OR ilve an area not copper deficient, when fed at a reasonable amount.

This interesting article says that molasses in feed actually INCREASES the number of rumen bugs.

This article seems pretty good. I used it to brush up what I remembered from my nutrition classes last semester.

http://rcrec-ona.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/pu...-nutrition.pdf

[LoneStrChic23]

Biggest problem I see with local goats is poor quality forage. Folks here will feed the nastiest, poorest quality hay to goats, then load them up on pelleted feed & they look awful.

I buy the best quality hay I can find (typically Sudan or coastal), I feed alfalfa pellets free choice (no acess to good alfalfa hay) & growing kids/milkers/pregnant gals get grain. If not growing/pregnant/milking then no grain.

I leave a cattle mineral called Right Now Onyx out free choice for all goats, bucks get ammonium chloride mixed in theirs....

My grain for milkers is a mix of whole oats & Purina Strategy Healthy Edge (lower protein, high fat horse feed). If extra fat is needed I use rice bran pellets as a top dressing (these are on sale at my local TSC- a little goes a long way & they have more fat & vitamin E than BOSS, for much less $$ than BOSS).

For growing kids I feed them the same hay, alfalfa pellets & minerals, but feed them Ntimidator Meat Goat Pellets that are 16% protein & contain coccidia medication. Young does eat this through all but the last month or 2 of their 1st pregnancy, then are switched over to the milk stand grain (which is around 12.5% protein, but higher fat).

Since I feed alfalfa pellets free choice, & feed the best hay I can afford (no grazing here due to drought/wildfires) my girls keep excellent condition on minimal amounts of grain.

I've tried various feeding methods & products.....switched several times until I found what works best for MY goats .......You'll likely do the same Keep good minerals out, provide your dairy girls with plenty of alfalfa, & feed a good quality grass hay (or grazing/browse if you have it) and they'll likely thrive even if you choose a grain/pelleted feed different from what others like.

[thaiblue12]

I do not like alfalfa hay even mixed with grass, too much waste.

I feed two parts alfalfa pellets, one part 3 way grain ( yes it has molasses, can't get any other kind here) pinch of Boss.
Horse quality grass hay- which they still waste some
Loose minerals- for cows since it has way more copper and less salt then the what is available for goats.

Everyone feeds differently, you have to find what works for you, your area and your budget. But whatever you plan on feeding switch them over slowly from what they are use to eating.

[Lada]

Purina Noble Goat pellets. It's expensive, but I don't have a lot of milkers. And in the long run, it's not any more expensive than when I was trying to make up my own feed and feeding huge amounts of alfalfa pellets.

[saanengirl]

16% dairy goat ration (pelleted) made by my feed mill mixed with citrus pulp (great energy and Calcium source). Alfalfa and Coastal Bermuda hay during peak lactation, just Coastal hay off peak. The Coastal hay is very good quality for grass hay (I had some tested and it tested at 14% protein).

I also keep a trace mineralized salt block out in the pasture (mainly for the horse and steer, but the goats lick it too) and have a feeder in the goat area with Manna Pro Breeders Chelated loose mineral mix.