Feed rant (gotta get it out)

[GoldenWood Farm]

I have been searching to HECK and gone for some Calcium Carbonate and I can't find it . Then I get these people who work at these large feed stores who know NOTHING about goats at recommend I use the the Goats Nutrition Calcium Drench they carry instead of the calcium carbonate (which they don't have).

Then I think I finally found it at my local feed store where I buy all my grain. They give me the lawn and garden limestone, so I go back and ask about it because they said they would get me the limestone they use in their feeds. "Oh but that IS the limestone we put in our feeds" ......so now I am questioning what exactly I have been feeding my poor goats and if the grain I buy has that stuff in it so again with the .

Where on earth are you guys buying your Calcium Carbonate?! I am at my wits end trying to find it and dealing with "helpful" people who don't know a frog's hair about goat nutrition of any kind. Then only to find out my local feed place is I guess putting lawn and garden limestone in some of their feeds!

So help me out guys! I really want to try the calcium carbonate out but I am scratching my head trying to figure out where would sell it.

Justine

[Alice In TX/MO]

I had to get it at Hirsch in West Plains, Missouri. Yes, it's hard to find. You need a feed mill that custom mixes grain. 99% of feed stores do not do this.

[Ford Zoo]

I was for sure I was just on a site last week that sold it. I revisited a few sites and couldn't find it. I did see Hoeggers selling Dolomite. I am not familiar with this but it said its 2/3 calcium and 1/3 magnesium for use in controlling acidity. Does anyone know if this could be used for a calcium supplement?

[Ford Zoo]

I'm also wondering what the difference is between the feed CC and the crushed limestone used for gardens. The stuff I got from my feed mill looks the same, but not as powdery, and I did see it come out of a bag labeled for animals. Any ideas?

[CJBegins]

When I asked for dolomite at my local feed store the owner said it's the same as limestone it just costs more. I didn't buy any cause I need to rethink it thru.

[simka2]

If you order from Azure Standard for food purposes, I saw it on their site last night.

[PaulNKS]

A lot of calcium does come from limestone.

I have seen at times when cattle that are getting deficient will start gnawing on limestone rocks to try and satisfy their need. (not mine lol). I even had an old timer tell me one time that when you see a cow carrying a rock, it's time to put out mineral. lol

[Bearfootfarm]

Calcium Carbonate IS Limestone

"Feed Grade " is a more pure form

Dolomite also has Magnesium

Carthage Crushed Limestone

Fine Grind Chemical / Feed Grade Limestone
We efficiently produce high-purity, chemical/feed grade limestone. All of our fine grind products go through a drying and milling process

[Pony]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

I had to get it at Hirsch in West Plains, Missouri. Yes, it's hard to find. You need a feed mill that custom mixes grain. 99% of feed stores do not do this.

If you're ever at Hirsch (or just West Plains) Monday through Thursday, let me know and we can get together maybe for coffee or lunch?

[April]

Is there anything that could be in a bag of "garden limestone" that would hurt the goats?

[PaulNKS]

Just talk to someone at your closest coop/feed mill and buy the calcium from them.

[Heritagefarm]

Does it specifically have to be the carbonate form of calcium? If so you could feed them sidewalk chalk (literally), though I don't know about additives. Sometimes the lime will also be in carbonate form, though I'm unsure if it is as bio-available.

[GoldenWood Farm]

The sad part is the limestone I got was from our closest feed mill. I was looking at the other stuff the limestone has in it besides calcium carbonate and I am not a chemist so I can't say if it is terribly harmful or not but I am not willing to try it .

I guess I was just shocked and surprised to find out that they where putting non-food grade (as far as I know from looking at the bag) lawn and garden limestone in their feeds considering they ARE a feed mill and I figured they would have access to food grade calcium. I wish I lived closer to where y'all are, . I swear I live in no mans land for all the cool goat stuff .

Justine

[PaulNKS]

Originally Posted by GoldenWood Farm

The sad part is the limestone I got was from our closest feed mill. I was looking at the other stuff the limestone has in it besides calcium carbonate and I am not a chemist so I can't say if it is terribly harmful or not but I am not willing to try it .

I guess I was just shocked and surprised to find out that they where putting non-food grade (as far as I know from looking at the bag) lawn and garden limestone in their feeds considering they ARE a feed mill and I figured they would have access to food grade calcium. I wish I lived closer to where y'all are, . I swear I live in no mans land for all the cool goat stuff .

Justine

I think you're getting worked up over nothing. The feed mill would not be using it if it was harmful to the animals because of the liability. Calcium does not have to be calcium carbonate.

[Alice In TX/MO]

The Mississippi Lime Feed Grade Limestone is mined from the high purity formation in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri which consists of limestone with an average calcium carbonate content of 98.5%. Feed Grade Limestone is a granular material used in mineral feeds and poultry grits because of its high calcium content and consistent particle size.

From:
Mississippi Lime > Products > Ground Calcium Carbonate Limestone > Feed Grade Limestone

Food grade limestone from Amazon:
Product Features
Food Grade - Approved for consumption / Animal Feed
Calcium Carbonate CACO_3_ CAS: 471-34-1

[GoldenWood Farm]

Originally Posted by PaulNKS

I think you're getting worked up over nothing. The feed mill would not be using it if it was harmful to the animals because of the liability. Calcium does not have to be calcium carbonate.

That is very true Paul, I guess I was just throw for a loop when I found out. I obviously have been using their feed for years and have yet to have a problem with it. But still it is rather surprising *laughs*.

I am just scratching my head trying to find calcium carbonate. I think part of my frustration is I was so hoping to be able to find some fairly easy and yet it is proving harder than first thought.

Justine

[PaulNKS]

Originally Posted by GoldenWood Farm

That is very true Paul, I guess I was just throw for a loop when I found out. I obviously have been using their feed for years and have yet to have a problem with it. But still it is rather surprising *laughs*.

I am just scratching my head trying to find calcium carbonate. I think part of my frustration is I was so hoping to be able to find some fairly easy and yet it is proving harder than first thought.

Justine

I understand. Many times we want to treat our animals/livestock like human children when they are not. This tends to make us think that anything harmful to us would be harmful to them.

It's good that you worry, but also keep in mind that goats have done fine for millennia. I read somewhere that the only animal that will revert to a feral nature faster than a goat is a cat. Goats do a good job of taking care of themselves without a lot of interference, some breeds better than others but, for some reason most people don't believe that. (provided they have plenty of water and browse/hay.)

I hope you find your carbonate, but if not, don't sweat it.

[Happy Hogger]

I used to work at a limestone quarry.

Dolomitic lime is calcium magnesium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is a little different. Your Calcium Vitamin pills are usually calcium carbonate.

I was just reading something, can't remember where, maybe Goat Medicine (?) that calcium carbonate is not as readily absorbed as calcium from alfalfa and other plant sources.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Probably so, but it doesn't cause edema and other high protein issues.