high protein grain for growing kids?

[TroutRiver]

I was just talking to the breeder of my buck, and she is telling me that the grain I am feeding to my kids (a home made mix of whole grains, around 12% protein) is way too low in protein for growing kids. She said that they need a minimum of 16%, and 18% is better.

Did I go wrong somewhere, or misunderstand something? I was under the impression that high protein grains can cause all kinds of problems, and that kids are best off in the long run if they grow slow and steady. Do I need to switch to a higher protein grain for the young ones?

I just sold my last milker, so the 3 kids are all I have left. They are for sale too and I hope to find homes for them before the winter. But until then I want to make sure I am doing the best possible for them.

[LoneStrChic23]

I like my kids to be breeding size by 7-8 months old, so I feed a medicated pellet that is min 16% protein..... Really loved the growth I got from the 18% Ntimidator pellet, but the price sky rocketed out of my comfort zone.

All of my babies stay on min 16% pellet the first year, and I keep the feeder full... My doelings get gradually switched to my 12% milk stand mix when they are about 3 months bred. Bucks stay on it until a year old & come out of their first rut. After that they get only hay, minerals & about 1/2lb scoop of alfalfa pellets per day. I don't like skinny bucks, so before rut, I start adding in a lil of the 16% pellet (maybe 2 cups a day) to their alfalfa pellets to keep them looking good (well, as good as they can look with urine soaked faces).

No one way to do things, everyone has different preferences. I know I did NOT like what was happening in my adult girls on high protein grain (sore feet, awful edema) so I only use the higher protein grains for fast growing babies.

[steff bugielski]

I feed almost the same way as Lonestarchic but no alfalfa pellets. My hay is around 17-24% protein and is only grass hay so I see no need for the alfalfa. My dairy ration is 18% and I add whole oats.
Adult buck never get any grain only hay, water, browse and minerals.

[Happy Hogger]

Originally Posted by steff bugielski

I feed almost the same way as Lonestarchic but no alfalfa pellets. My hay is around 17-24% protein and is only grass hay so I see no need for the alfalfa. My dairy ration is 18% and I add whole oats.
Adult buck never get any grain only hay, water, browse and minerals.

So where does your calcium come from that milking does desperately need?

[steff bugielski]

I get 14-18 lbs of milk every day from most of my girls. I milk 10 months a year. These are not even real dairy goats, they are Alpine/ Nubian/Boer crosses. No consideration was given to bloodlines when I got the first few goats.
The dairy ration and grass hay seem to do the job.
I will never feed alfalfa again, especially when dry. The only time I ever had a goat get milk fever was when they got alfalfa year round.

I can not complain with the amount of milk they give, they way they look and the hardiness of them.