Can I feed just oats and good hay?

GBov · #1 08/14/12, 08:51 AM

Well, feed prices have gone up and up and they just seem set to keep going up and up and up so I am trying to see what I can do to keep costs down.

Oats are cheaper by the bag, both whole and rolled, than the cheapest bag of goat feed.

Can I feed just oats and a good coastal hay and forage?

We only have four goats right now but two of them are preggers. Well, we THINK they are but when I put the bucks in to play with the girls for a bit of exercise they were only interested in the front end of the girls instead of the back like last month.

Alice In TX/MO · #2 08/14/12, 08:58 AM

Dairy goats will need some other source of calcium. Your easy choices are topdressing with calcium carbonate or feeding alfalfa pellets along with your other feeds.

Yes, most of us are cutting back somewhere!

Cyngbaeld · #3 08/14/12, 02:45 PM

My milkers get a handful of oats topped with dolomite on the stand. All are on pasture with lots of browse. All look great. (Loose minerals provided of course.) I never feed alfalfa or pellets.

Bambitski · #4 08/15/12, 12:36 PM

Okay, I am going to ask the stupid question...."What is Dolomite?"

Alice In TX/MO · #5 08/15/12, 12:44 PM

Dolomite is calcium magnesium carbonate.

Hoegger Supply Co. :: Goat...

Bambitski · #6 08/15/12, 10:17 PM

Thank you for telling me Alice. Now, from what I read it helps stop mastisis? Is it better for them than Calcium Carbonate then? I know this is something that I would have to order, it took me forever to find the calcium carbonate around here. But I do want the best that I can afford for my girls.

Alice In TX/MO · #7 08/15/12, 10:19 PM

I don't know which is better. Hmmmm. Good question.

I've heard the same about mastitis, but I'd assume a pre-existing deficiency situation if it works.

Bambitski · #8 08/15/12, 10:50 PM

Wouldn't it be something that something so simple could help reduce the chances of mastisis, well that and cleanliness.