Confused about feeding wethers

[MaddieLynn]

So, here's what I THINK I know about feeding wethers:

~When they're under a year old they need to be fed grain and hay like any other goat because they're growing

~Ammonium chloride prevents urinary calculi

~Feeding alfalfa but no grain OR feeding grain with low quality hay causes UC, but grain and alfalfa together cancel each other out? (I think I read this somewhere?)

Is any of this right? My guy is 5 months old and I'm terrified of him getting UC. What I'm most worried about is when he gets to be over a year and I need to start cutting down on his feed - he's our only wether and will be living with the does, so how do I handle this? They have to have alfalfa so that means he will have access to it.

Also, I'm feeding Noble Goat pellets right now that contain ammonium chloride. Is this enough, or do I need to be adding extra ammonium chloride?

[CaliannG]

You are correct except for your third bullet point. Grain, which is high is phosphates, causes urinary calculi. Calcium, which alfalfa contains a lot of, prevents urinary calculi.

So, you are good with feeding alfalfa alone. You are good with feeding alfalfa with low quality hay. You are good with feeding alfalfa with a small amount of grain, as the calcium in alfalfa balances the phosphates in grain.

You are NOT good feeding grain with low quality hay.

You want to maintain a balance of 3:1 calcium to phos. ratio.

Alfalfa is 17:1 ratio.
Most hays are approx. 3:1 ratio.
Pasture tends to be about like hay, 3:1
Grain is a 1:5 at best, and 1:7 at worst.

If I wanted to put weight on wethers, I would feed 2 lbs of alfalfa pellets to every lb of grain, to ensure a high calcium ratio. Plus all of the hay they could eat.

[MaddieLynn]

Ok great! I can control the grain easily because they are all tethered (and monitored) while eating.

[Pony]

Yup. It's all about ratios.

Kind of like the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I'm going to have to ask my son (Navy helo pilot) about that, Pony. I have no idea what you said! :P

I'd also give the wethers some Ammonium Chloride each day, topdressed on their feed. Cheap insurance.

[mrs.H]

Originally Posted by Pony

Yup. It's all about ratios.

Kind of like the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow.

Would that be an African or European swallow?

[CaliannG]

Originally Posted by mrs.H

Would that be an African or European swallow?

What? I don't know! AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[Backfourty,MI.]

I agree with Alice & add a little more ammonium chloride too for my buck & wethers. I don't trust the commercial feed to have enough AC in it.

Not to confuse you more but other things can also contribute to UC such as a very high iron content in your water.

[Pony]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

I'm going to have to ask my son (Navy helo pilot) about that, Pony. I have no idea what you said! :P

It's from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzcLQRXW6B0