Looking into new feeds

mjgh06 · #1 02/12/13, 01:09 PM

Currently I feed my goats (Pygmies and Nigerians) Allstock Sweet feed. But I am looking into finding a better quality feed that includes copper. Here are my options, please tell me what you think. All my goats get free access to hay and browse.

Choice #1
Crude Protein (min.) 12.00%,
Crude Fat (min.) 2.50%,
Crude Fiber (max.) 18.50%,
Calcium (Ca) (min.) .40%, (max.) .80%,
Phosphorus (P) (min.) .35%,
Salt (NaCl) (min.) .25%, (max.) .75%,
Potassium (K) (min.) .75%,
Copper (Cu) (min.) 30.00 ppm,
Selenium (Se) (min.) .30 ppm,
Zinc (Zn) (min.) 100.00 ppm,
Vitamin A (min.) 2,500 IU/lb,

Choice #2
Crude Protein (min.) 16.00%,
Crude Fat (min.) 3.50%,
Crude Fiber (max.) 12.00%,
Calcium (Ca) (min.) .80%, (max.) 1.30%,
Phosphorus (P) (min.) .50%,
Salt (NaCl) (min.) .50%, (max.) 1.00%,
Copper (Cu) (min.) 40.00ppm, (max) 45.00ppm,
Selenium (Se) (min.) .60ppm,
Zinc (Zn) (min.) 90.00ppm,
Vitamin A (min.) 5000.00IU/lb.,
Vitamin D3 (min.) 750.00IU/lb.,
Vitamin E (min.) 40.00IU/lb.

Choice #3
Crude Protein (min.) 12.00%,
Crude Fat (min.) 2.50%,
Crude Fiber (max.) 18.00%,
Calcium (Ca) (min.) 1.50%, (max.) 2.00%,
Phosphorus (P) (min.) .40%,
Salt (NaCl) (min.) 1.50%, (max.) 2.00%,
Potassium (K) (min.) .70%,
Selenium (Se) (min.) .10 ppm,
Zinc (Zn) (min.) 60.00 ppm,
Vitamin A (min.) 2000 IU/lb,

Choice #4
Crude Protein (min.) 16.00% (This includes not more than 1.50% equivalent crude protein from non-protein nitrogen),
Crude Fat (min.) 2.00%,
Crude Fiber (max.) 16.00%,
Calcium (Ca) (min.) .75%, (max.) 1.25%,
Phosphorus (P) (min.) .35%,
Salt (NaCl) (min.) .25%, (max.) .75%,
Copper (Cu) (min.) 22.00 ppm, (max.) 25.00 ppm,
Selenium (Se) (min.) .30 ppm,
Vitamin A (min.) 3000 IU/lb,

Ford Zoo · #2 02/12/13, 01:19 PM

I do believe the "non protein nitrogen" in #4 is urea, and you don't want that. That's about all I have for you without looking at the actual labels.

Ford Zoo · #3 02/12/13, 01:21 PM

Just a thought, my nigies get fat enough with grass hay and free choice minerals, and they only get grained when milking.

Blue Run Farm · #4 02/12/13, 01:28 PM

Personally, I avoid sweet feeds, the molasses is bad for their rumens. If they need grain I would look at pelleted. But like Ford Zoo said, if they are not milking they probably do not need grain at all. I would not count on any feed to provide them with copper. They will not get enough. Copper bolus or replamin is the way to go as far as I know. But I am not one of the experts here, so someone please correct me if I am wrong

trnubian · #5 02/12/13, 05:53 PM

Yep, definately don't count on feed for your copper. Get a good loose mineral that has something other than copper sulfate as the copper source (like chelated copper.)

I also agree that unless they are growing, late in gestation or milking they don't need grain.

All that being said, I prefer choice #2. It would help to see the ingredients too though.

LoneStrChic23 · #6 02/12/13, 09:08 PM

I feed all grown goats protein in the 12% range. Goats can only utilize so much protein.... Anything above what they need is just wasted and excreted in urine.
I like my feeds to be higher fat though... And if I can't find what I want, I just top dress a lil drizzle of oil on their feed to up the fat.

So my grown milkers get a small, 12% grain ration, Chaffhaye alfalfa and grass hay. Non milkers get a bit of Chaffhaye and grass hay.

Babies and growing kids get 16% protein feed along with the Chaffhaye & grass hay.

All get a high quality loose mineral.

No heavy sweet feeds here, nothing with urea and I don't feed much grain, preferring to keep the bulk of their diet forage based with the Chaffhaye & grass hay.

Backfourty,MI. · #7 02/12/13, 09:40 PM

Like the others have already said if your goats aren't growing kids, nursing mothers or late in gestation they really don't need a lot of grain if any at all.

If you just want to give them a little to keep them friendly or like for a little treat & can only choose from the above feeds I'd go with #2 or #3. They each have amounts of different things that look OK depending on who your feeding it too.

motdaugrnds · #8 02/13/13, 06:48 AM

I have discovered my Nubians (full size) do better without a lot of grain. I feed the same types year 'round to "all" goats (breeders/milkers/bucks get much less alfalfa). I do give them some "sweet" feed (Purina Strategy Healthy Edge); but they each only get 1/2 cup daily.

Daily rations:
1/2 cup PSHE
2-3 cups Alfalfa pellets
1 cup Shredded beet pulp
1/2 cup Whole oats
1/4 cup BOSS

They free-roam on orchard grass, lespedeza shrubs & a variety of wild browse; and get straight "bailed" orchard grass on days they don't get out to browse.

They have a constant supply of loose minerals, baking soda, fresh water & hugs

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