Alfalfa

[Bubbas Boys]

So we got a great deal in some pure alfalfa. I am wanting opinions on if we can feed it to our 8 month old Nubians or if we need to supplement some grass hay as well. They will be breed on November. We also feed a sweet feed containing grain. Bout one cup a day per.

[dozedotz]

As you have no doubt noticed, there are lots of people feeding differently and having great success! Over time you will figure out what works best for your budget, within availability and with your herd. Actually, you may want to feed individuals differently. At our place we start the kids on really fine stemmed alfalfa at about three weeks of age. We "hold back" the finest cuttings with the finest stems for those little ones to start out on. They nibble at first but quickly get the hang of it. Alfalfa is all the type of hay that we feed to our pure bred Nubian (full size goats) stock - but other good breeders are feeding grass hay only with supplementation to meet the animals needs. My personal opinion - if you have the alfalfa, the goats do not need another kind of hay...unless you just want to give them an alternative. Our herd (bucks and does) will eat the alfalfa first and in most cases only the alfalfa if given a choice. We feed the bucks the alfalfa also and they do very nicely on it. The grain we feed is for growing kids (we do not start grain until after 5 months of age - but many do that sooner with good luck), lactating does and bucks that are in rut. The grain consists of oats, BOSS (black oil sunflower seed), some Purina Noble (either grower for kids or dairy for lactating does) and shredded beets. We do not feed heavy grain. It is our belief that our animals do better on less of the concentrates and more of the hay and browse. After you get lots of opinions on what to feed and then see how your goats are doing and how much you can afford (prices vary in areas and yearly), you will figure out a good plan. GMO is something you have to consider in your feeding program and do what you feel is appropriate. Honestly, there is not ONE feeding program that is THE program! Lots of us are doing different approaches with excellent results. That's my opinion!

[mygoat]

For dry non-lactating animals, it is pretty rich. I would get some because you will want to use it during lactation, but until then you can save some money by feeding a good grass hay until then.

Feeding of excess calcium pre-birthing, though this is the NORM in the goat world is actually shown to CAUSE hypocalcemia around parturition in dairy cattle. Has to do with calcium homeostasis - hormone cycling of calcium from bones to blood to mammary which is inhibited by excessive feeding of calcium. It essentially trains the body to not move calcium from the bones to the blood, which is necessary at parturition/onset of lactation when demands exceed the feed levels provided. Just something to think about.

We normally increase the nutrition of pregnant goats the last 4-6 weeks prior to kidding. I strongly suggest putting the goats in the milkstand at this time, and 'pretending' to milk. Massage the udder and squeeze teats (but do NOT express milk, just pretend). I've broken many FF to the stand this way, and they take to it like old pros when they freshen. (we pull kids to raise on bottle).

[Alice In TX/MO]

I offer both grass hay and feed a SMALL amount of alfalfa pellets.

I never ever feed sweet feed.

[parrotman]

Honestly, there is not ONE feeding program that is THE program! Lots of us are doing different approaches with excellent results.

This type of intelligence and common sense will NOT be tolerated here!

[ozark_jewels]

Alfalfa is great. I LOVE good alfalfa for hay and pasture. I personally think its a bit rich for full-feeding. I use alfalfa and grass hay mixed or fed one in the morning, one in the evening.

While alfalfa is not fed to late-pregnancy dry cattle because it *can* cause milk fever upon freshening, it is proven not to do so in goats. In fact, your goats will likely have less issues upon freshening if fed alfalfa during the latter part of pregnancy, into the middle of lactation. Again, I consider straight alfalfa too rich for full-feeding, even in pregnant goats, so I mix it with good grass hay. You want to watch and not have your does too fat at freshening, as this can lead to problems. Alfalfa will put weight on dry critters, so I cut it with grass. I also do not feed dry animals grain. Lactating goats and growing kids get some oats and BOSS.

Growing kids do well on alfalfa as it is high in protein and meets their growing calcium needs.

Everyone does it differently.........find what works for you!

[Doug Hodges]

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

Alfalfa is great. I LOVE good alfalfa for hay and pasture. I personally think its a bit rich for full-feeding. I use alfalfa and grass hay mixed or fed one in the morning, one in the evening.

While alfalfa is not fed to late-pregnancy dry cattle because it *can* cause milk fever upon freshening, it is proven not to do so in goats. In fact, your goats will likely have less issues upon freshening if fed alfalfa during the latter part of pregnancy, into the middle of lactation. Again, I consider straight alfalfa too rich for full-feeding, even in pregnant goats, so I mix it with good grass hay. You want to watch and not have your does too fat at freshening, as this can lead to problems. Alfalfa will put weight on dry critters, so I cut it with grass. I also do not feed dry animals grain. Lactating goats and growing kids get some oats and BOSS.

Growing kids do well on alfalfa as it is high in protein and meets their growing calcium needs.

Everyone does it differently.........find what works for you!

I may have to put my goats on a diet. They all look like they are pregnant.

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by Doug Hodges

I may have to put my goats on a diet. They all look like they are pregnant.

Well, fat and well-barreled are not the same thing. Are they blubby or just big-barreled? Pictures are always good......
Everyone thinks my does are pregnant when they are just a few months fresh, because they have big barrels. This is a GOOD thing.
My younger siblings showed my goats a few years ago at a local open show. Every class the judge asked if the fresh does were pregnant. I finally walked over to her during a break and assured her that nothing they were showing had been fresh longer than two months and NONE were bred! I don't think this "judge" was used to looking at real goats!

[Doug Hodges]

Maybe good barrels. But they look fatter in person.

[Doug Hodges]

AND we got double pics again.

[ozark_jewels]

I don't think they look too fat in any way. I wouldn't want them putting on much more behind the elbows or over the ribs, but they look good at this point.