Grain free Goats?

Swissy Baroo · #1 09/29/13, 08:07 PM

I was simply doing google searches on grain free goats, got a lot of mixed answers - some saying it's impossible and some saying it is. Even found a website that says they do "no feed NO soy/corn/cotton products.. no pelleted feed, concentrates or pre- mixes" So obviously it is possible, as people are successfully doing it... But my question is.. how? Trying to find answers i come up empty handed- just a bunch of debates on if it's possible.

What i did come up with is:
Pasture (obviously)
Grass-hay or Alpha hay - during winters when pasture isn't able to be used
BOSS (Black oil Sunflower seeds) I'm assuming this is for the grains?

I will be honest - completely clueless with Goats. I'm still in the process of researching them. But i figure i might as well figure out all the best possible ways to raise them before i even try to raise them myself.

This is the website of the grain free goats: http://www.agesagoacresnubians.com

ADD: And this is for Milking Goats - also read it had to do with genetics and selecting the right goats to be grain free

SeaGoat · #2 09/29/13, 08:32 PM

I can't remember the last time I bought feed for my goats.
They are in an area where they have plenty of browse but do get minerals

They won't have enough browse this winter so I plan on feeding hay as well

But I do not milk. I have a doe feeding a kid just fine though

gunsmithgirl · #3 09/29/13, 08:58 PM

It doesn't say grain free just GMO-Free.

Quote:

We are a GMO free herd (we feed NO soy/corn/cotton products.. no pelleted feed, concentrates or pre- mixes)

I could say that about my herd since I only feed organic oats and boss. Grain-Free and GMO-Free are 2 totally diffrent things. Also says they feed grass hay no alfalfa. I also feed grass hay, did so since GMO alfalfa was approved. My herd does well with it but they also get rotational grazing on lots of dense browse.

Wish I could cut grain out completely, but I have no idea how I could get some of them to behave on a milk stand with no grain.

Alice In TX/MO · #4 09/29/13, 08:59 PM

SMALL amounts of Black Oil Sunflower Seeds for shiny coats.

Oats for grain.

yarrow · #5 09/29/13, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swissy Baroo

I was simply doing google searches on grain free goats, got a lot of mixed answers - some saying it's impossible and some saying it is. Even found a website that says they do "no feed NO soy/corn/cotton products.. no pelleted feed, concentrates or pre- mixes" So obviously it is possible, as people are successfully doing it... But my question is.. how? Trying to find answers i come up empty handed- just a bunch of debates on if it's possible.

What i did come up with is:
Pasture (obviously)
Grass-hay or Alpha hay - during winters when pasture isn't able to be used
BOSS (Black oil Sunflower seeds) I'm assuming this is for the grains?

I will be honest - completely clueless with Goats. I'm still in the process of researching them. But i figure i might as well figure out all the best possible ways to raise them before i even try to raise them myself.

This is the website of the grain free goats: http://www.agesagoacresnubians.com

ADD: And this is for Milking Goats - also read it had to do with genetics and selecting the right goats to be grain free

LOL.. I was getting ready to correct that to GMO free when I saw one of you guys had already caught it... That's my website you quoted.. we actually DO feed grain.. in the form of WHOLE OATS.. and black oil sunflower seeds.. there was a time, years ago that we pumped them full of corn, beet pulp, pelleted goat ration.. just got to the point of not wanting all of that in my girls anymore.. It was a bit scary.. I was afraid they'd be skinny and not milk at all.. or we'd have issues at kidding season.. NEITHER happened.. BUT>. along with those oats/sunflower seeds... is UNLIMITED high quality local grass hay (the nicest/highest protein hay I can find to purchase)...the doe herd also goes out to browswe every day of the year (we live in the ozarks, our winters are not overly cold/nor long.. even in winter they fill up everyday on fallen oak leaves/acorns & persimmons).. we also bump up the calcium via top dressing..
different herds/different breeds/different parts of the country call all have an effect on how well a herd will do with the less is more approach when it comes to bagged grains/feed.

susie, mo ozarks

IndyGardenGal · #6 09/29/13, 09:32 PM

They are great GMO-free goats too!

IndyGardenGal · #7 09/29/13, 09:39 PM

And I just went to your updated page. Three looks gorgeous!

Swissy Baroo · #8 09/29/13, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yarrow

LOL.. I was getting ready to correct that to GMO free when I saw one of you guys had already caught it... That's my website you quoted.. we actually DO feed grain.. in the form of WHOLE OATS.. and black oil sunflower seeds.. there was a time, years ago that we pumped them full of corn, beet pulp, pelleted goat ration.. just got to the point of not wanting all of that in my girls anymore.. It was a bit scary.. I was afraid they'd be skinny and not milk at all.. or we'd have issues at kidding season.. NEITHER happened.. BUT>. along with those oats/sunflower seeds... is UNLIMITED high quality local grass hay (the nicest/highest protein hay I can find to purchase)...the doe herd also goes out to browswe every day of the year (we live in the ozarks, our winters are not overly cold/nor long.. even in winter they fill up everyday on fallen oak leaves/acorns & persimmons).. we also bump up the calcium via top dressing..
different herds/different breeds/different parts of the country call all have an effect on how well a herd will do with the less is more approach when it comes to bagged grains/feed.

susie, mo ozarks

Oh! I had no idea you were on here, too. Thanks for answering! Very much appreciated! I did know GMO was different then grain free, but from a topic off here they said you did do grain free, so i just assumed it was true

Here is what i found when i did google, off this site just didn't know you were on of here, too: http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/liv...ree-stock.html

This is the topic about grain free, which she has claimed to work: http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/liv...er-update.html

Copperhead · #9 09/30/13, 03:27 AM

We raise meat goats, mostly grain free. If all goes well, 2014 will be completely grain free (better seasonal breeding, no winter kids)

Our boys get no grain. At all. From spring thaw to August, they are on brushy pasture with the ladies. From August to November, they are either on a separate brushy pasture or placed on a dry paddock with hay. The Ladies, replacement doelings, and Pygmy wether stay on pasture from March to November. In November, all the goats come home to the dry paddocks and hay to start the breeding season. Any wethers are sold as free-range, pasture fed meat. If the bucks loose weight from the rut or from worms, they do receive a 50/50 mix of Alfalfa Pellets & BOSS to supplement their hay until they regain their weight.

In the past, a Doe that kidded during the Nov-Mar winter would receive a grain ration to help produce milk.

We do separate and wean the kids from the does at 8 weeks to keep the does from loosing too much weight and condition. Since the goats spend the majority of their time (March/April to November) on a 20 acre pasture with very little human interaction, we corral and remove the mothers for 3-4 weeks while allowing the kids to continue to browse with the herd.

Thus far, we have only been getting 1 breeding per year. Next year, we hope to get two complete kiddings from the Does.

Frosted Mini's · #10 09/30/13, 03:33 AM

What you need is NIGERIAN DWARF goats!

I do not feed mine any grain. They just get alfalfa hay at night, pasture in the daytime, minerals, and on the milkstand I keep them busy with alfalfa pellets. That's it! They milk great and they're FAT! I am milking 2 Nigerians right now, one peaked at over 5 lbs (6 year old doe), one over 4 lbs (2 year old doe).

Clovers_Clan · #11 09/30/13, 06:42 AM

I have done commercial meat goats in the past grain and hay(nearly so) free. However, I live in the South and have several acres good browse year around. Does where bred once per year for spring kidding. Never had a problem with kidding(except one exceptionally large buck kid) or dams producing enough(even with triplets). All kids were sold as weanlings. Everyone got free choice mineral and baking soda(vital). I'm sure grain would have put more finish on those destined for meat. I left that for the buyers to choose. There is an ethnic market here, so most were the highlight of a family event next day, so to speak.

Now I have dairy goats and have found it does take more inputs to support their lactations. Figuratively, and sometimes literally

, they put their bodies in the bucket. They need the added calories during lactation and need a bit of a buffer going into gestation. Mine are on the same browse and while on the stand get alfalfa pellets, a little beet pulp, oats and BOSS.

Swissy Baroo · #12 09/30/13, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosted Mini's

What you need is NIGERIAN DWARF goats!

I do not feed mine any grain. They just get alfalfa hay at night, pasture in the daytime, minerals, and on the milkstand I keep them busy with alfalfa pellets. That's it! They milk great and they're FAT! I am milking 2 Nigerians right now, one peaked at over 5 lbs (6 year old doe), one over 4 lbs (2 year old doe).

Okay thank you! That is really great to know. I've also heard those are the goats to pick from, even heard of some heritage goats that could be good.

Swissy Baroo · #13 09/30/13, 08:18 AM

Are alfalfa pellets GMO? It seemed earlier this year (2013) there was a big company debating switching to GMO (Standlee). I'm sure not all of them are, does anyone know which brands stay away from GMO?

Hollowdweller · #14 09/30/13, 09:43 AM

I have this friend who has almost no money and he feeds his goats maybe a cup of grain a day at most.

He has milked them as long as 2 or 3 years with out re breeding.

Where he lives there is nobody around and woods so he essentially fences the goats out of his house and garden and they can go anywhere.

During the late summer they may give as much as 3/4 gallon a day and then in the winter maybe a pint or half a pint each.

The key was he started out with a bunch of goats and then the ones that could not live in this sort of survival situation died. Then he bred the ones that lived together to sort of develop a strain that could live on very little grain or outside stuff.

Only thing is initially your mortality will be very high.

Also if you choose to breed the goats every year rather than keep milking them the mortality will go up because it is very hard to have a goat kid every year on this sort of diet, but it is not too hard to have a goat milk for years on end.

KrisD · #15 09/30/13, 11:40 AM

Yes some alfalfa is GMO.

dozedotz · #16 09/30/13, 01:29 PM

Just a caution. If you truly want to be GMO free (just like some folks want to eat only organic) then you better be sure about what you are buying. Honestly, it is VERY hard to find food that is truly organic and food that is totally GMO free just because the seller says so. It is just too expensive and there is just so much waste for the farmer. It doesn't usually look like those photos in Mother Earth either; it often is "moth eaten" (so to speak). You need to be very aware of exactly where the hay/food came from and how it was raised. If you completely know and trust the person raising the crops then great! Otherwise, be very careful. Individuals have been known to make claims that they feel are perfectly reasonable (just like BIG companies that claim "natural" "organic" etc.) and may have some rationale for their claims, but are NOT producing what you think they are selling.
If you feed just BOSS and whole oats on the stand, you will probably be safe. Alfalfa is another story...same with pellets. If you have lots of good browse (leaves, acorns, wild fruits...like Susie) NOT just grass, you will probably be fine on the animals weight and condition so long as you include minerals or supplements. If you do not have browse, or if you are raising goats dry lot, then I would think that you will have a problem. That's my opinion but it is conditional because lots of people are in the process of experimenting with new ways to raise goats that show signs of success! Time will tell.

Swissy Baroo · #17 09/30/13, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dozedotz

Just a caution. If you truly want to be GMO free (just like some folks want to eat only organic) then you better be sure about what you are buying. Honestly, it is VERY hard to find food that is truly organic and food that is totally GMO free just because the seller says so. It is just too expensive and there is just so much waste for the farmer. It doesn't usually look like those photos in Mother Earth either; it often is "moth eaten" (so to speak). You need to be very aware of exactly where the hay/food came from and how it was raised. If you completely know and trust the person raising the crops then great! Otherwise, be very careful. Individuals have been known to make claims that they feel are perfectly reasonable (just like BIG companies that claim "natural" "organic" etc.) and may have some rationale for their claims, but are NOT producing what you think they are selling.
If you feed just BOSS and whole oats on the stand, you will probably be safe. Alfalfa is another story...same with pellets. If you have lots of good browse (leaves, acorns, wild fruits...like Susie) NOT just grass, you will probably be fine on the animals weight and condition so long as you include minerals or supplements. If you do not have browse, or if you are raising goats dry lot, then I would think that you will have a problem. That's my opinion but it is conditional because lots of people are in the process of experimenting with new ways to raise goats that show signs of success! Time will tell.

Thank you, will definitely make note of that! The whole reason i want to raise my own meat is because of that very thing you stated - can't really trust things anymore. But i want to make sure 100% that i'm feeding my animals as healthy as possible, why i'm trying to make the switch to raise my own animals! Thank you very much and of course a big thanks to everyone who has answered!

Pony · #18 09/30/13, 07:21 PM

We still feed alfalfa pellets along with oats, BOSS, and high-quality non-GMO alfalfa hay. The pellets will soon be gone, as I don't trust companies unless they sign in blood that they're not using Roundup Ready crops.

The problem I have is that I am so indoctrinated to the feed bag, it's hard to wean myself off of giving it to the girls. Grrr! A childhood spent watching cartoons with Ralston-Purina commercials has my brain trained. <sigh>

GreenMomma · #19 09/30/13, 08:07 PM

I do still feed some alfalfa pellets, but am weaning *myself* off of commercial feeds. Something that keeps my goats busy on the milk stand is my "collected browse". I have no idea what I shoud call it, but in the mornings on most days I'll rake up leaves under my oaks. There are acorns, leaves and a bunch of stuff to pick through. I dump a muck bucket of that in each paddock for goats and hogs. They have the best time rooting around through it all and picking out what they want.

In the bucket on the milk stand there will be plenty of leaves and stuff left, but just dump it out in their paddock to make nice mulch eventually. Keeps them busy, is free and organic

Plus they love it like they they love anything else in a bucket so they hop right up for it.

Clovers_Clan · #20 09/30/13, 11:23 PM

If you are trying to limit grain, or any commercial inputs as much as possible, I highly recommend a forage garden. You can either rotate it seasonally or hand feed. I live in Georgia and it is simply amazing how much good quality browse you can grow in a small space using buck plot seed, especially in winter. I rotate my annual vegetable garden with the goat forage garden, the system improves my vegetables as well by reducing insect pests and improved soil. And I use portable chicken pens to fertilize and till. My 150'x 200' garden sustains 3-4 weanlings during the summer months(no other feed). I let the bucks and horse crop it low in the fall, then reseed. By the time everything dies back in the pasture, I have a good buck plot growing in the garden and horse paddock that will feed the does through the winter, along with any overgrown privet/bramble areas I let grow up during summer. Its easy to just experiment with a bag of buck plot seed suited to your area. Most don't require drilling