feed amounts

[Bubbas Boys]

We are looking into how much we feed and want some opinions. I will start by saying they look and act great. We have 3 Nubian does that were born in January or 2013. We have figured that we are giving just under 1/2 lb of grain a day per goat as well as about an average of 10 bales a month of high quality pure alfalfa hay. Does this amount sound right at allow. A friend of ours feed a ton more grain but less hay and really poor hay in my opinion. Thanks.

[parrotman]

I would say you pretty much answered your own question by saying that your goats look and act great.
Depending upon the goat and it's purpose, along with the quality of the food, that will determine what works for you and your animals.
For every goat owner out there you will find that many opinions as to what is appropriate and not. Correct is what works for you.

[dozedotz]

Many breeders feed grain to young, growing does along with good hay. Sounds like that is working well for you, too! Later they only feed the grain when the girls are in milk. Here we offer grain when boys or girls are looking too thin (which my goat mentors assure me that ours never look too thin!! lol). Anyway, the point being that they do not in my and others opinion need grain on a non-milking or non-rut time of the year when they are not using lots of extra calories to produce milk to chase girls. I do want to add that we have a ton of woodsy pasture, lots of acorns in the fall that really fatten everyone up. In your case whatever your situation (dry lot, grass pasture, woods, etc.) it appears that you and your goats are happy and healthy. That's the winning formula right there!