feeding goats for butcher

[creeklady2000]

I have several wethers i am feeding up for butchering this fall, they are getting agood goat grain it is a mix my amish mill makes up as we are over a hour away from any other feed stores they gt free choice grass mix hay loose goat minerals and a salt block as well they look good! but that being said they seem to eating alot of grain to keep them looking this good what do you feed your growing youngsters and still keep them a little on the meaty side for butchering i would like to find a more natural way so they are not consuming so much grain??

Good for you for raising your extra wethers for your freezer instead of selling them all as breeding bucks!

My kids are dam raised and growing great with no grain. I do provide Alfalfa and browse for all along with loose mineral. I find Alfalfa provides all of the protein they need for growth and have not fed grain for a couple of years now. There is still an expense for the alfalfa if that is what you are looking to remove, but they can be raised without feeding actual bagged grain. The longer they are fed milk, the better they will grow. I generally like 5 months or so. Depends on what size you want them at.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I don't feed extra to wethers destined for the freezer. They get good grass hay and a moderate amount of a combination of alfalfa pellets and pelleted goat feed.

In general, a loose mineral is better for goats than block minerals. They have smooth tongues (as opposed to a rough tongued cow), and they can't get enough mineral easily.

[mammabooh]

This is my first year raising boys for meat. They are being dam-raised. So, they get all the milk their dams provide (I don't need it) and get a bit of whole oats, all the pasture they desire, and crappy hay. They also have access to Right Now Onyx minerals. They are 4 1/2 months old, and I hope to butcher in October or November.

[creeklady2000]

I was thinking of adding alfalfa pellets to there diet and whole oats, i catn get alfalfa hay around here as it goes to the dairy's and if i could i could never affored it as they would want way to much for it but they do get a good grass hay mix

[Alice In TX/MO]

Remember if you are overfeeding, they will be fat. You want to slow grow meat.

[creeklady2000]

I do understand that Alice I am not looking for fat kid's just meaty ones ,, i was going to get alfalfa pellets for my older horse any how so i can set some of them out for the goats i have fed them before to my milkers with there grain some will eat them and some will not ,,

[Frosted Mini's]

My meat kids get milk, pasture, and alfalfa pellets. That's all. I usually don't even give them coccidia prevention or deworming. And they have grown very well for me.