Alfalfa Pellets Question

uncleotis · #1 12/27/14, 08:55 PM

Several years ago I fed alfalfa pellets to my doe when I was milking her, trouble is that's been several years ago and now I can't remember how much to feed.

She was just bred two weeks ago would someone please give me some advice on how much pellets to give her from now until she kids, and even how much to give her once I'm milking her again. She is also getting grass hay.

Thank you.

Backfourty,MI. · #2 12/28/14, 07:05 AM

A handful or so a day right now would probably be plenty but we feed a grass/alfalfa mix hay so mine aren't getting any alfalfa pellets right now.
I do feed them on the milkstand though & they get as much as they want on the milkstand here.

Alice In TX/MO · #3 12/28/14, 10:43 AM

Increase slowly, whatever you do.

You will probably be able to tell when she has enough. She won't clean her plate.

**mygoat** · #4 12/28/14, 10:53 AM

If you check the other 'feed recipes' thread, I list out what I feed.

I do not add alfalfa pellets into the feed until after they kid and are lactating.

My does lactate until 2 months before they are due, then I dry them up. For the first 2-4 weeks, they get nothing besides hay. (On a high quality hay) For the last 4-6 weeks, they get an increasing grain ration. How soon I start depends on body condition and how wide they are. During this time, I also pretend to milk the FF'ers so that they are used to the milking routine when they freshen, works great. After kidding I add in the alfalfa pellets. While excess calcium may not affect goats as much as it does cattle (no research that I've ever seen, but it is mentioned in Goat Medicine as an observation), feeding excess calcium during times when they do NOT need a lot (dry period) can cause calcium homeostasis problems and actually cause hypocalcemia at parturition. Hypocalcemia is commonly called a calcium deficiency, which is somewhat accurate - it is most usually a calcium metabolism problem, which is regulated buy absorption rates in the gut as well as hormonally controlled as calcium sequestration/release from bone supplies.

Of course on the other hand, maximizing your forage quality in late gestation helps with reducing ketosis problems, which is an energy deficiency. Usually to do so, we add in alfalfa hay because that's usually some of the best hay available. I personally stick to mostly grass or a high percentage of grass if possible, but I still buy good hay for late gestation/early lactation animals, depending on what is available.

uncleotis · #5 12/28/14, 08:50 PM

Thank you all for your answers to my questions.

Thank you mygoat for your explanation of how you feed.

Pony · #6 01/01/15, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

Increase slowly, whatever you do.

You will probably be able to tell when she has enough. She won't clean her plate.

LOL! A goat not clean her plate?

Pony · #7 01/01/15, 06:21 AM

I feed alfalfa daily. More when they're on the stand.

Everyone gets a handful 2x a day.

But that's me and mine. We all feed differently.

Alice In TX/MO · #8 01/01/15, 09:07 AM

My goats will leave alfalfa pellets when they are full.

motdaugrnds · #9 01/03/15, 08:36 AM

ROFL My goats will leave "some" of the alfalfa pellets when they are NOT full simply because they don't like the smell/taste of some of those pellets.

Pony · #10 01/03/15, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

My goats will leave alfalfa pellets when they are full.

I'm afraid to find out what constitutes "full" in my herd...

**mygoat** · #11 01/03/15, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony

I'm afraid to find out what constitutes "full" in my herd...

Sounds 'spensive to me.

Pony · #12 01/03/15, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mygoat

Sounds 'spensive to me.

LOL, yeah, that's why they gets what they gets, and no amount of bellyachin' and whinin' will get them a crumb more.

Frosted Mini's · #13 01/03/15, 01:59 PM

My goats get free choice alfalfa pellets. They are only slightly more expensive than hay here, and no waste.

Pony · #14 01/03/15, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosted Mini's

My goats get free choice alfalfa pellets. They are only slightly more expensive than hay here, and no waste.

Now I have a question: Do the pellets provide sufficient roughage to keep rumens rumbling along?

KrisD · #15 01/05/15, 11:55 AM

No, they still need long stem fiber for proper rumen function.

**mygoat** · #16 01/05/15, 12:09 PM

I think pellets alone would work just fine. Pretty sure 'long stem fiber' is on a very small scale. Ruminants chew their cud to cut up the food as little as possible to provide as much surface area for the cellulytic bacteria to work as possible. If I had no other cheaper option, I'd do all pellets if I had to. As it is, we get large high quality round bales for around 50.00, way cheaper than feeding straight pellet.

MDKatie · #17 01/05/15, 01:14 PM

Gotta remember too though, that the more cud chewing=more salivation=more rumen buffering. Probably they'd do ok on just pellets, but IMO, hay is better and provides better rumen health.

Frosted Mini's · #18 01/07/15, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony

Now I have a question: Do the pellets provide sufficient roughage to keep rumens rumbling along?

I feed hay along with the pellets (or pasture), because I feel like they need it. But I do know of a few people who have done pellets only successfully. I just wonder about the health and longevity of doing so. I bet you could get by in a winter with pellets only though, if necessary.