Goat Feed

[Fool]

Hi all. Hope this is the correct place to post.

I have just bought some wether goats (Nubians) but have heard all sorts of conflicting information about feed.

I was advised to use this feed by goat farmer: https://www.smallholderfeed.co.uk/products/goats/all-round-goat-mix/
And it says on the bag to feed 0.5-1kg a day.
I have been giving 0.5 kg to each goat (as well as providing hay)

I am a bit worried about some information online though. They say too much feed can cause urinary calculi in castrated goats.

I have also, per farmer’s instructions, been mixing this mineral with food:
https://gnltd.co.uk/products/caprivite-2kg-bucket-vitamin-mineral-feed-supplement-for-goats

However, some online posts have said this isn’t right, and that mineral should always be provided. But when I contacted the man selling the minerals, he said not to leave them out, as they degrade in light.

I really am so confused. If anyone can help and not make fun of my stupidity, that would be great.

 

[haymaker80]

Hi all. Hope this is the correct place to post.

I have just bought some wether goats (Nubians) but have heard all sorts of conflicting information about feed.

I was advised to use this feed by goat farmer: https://www.smallholderfeed.co.uk/products/goats/all-round-goat-mix/
And it says on the bag to feed 0.5-1kg a day.
I have been giving 0.5 kg to each goat (as well as providing hay)

I am a bit worried about some information online though. They say too much feed can cause urinary calculi in castrated goats.

I have also, per farmer’s instructions, been mixing this mineral with food:
https://gnltd.co.uk/products/caprivite-2kg-bucket-vitamin-mineral-feed-supplement-for-goats

However, some online posts have said this isn’t right, and that mineral should always be provided. But when I contacted the man selling the minerals, he said not to leave them out, as they degrade in light.

I really am so confused. If anyone can help and not make fun of my stupidity, that would be great.

The goat mix you are feeding already contains minerals and vitamins so you shouldn't need to feed any other minerals. The caprivite looks like it is a product for people who use raw materials to make their own goat mix.

Don't know much about urinary calculi but did read that feed should have a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 2.5 to 1 which your goat mix provides. The ratio in caprivite is 1.5 so may make things worse rather than better?

Are you fattening the goats to eat or keeping them as pets? If they are pets 0.5kg a day of feed should be plenty, especially if they are at grass.

 

[Lili]

The feed looks fine as there is no sugar beet in it which is what I was always told caused bladder problems in goats. You shouldn't need to feed a mineral mix as there will be ample minerals in the feed, but instead I would get a mineral salt block ( the little yellow Rockies by Tithebarn are good for goats) and the goats will just help themselves. The amount you are feeding is plenty for wether goats. Watch out that they don't get too fat.

 

[Fool]

The goat mix you are feeding already contains minerals and vitamins so you shouldn't need to feed any other minerals. The caprivite looks like it is a product for people who use raw materials to make their own goat mix.

Don't know much about urinary calculi but did read that feed should have a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 2.5 to 1 which your goat mix provides. The ratio in caprivite is 1.5 so may make things worse rather than better?

Are you fattening the goats to eat or keeping them as pets? If they are pets 0.5kg a day of feed should be plenty, especially if they are at grass.

Thank you for your response. I’d checked the feed but hadn’t thought of checking the mineral for calcium to phosphorous.

Do you think it would be best to stop using the caprivite and simply provide them with feed? I’ll contact my vet tomorrow and see what she thinks as well. I’ve (as farmer said) been dividing a dessert spoon with mineral on per day. I have to admit, I hadn’t realised feeding goats was so complicated.

They’re just pets, and yes they have been having some grass.

 

[Fool]

The feed looks fine as there is no sugar beet in it which is what I was always told caused bladder problems in goats. You shouldn't need to feed a mineral mix as there will be ample minerals in the feed, but instead I would get a mineral salt block ( the little yellow Rockies by Tithebarn are good for goats) and the goats will just help themselves. The amount you are feeding is plenty for wether goats. Watch out that they don't get too fat.

Yes, thank you, I have been worried about overfeeding them I will see what works best and avoid giving them too much, especially as they spend more time outside.

Is this the block you were talking about? I would need to send for it as I don’t know if my local shop provides.
https://www.millbryhill.co.uk/pets-...MIop-muNCn4gIVFeDtCh2NJgFZEAQYAiABEgKT0fD_BwE
Would I just give them the block and leave them to have as much as they want?

Thank you for answering.

 

[Lili]

That's the block but you should be able to get one about the size of a small brick 2 kg in weight "Baby yellow rockie" ( for 2 goats the big ones will take some getting through!) Try the rockies.co.uk website and you should be able to find your nearest stockist. We always left a block with them all the time.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Know nothing about concentrates but I do know that goats love Lucerne and thrive on it . I would put it as a no 1 feed

 

[Damomc]

We have around 500 goats and we have had quiet a few issues with urinary calculi in our castrated goats. Treat your goats like mini beef not sheep as the goats need copper in there diet . The blend we use is bassed on a beef rear blend and we have ammonium chloried added to the blend in order to stop stones forming in the bladder.
Also make sure they have acess to lots of clean fresh water as this helps alot with flushing the bladder.also put salt blocks out to encourage them to drink more water. As for silage we find that thay do best on haylage thats gone abit storkey. As Forage trader says they love Lucerne but your bank account wont!!

 

[Gulli]

Thank you for your response. I’d checked the feed but hadn’t thought of checking the mineral for calcium to phosphorous.

Do you think it would be best to stop using the caprivite and simply provide them with feed? I’ll contact my vet tomorrow and see what she thinks as well. I’ve (as farmer said) been dividing a dessert spoon with mineral on per day. I have to admit, I hadn’t realised feeding goats was so complicated.

They’re just pets, and yes they have been having some grass.

If they have access to grass and hay I wouldn't worry about feeding anything else unless you are fattening them or milking them

 

[Beef farmer]

Goats live in the most hostile parts of the world, and thrive. Feeding them is just feeding a feed firm

 

[Deereone]

@Goatherderess ?

 

[Goatherderess]

If they are wethers they should be fine on grass if you have enough with a red rocky lick and maybe a mineral lick plus hay at night. I'd cut the hard feed down slowly (if they are used to it, best to take it down a bit each day) and perhaps end up giving them a handful in the evening to keep them tame and biddable!

 

[pipkins]

I was going to say red Rockie too rather than yellow. They'll enjoy a Himalayan rock salt lick too. I've lost a pet goat to urinary calculi in the past so I'm really cautious about hard feed but they do have a bit to keep them friendly. I use one of the horsey alfalfa chaffs, they have herbs and a few nuts mixed in. I've also used grass nuts and alfalfa pellets, I prefer to soak them though to reduce the risk of choke. The goat mixes are generally full of sweeties but I used to feed them when I had old, female goats.

 

[Fool]

Hi everyone!

Thank you for responding. I will either go to the shops tomorrow to see if they have any salt licks or order some online.

The thing is, while the fencing is being done, I haven’t been letting the goats out properly. I’ve just been walking them on leash. I did so for about 15-30 minutes today. So, should I still be giving feed? Doesn’t the feed provide things like copper, which they need? I am thinking about stopping giving it to them altogether, or reducing the amount.

Thanks again.

 

[Goatherderess]

Horsey places will have the red rockies (small size like bricks) as well as Ag stores who might just stock the big ones. Red rockies contain copper