Im looking for opinions on when and if to give my bucks AC. We have no whethers at this time but kidding season starts in 2 weeks and I will have to decide who becomes a whether at that point. I bought 2.5 lbs of AC from jeffers to keep on hand. I have read where some people give it every day on their grain and others just when there is a problem. We have never had an issue with stones and I stopped giving my bucks grain because they get so aggressive on it where when they dont have grain all 3 are very nice bucks. Would you recommend giving a little feed daily and top dress with the AC or add it in their water or dont give any till we see a problem. I do put apple cider vineger in their water and they have pasture and mixed grass hay all the time. Opinions?
kristinatucker
Ammonium Chloride and bucks/whethers
wood haven, what type of mineral are you using? I just looked at sweetlix, onyx, and chs 16:8 and didn't see it listed on any of the three.
I top dress a little grain every other day with it. I don't add it to the minerals because he seems to rarely eat the minerals so this way I know for sure he gets it. Like Woodhavenfarm said, better safe than sorry.
shoot i just went to look up manna pro content online and under all the search options is said this may harm your computer and when clicked on details I got this;;http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/...wsing/diagnostic?site=http://www.mannapro.com/products/calf-manna/cattle/&hl=en
They do have a loose mineral but Im not sure if it has it in it. I will check. They lick it up faster than I can keep it out there. If I were to add it to their loose minerals do you think that would be a bad idea? I dont know how I would figure out how much to add to their minerals. I really hate to give them grain because they get so pushy on it and fight so much more. Off grain they are best buddies. Maybe if I just do it every other day they wont be so worked up about it.
Okay, I think that would be easiest all around. So its not super critical in the amount? I would say their feeder holds about 2 cups of minerals
I don't have any wethers currently. But I do add apple cider vinegar to water for my bucks and have never needed to use AC. Personally, I believe in a holistic approach and try my best to never use chemicals unless absolutely necessary. If you don't have wethers, I wouldn't use the AC unless for treatment. Prevention through dietary means is always the best. As a sidenote for wethers - I have other goat owner friends with wethers and they use a cranberry mash once a week with their food and say they have never had a problem.
I would prefer to stay as holistic as possible also. I was hoping to just have it on hand for emergency situations like a blockage and Im hoping the ACV is good to keep them stone free! I like the idea of the cranberry. I wil have to look at that too! Thanks!
The best thing you can do for wethers' urinary tract health is to make sure their feed rations have the correct balance of Calcium and Phosphorus: 2/1 to 3/1, and feed them little to no grain after one year of age. The dosage for ammonium chloride that I have found is 1/4 tsp per 50# per day. I mix it into a scant 1/4 C grain with a little agave nectar to make sure it gets into them. Both their grain and their minerals have added ammonium chloride, but my vet said it really isn't enough to make a difference, so advised me to add the regular dose to their diet.
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