[rd200]

Just wondering if everyone feeds grain to a lactating doe. I am getting her tomorrow- she's producing about 3/4 of a gallon a day on 2 lbs of grain mix.
I so far have for her to eat........
* Plenty of browse including lots of weeds, brush, grass, small trees
* New seeding Oat hay. About 70% oats, 30% alfalfa
* Thorvin Kelp
Still need to purchase Good quality Mineral and some grain if she needs some. I am getting about 20lbs from the lady where she's coming from to help transition her over to my feed.
Do I need to feed her grain though? I would rather skip the grain all together or just feed an Alfalfa pellet on the milking stand. Is that nutritionally okay? I was thinking since I have a little oats in the hay and kelp and good browse and mineral....that should be okay???
What do you think?
Or maybe just some oats mixed with Alfalfa pellets and some Coconut oil or Safflower oil?

 

[ksalvagno]

If you want to keep her milk production up, then you need to feed grain. If it doesn't matter, then try not feeding grain and see how it goes. Slowly drop her grain amount since any quick change in diet can affect them.

 

[mjs500doo]

You'll see a drop in production initially as you get her, but without grain she'll stay lower in production. If you're not so lucky to see the drop in production, that doe is going to milk herself to bones. She needs that extra grain if you'd like more milk and a better cover over your doe.

 

[toth boer goats]

I agree, feeding grain helps production dramatically.

 

[rd200]

Okay, thanks for replies. Grain it is!!!! I don't want her to milk herself thin, which I should know that being a cow person and all that's what cows do if they aren't fed properly.

 

[BarrelRacer]

yes there is stuff in goat grain that they need like copper etc. ...

 

[mjs500doo]

Okay, thanks for replies. Grain it is!!!! I don't want her to milk herself thin, which I should know that being a cow person and all that's what cows do if they aren't fed properly.

Absolutely! People (not saying you or anyone here at all), but like my cousin for example, or my ex-landlord. They always complain on how thin the goats are. My reply-they're dairy goats. You WANT to see those hips and pins. Feminine, clean cut, angular, open ribs, etc. They look sick! Me (face palm): ever seen a dairy cow? Her: yes, they're sickly too.

Ugh. Sometimes you just can't win. Lol

 

[ThreeHavens]

No, you don't actually, as long as they are getting the right hay. My does produced beautifully on high quality 2nd cutting NY grass hay, and as much alfalfa pellets as they wanted on the stand. There was no drop in production when I switched from the grain to this. I have Nigerians, but my Lamancha first freshener still gave over a gallon a day when I switched her from grain to this diet. There was only a bit of a change in production, but over a gallon a day was still good enough for me, haha!

This year, my production suffered, since we could not find the high quality hay, and they spent most of the year eating last year's hay, and Timothy. Ugh.

If you want to go grainless, you have to buy the best hay you can. That is my experience. I prefer feeding grass hay and alfalfa pellets, it's a simple diet and I found my goats were less burpy and gassy afterwards. One doe who was prone to a bit of bloat, never got bloat again after the diet change.

 

[MsScamp]

I don't know about lactating does that you are milking, but I do have several dairy does that raise some pretty darned good kids with just good quality grass/alfalfa hay.

 

[Marekaelie]

Absolutely! People (not saying you or anyone here at all), but like my cousin for example, or my ex-landlord. They always complain on how thin the goats are. My reply-they're dairy goats. You WANT to see those hips and pins. Feminine, clean cut, angular, open ribs, etc. They look sick! Me (face palm): ever seen a dairy cow? Her: yes, they're sickly too.

Ugh. Sometimes you just can't win. Lol

Thanks for that.! I am always so scared to see my babies thin out. Then i see them fatter and something isn't right! ahahah!