[2BigGoats]

Hi, I have two alpine bucks and was wondering if I will need to feed them grain or alfalfa pellets? I have read things that say not to feed grain because it will cause urinary stones. Thanks for the help!

 

[NigerianDwarfOwner707]

It's all about balance.

IMO, if they are in good weight and over 6 months old, they do not need grain.

Alfalfa depends on your water source - if you have hard high calcium water, alfalfa may not be the best choice.

https://thegivinggoat.home.blog/2020/08/18/diets-for-male-goats-how-to-prevent-urinary-calculi/

 

[NigerianNewbie]

Hi, I have two alpine bucks and was wondering if I will need to feed them grain or alfalfa pellets? I have read things that say not to feed grain because it will cause urinary stones. Thanks for the help!

Are they adult goats, which type hay are you feeding and how much browse will they be eating when it greens up again?

 

[2BigGoats]

Right now they're little and being bottle fed, but once they are weened and much older they will be eating alfalfa along with being grass fed at free choice. We do have high calcium water too.

 

[NigerianNewbie]

I fed my wethers a 2.2:1 cal to pho ratio feed (grain) until things greened up mid spring. The feed was non textured and unmedicated pellets carried by Southern States brands. They were 14 and 15 months old at the time and were slowly weaned off grain (feed pellets) to only browse, grass hay and alfalfa pellets as their mainstay diet. They are and will be 3 years old this April.

 

[NigerianDwarfOwner707]

I fed my wethers a 2.2 cal to pho ratio feed (grain) until things greened up mid spring. The feed was non textured and unmedicated pellets carried by Southern States brands. They were 14 and 15 months old at the time and were slowly weaned off grain (feed pellets) to only browse, grass hay and alfalfa pellets as their mainstay diet. They are and will be 3 years old this April.

Do you mean 2.2:1 or 2:2?

 

[jodane]

I you want to feed your bucks grain, which I don't think there's any harm in a little bit of it. I give my bucks a handful of grain daily. Then give them ammonium Chloride additive in the grain. You can purchase a 5# bag for 16.99 off Amazon here's the url link for what I buy https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L212R3E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I dose 1/2 tsp per 100# with every feeding of grain. This will acidify the urine and hopefully stop the development of any urinary calculi stones.

 

[goatblessings]

I feed babies grain - with ammonium chloride in the the mix until they are a year old. Also free choice hay, loose minerals and of course coccidia prevention and fecal checks. I don't feed a lot, just enough for good body condition and growth.