I would like to learn how to better understand how to pick a good pelleted goat food. What kind of things do you look for on a feed bag label that would show you a food is good or not?
How to Know a Good Goat Food
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Purina goat grower has a good balance. Look up the label.
Tractor supply has it.
Tractor supply has it.
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This is what I've been giving my girls. At first the name got me - thought maybe it was just for babies, but did some research and it says all types/ages of goats. The girls only get a cup in the morning and I've had no issues, used it for going on 3 years now. TSC has it and has a great price with it on sale a lot, too.
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I'm really looking to learn what makes a goat food good so that I can understand not just that a food is good, but why. 🙂
What should be balanced in it?
What should I be looking for the ingredient list to say or not say?
Above what levels should certain minerals and vitamins be?
What about things like fat and fiber percentages? How do I know how those relate?
What should be balanced in it?
What should I be looking for the ingredient list to say or not say?
Above what levels should certain minerals and vitamins be?
What about things like fat and fiber percentages? How do I know how those relate?
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Since I'm feeding the same feed to both bucks and does, I want the cal : phos ratio to be about 2:1. Mine is about 14% or 15% protein. If I need more protein, I can mix something in for specific goats. The does generally get alfalfa pellets mixed with their feed during late pregnancy/ when they're in milk. That ups their protein and the extra calcium boosts milk production. If I'm feeding good hay, I don't have to do nearly as much grain or alfalfa pellets.
There is more info out there about mineral ratios, etc., to look for in feed. I'm sure others will chime in.
I always ask other goat people what they're feeding. I know a lot of people who mix their own feed, and I have toyed with the idea of doing that, but the feed I can get from my local feed mill is cheap, my goats do well on it, and I like the simplicity of just dumping it into the barrel, and not messing around with different bags, etc. It's NOT the highest quality...there are grain by products in there...but I'm also not relying on it as the main source of nutrients, either. In summer, my goats mainly eat brush, and in the winter, they have good hay. So far, I am quite pleased. Ask me in 10 years, and I might have more to share.
There is more info out there about mineral ratios, etc., to look for in feed. I'm sure others will chime in.
I always ask other goat people what they're feeding. I know a lot of people who mix their own feed, and I have toyed with the idea of doing that, but the feed I can get from my local feed mill is cheap, my goats do well on it, and I like the simplicity of just dumping it into the barrel, and not messing around with different bags, etc. It's NOT the highest quality...there are grain by products in there...but I'm also not relying on it as the main source of nutrients, either. In summer, my goats mainly eat brush, and in the winter, they have good hay. So far, I am quite pleased. Ask me in 10 years, and I might have more to share.
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I don't follow everything in this article, but did use it as a baseline when I started figuring out my feeding plan. You might find it helpful.
extension.missouri.edu
Feeding and Housing Dairy Goats
Sound feeding practices and good housing facilities result in optimum growth and high milk production and contribute to the good health and comfort of dairy goats.Feeding the dairy goatWhen feeding dairy goats, keep these objectives in mind:Feed a young animal enough energy for growth, and feed...
extension.missouri.edu
I can’t tell you as in-depth as I could for a mineral - but I like 2:1 or a bit higher calcium to phosphorus, 14-16% protein depending on who is getting it; more real grain ingredients than “by-products;” I don’t care about the mineral levels because I trust my loose mineral for that; prefer corn is not the top ingredient; @goathiker will tell you more I’m sure, that’s who I would ask.
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So good commercial food? Buy good horse food, not kidding, horse people are way more influential.
Goats feed is balanced as fed not as digested. They all use calcium dioxide or calcium bicarbonate which doesn't digest very much.
Look for whole grains, chelated minerals, and fillers of fruit and herbs instead of byproduct floor sweeping.
What's the first ingredient in all goat feed? Alfalfa. How hard is it to get alfalfa hay, pellets, clover hay, peanut hay, pea hay, etc.
1/2 a cup of oats and a cup of alfalfa pellets is giving them more real grain than feed.
So mix a little at a time.
2 parts whole oats (4 lbs)
1 part rolled barley (2 lbs)
1/2 part split peas or field peas (1lb)
Top with 1 tbsp boss or 3 whole raw peanuts or 1tsp coconut oil.
Give equal amounts of alfalfa pellets to bucks
Give twice the amount of alfalfa pellets to does
Goats feed is balanced as fed not as digested. They all use calcium dioxide or calcium bicarbonate which doesn't digest very much.
Look for whole grains, chelated minerals, and fillers of fruit and herbs instead of byproduct floor sweeping.
What's the first ingredient in all goat feed? Alfalfa. How hard is it to get alfalfa hay, pellets, clover hay, peanut hay, pea hay, etc.
1/2 a cup of oats and a cup of alfalfa pellets is giving them more real grain than feed.
So mix a little at a time.
2 parts whole oats (4 lbs)
1 part rolled barley (2 lbs)
1/2 part split peas or field peas (1lb)
Top with 1 tbsp boss or 3 whole raw peanuts or 1tsp coconut oil.
Give equal amounts of alfalfa pellets to bucks
Give twice the amount of alfalfa pellets to does
Thanks for the information. I really appreciate it.
I wish I could do a mix like that, but I do not have a feed mill near me. I cannot find anywhere that sells barley or peas or anything like that. I've been feeding my milking does alfalfa, beet pulp, oats, and BOSS, but I feel like I want to feed my growing kids something more complete.
Ahh, that makes sense. @goathiker, what's your stance on corn in goat food? I thought I heard that corn is not good for goats.
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Corn has it's place in a mixed feed. You never want to feed deer corn. It contains aflatoxin and goats are much more sensitive to it than deer. Whole grain corn wears out the teeth and cracked corn can be sharp. Rolled corn is okay.
This is ground to prevent sorting, I'll show you the texture tomorrow. Don't feel like walking down to the shop tonight lol.
The peas are the ones the stripping machines break. People want pretty half peas, goats don't care. These are the ones that fall through screen, tiny or broken.
This is ground to prevent sorting, I'll show you the texture tomorrow. Don't feel like walking down to the shop tonight lol.
The peas are the ones the stripping machines break. People want pretty half peas, goats don't care. These are the ones that fall through screen, tiny or broken.
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You are correct, corn isn’t the best for them.
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