Purina Goat Block

I am very interested to hear what other people have to say as well!! I have really considered getting a protein block, but never have yet.

Dandy Hill Farm said:

I am very interested to hear what other people have to say as well!! I have really considered getting a protein block, but never have yet.

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Same here... I see a pail as well that's 18# for $20 but the block is more cost effective at 33# for $16

True. But, you do get a "free" bucket once they are done with the protein pail! 😉😂

Lol yeah that's true... never enough buckets

Personally I don't like the protien pails. They are mostly molasses which can cause scours. If goats need a little extra..try a handful of calf manna. You don't get a useful bucket though lol. I know some use the protien buckets especially in winter to help when things are sparce but in a normal day to day..I would not.

I use the tubs. I leave them out all year long for mine in place of grain. I like them, usually they don’t pig out on them unless they need the extra protein. A lot of people dislike them because their goats never touch them but that just means they didn’t need it.
Happybleats is correct and if you get them and they totally pig out on it you will want to limit their time they are allowed access to it to start with. Start out small and give them a little longer every day.
But there are a few people that do offer tubs (same as the block just more in a tub) at certain times of the year, I just like it year round since their quality of feed changes a lot threw the year and it’s a pain to limit my larger herd and keep introducing.

The block I was looking at is 33# vs. 18# pail

I have always been a calf manna person. Never tried a protein block or tub. Always heard bad things about tubs, but have no experience with it. Goats love calf manna. It's like a goat crack.

Where do I get calf manna

K.B. said:

Where do I get calf manna

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Tractor supply has it and most feed stores around here. Probably even the co-op too. Tractor supply has like 3 different sizes here.

Lol I just Googled it and was going to say nevermind! Thanks

DDFN said:

I have always been a calf manna person. Never tried a protein block or tub. Always heard bad things about tubs, but have no experience with it. Goats love calf manna. It's like a goat crack.

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How much do you add to their feed?

K.B. said:

Lol I just Googled it and was going to say nevermind! Thanks

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No worries. I am a huge fan of the calf manna. Used it from horses to goats. If your not careful the LGD's will try to pretend to be goats to even get some. It's like they all get manna radar. Nothing like a livestock dog walking up to the goat feeders and looking at you for a spare pan!

DDFN said:

No worries. I am a huge fan of the calf manna. Used it from horses to goats. If your not careful the LGD's will try to pretend to be goats to even get some. It's like they all get manna radar. Nothing like a livestock dog walking up to the goat feeders and looking at you for a spare pan!

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Haha funny... what's the ratio you add to feed?

K.B. said:

How much do you add to their feed?

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About 4 to 8 ounces a day. Right now my old doe is getting 3 ounces twice a day. She doesn't always eat it all but that's due to her lack of wanting to chew much grain at the moment.

Oh ok

I would do a premix, like half and half or so?

K.B. said:

The block I was looking at is 33# vs. 18# pail

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The pail lasts a lot longer here. Some of my does just attack the blocks and gnaw them to lumps.
Both are vulnerable to chicken attacks, also.
I use both of them after the first freeze until things green up, alternating between pails, goat blocks, horse blocks and deer blocks.
The horse block crumbles the quickest, the deer blocks are the favorite, the pails require the most maintenance: rainwater, ants & poop..
The wide blue pails are good for watering in pens but not very stable to tote around.
If I were able to segregate and feed individually I would not use blocks or pails but having one out allows the back-of-the-pack
goat a way to supplement. I have a doe that you only see at the block or pail in the middle of the night when the rest are sacked out.

Lol sacked out the sneaker... yeah that would be good for the bottom of the herd