[Kaitlyn]

What do you feed your does on the milk stand?

I’m putting together a mix for my does and have thought of putting Alfalfa pellets, black oil sunflower seeds and grain tossed in molasses. I’m worried this mix would have too much phosphorus, and not enough calcium. Any thoughts on how to balance it, or is it balanced already?

 

[KST Goat Farm]

I feed them alfalfa pellets and about half a cup of black oil sunflower seeds.

 

[wheel-bear-o]

I feed dairy goat pellets and a big handful of BOSS on the stand. I don't generally feel the need to give my girls molasses/sweet feed except in the second half of pregnancy for ketosis prevention.

 

[goatblessings]

I prefer nothing with molasses or sweet feed. I give mine a pelleted grain for dairy goats with alfalfa pellets.

 

[J.O.Y. Farm]

We used an 18% dairy pellet or 18% sweet feed, alfalfa pellets (about half and half on the grain and alfalfa) and a handful of BOSS.
Some does got added ‘supplements’ (my hard keepers got a digestion supplement, along with high fat/fiber horse grain and rice bran)

 

[wheel-bear-o]

If you've got a doe who is bad about her loose minerals, you can also use the milking stand as an opportunity to top dress whatever food she's getting with a mineral like ZinPro.

 

[Goats Rock]

I put loose minerals in one corner of the feeder on the milk stand, kelp in another corner and sometimes a little baking soda in the other corner. (Handful of each)- then the milkers get some grain- heavy milkers, a little more. But all get fed in a long manger, outside with the rest of their group.. Grain in the milk parlor makes such a mess- they waste it, grab a mouthful and chew and drop it all over! Slobs.....

Regarding the baking soda- they rarely touch it, but, sometimes heavy milkers can scarf their grain too fast and act bloaty. (even with rocks in the pan). No one in the main herd gets free choice baking soda.

 

[MadHouse]

I give my ND who is NOT skinny: whole oats, a bit of BOSS and alfalfa leaves.
My slim Nubian picky doe gets rolled wheat, BOSS, calf manna and alfalfa leaves.
I tried 16% goat ration from the local feed mill as a supplement, but one of my does seemed to not digest it well.

 

[CBPitts]

I feed a dairy 16 on the stand along with a little soaked beet pulp, BOSS, and a small bit of calf manna for the high production girls.
Last year I fed an all breed 14% sweet feed with calf manna as none of them would eat the dairy grain.

They get free choice alfalfa pellets in the barn and hay.

 

[littleheathens]

We do half 18% calf pellet (when I can get it, TSC stopped carrying the organic goat pellets recently and I've struggled finding a replacement; when I can't get it we do barley/oats), about a third alfalfa pellets (our hay has no alfalfa) and that leaves about a little BOSS. We'll add in random garlic, fennel, goat treats, kelp, etc too.

 

[fivemoremiles]

My wife has a feed mix that takes me longer to tell you what is in it, than it takes me to mix it.
on the other hand i just feed C.O.B. I most likely feed two much of it. but i milk four times a day.

 

[goathiker]

I feed my own grain mix topped with dried herbs.