When to stop grain?

Good question! I want to know, too.

Pygmygoatluver said:

I'm still confused on when to stop feeding grain for my doesonder: So I am breeding my two does in January. I have them on BOSS,whole oats, and alfalfa pellets. When should I stop feeding my does their grain? Thanks

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Why would you stop? I actually dont grain unless they are pregnant, nursing or are young kids. Pregnant does need grain in my opinion.

All my goats get grain 24/7/365. Hay, grain, alfalfa pellets, loose minerals, kelp and I add soaked beet pulp in the winter. Pregnant, lactating or growing goats get a higher protein grain than dry goats not doing anything, but that is the only difference.

Am not a fan of grain. If you are feeding a quality hay, then any grain other then a $30 bag of horse grain will be a much less quality feed and will do pretty much nothing to help. Think of it this way. A good quality hay is equal to say Total Raisin Bran. Packed full of protein, minerals and vitamins. A general grain such as an all stock or a dairy ration would be equal to say Life Cereal or worse. Why would you feed a lesser quality feed when you can simply increase the better feed and save money while doing it.

You are going to find loads if disagreement on this subject. I don't think what you are feeding will hurt to continue. Again...if they are getting fat, cut back a little. If you need to increase to kee p weight u p, do it.

Ok, I have a doe that is pretty chunky so I'll cut back on her. I think I'll keep it up with my other doe though. I was just worried that it would make larger kids when graining?

I dunno. I hear both ways. I think the main thing is that an overweight goat probably has more chance for a big baby. Sone say cut back the last month of pg others say don't worry about it. We go by the "how fat is she" method. Lol

ketosis/kids

Yep - grain can cause larger kids but more importantly - if the does are too heavy they can get "ketosis" from fat around their organs etc. You can use the search box (top left) to find out about that. The best way I have been taught to feel weight along the spine near the hips. If you scroll about 3/4 of the way down on this page it shows the different body conditions: http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/agricultu...ats/assessment-skills-for-goat-meat-marketing

I do grain does for 8 weeks before kidding to build up milk production, but I have meat breeds - not dairies.

Yeah, my doe is pretty heavy I would put her on the 4ish scale:shock:
So should I grain my other doe at later months then?

are you milking them now or is this their first kidding?

No I am not milking, this is her 3rd kidding for the thinner doe and the chunkier doe is a first timer

I personally grain 8 weeks before due date to help them amp up milk production (but I have meat goats who have lower milk production). If you think your chunky goat is truly overweight then yes - I would wean her off grain for a while to avoid any issues. You can wean her back on to grain when she kids because nursing takes a TON of calories. The normal weight goat I would continue graining & keeping her at a healthy weight and then probably amp up her grain ration when she kids to help her. Many does lose weight when they begin nursing because it a huge calorie burner.

Keep in mind that the kids do the most growing in the last eight weeks of pregnancy. You don't want large kids that are hard to give birth to. In the beginning, if you don't keep up the same level of nutrition, they can absorb embryos. If they conceive multiples, and you lower their nutrition, their bodies won't think they can support the multiples and they will absorb them. Just my two cents.

Pygmygoatluver said:

I'm still confused on when to stop feeding grain for my doesonder:

So I am breeding my two does in January. I have them on BOSS,whole oats, and alfalfa pellets. When should I stop feeding my does their grain? Thanks

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What kind of hay do you feed?

Pygmygoatluver said:

Ok, I have a doe that is pretty chunky...

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Also bear in mind that the time for weight control is NOT after they are bred. If you feel/think/know she is too heavy then get her to an optimum weight before you breed her.

Our hay is grass/alfalfa. Mostly grass though

There are a variety of opinions on this subject. Some add grain to a diet to flush the does around breeding time to give a better chance of a higher number of kids. Just make sure that you don't jump the amount of grain up while they are pregnant. If you are going to up it then do that after they kid to better allow the doe to keep up the milk supply.