The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: langdon on November 28, 2010, 07:01:24 pm

Title: what is the difference?
Post by: langdon on November 28, 2010, 07:01:24 pm

what is the difference between normal goat feed and one that is made up of different ingrediants?
other than it might be cheaper is there any other benefits esp for my goats?
thanks for any replys :goat:

Title: Re: what is the difference?
Post by: ballingall on November 28, 2010, 09:52:51 pm

Mineral & Vitamin content.

A ready made goat mix that you buy has carefully measured out minerals and vitamins designed for goats. Plus it obviously has a certain protein content, whereas whatever you mix might have a different protein content.


Beth

Title: Re: what is the difference?
Post by: langdon on November 29, 2010, 05:37:28 pm

so for a small herd like mine am i just a good on what i am giving them now?

Title: Re: what is the difference?
Post by: ballingall on November 29, 2010, 05:37:52 pm

Yep


 ;)

Title: Re: what is the difference?
Post by: katie on November 30, 2010, 08:50:31 am

I'd agree with that! It's really difficult to get the balance right. Why complicate your life? :)

Title: Re: what is the difference?
Post by: wytsend on November 30, 2010, 03:25:46 pm

There is one thing worth checking, that is the copper content of your soil.   Most agricultural stores have the means to test.

Goats require almost the same copper as a cow.  Most goat minerals in the ready made compounds  err on the safe side and are generally too low in copper.   If copper is a problem in your area, the solution is simple and also cheaper - feed cattle dairy nuts.  I never feed anything else - my black goats are very black and my milk yields are excellent.

It is incredibly difficult to overfeed copper in this manner - goats can get rid of the surplus they don't need.