The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: langdon on November 27, 2010, 08:13:50 pm
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am thinking of going down this line in the future, what are the different feeds ( mixes ) do i need?
hope i have made myself clear!!!!!!
thanks langdon :goat:
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We don't mix our feed ourselves, so I am not the best person to ask. One thing I would advise is to get yourself set up with a few feed bins or containers to keep all the individual ingrediants in.
If I were mixing my own mix, I would probably use soya bean meal to add protein, flaked maize and flaked peas, some oats or barley (not whole, probably crushed or flaked), linseed flake, locust beans. You wouldn't have to use as many as those, but some of those anyway. If you google goat food ingredients you will find different goat feeds and you can look at what their ingredients are. Most feeds are moistened with something- molasses or wheat oil, but I am not sure where you would source thise from, and I think it would make it more difficult to mix.
Beth
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You need to work out the nutritional requirements - complicated stuff! David Mackenzie's book - Goat Husbandry will point you in the right direction. That book is a must for goat-keepers -could answer a lot of your questions! ;D
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I believe you have to register the fact that you are mixing your own feed - not sure who with but it is not straight forward.
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Yes you do.When I had a routine inspection by Animal Health last year they said you have to be registered if you mix your own. (I mentioned this on here before but was shouted down! ::))
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thats a book i do have and to be honest its hard work, alot of it goes over my head i just treat it as a pik and mix i
just read bits that i need to know and bits i can understand.
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I think it might vary where you are Katie- not sure if you have to be registered in Scotland or not. I do know you have be registered to mix your own pig feed in Scotland- but you can feed by "layering" ie giving them say, barley, then putting soya on top (but not mixing it). How bizarre is that.
Beth
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Ah, yes of course. :)
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Sorry if you felt "shouted down" before Katie- I haven't heard much of having to register in Scotland for food mixing, but then I will freely admit we haven't even looked into doing that for many many years.
What breeds are you thinking of getting in the spring?
Beth
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I'm not sure. I may well go for Toggenburgs again - they are so intelligent and loving.
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They are affectionate aren't they? People always think saanen types are the most affectionate but I don't agree with that. Of our 3 kids the white one is the least affectionate, and the BT and the AN are much more cuddley.
Beth
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i have to say both girls with us like the attention :D
langdon :goat:
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But I have to say there is not much between GG's and BT's on that front! Only my older GG (herd leader) is somewhat distant, but when I am in the pen is easily handled and enjoys a scratch and cuddle. The BT lady and GG goatling always compete for my attention, getting out of the field is sometimes a challenge!
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I think it depends a lot on how they were handled as kids. I had 2 GGs once from a large herd and they were so timid it took me ages and lots of hard work to get them remotely friendly.
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Yes, I think handling them as kids is the key, and if you have a large herd that is not really possible. Ella, my GG matron, likes being cuddled but I have to make the effort and get to her... unless I "happen" to carry something nice to eat....then she pushes evrybody out of her way!
To get back to Langdon's original query re mixing feeds - I cannot see how that can be financially viable if you only have a few goats... I use A&P's all round goat as basis (not the cheapest!), and supplement with any fruit and veg that is suitable, plus sugarbeet and seaweed extract, sometimes a bit of garlic granules, but they don't really like that. Also hay and haylage.
Why are you trying to mix your own, Langdon????
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not quite going ahead with the idea, when i was with the owners of the billy they were just showing me their system and general
day to day of how they do things e.g. feeding.
they were just showing me the different foods that make up a feed, and i was thinking does the shop bought stuff have all the important
ingredients and right amount of each.
been a while since i bought a bag so i cant go into shed to look at label contents!
was saying to beth as you just said to me with only two goats at the mo i think i will carry on with the bags of feed.
but moving house in a week from now and more land and with breeding now in the pipeline i might in the future.
thanks for reply ;)
langdon :goat:
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If you look at the ingredients on a purchased sack of ready mixed feed it will have a break down of contents and nutrients and a sell by/use by date. Not very long shelf life before you loose essential vitamins and minerals etc. do you have a few nearby goat keepers that would join in your venture?
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Posts crossed, sorry. A premixed feed has all the correct ingredients especially for the breed, so its down to your preference really. If you make your own feed it is very expensive to match the ready made type in respect of essential contents. It is manageable if you make it in bulk though. I know a sheep farmer that mills feed and it is very nice stuff. Getting in good quality hay/straw is a must.
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its true about needing license to mix your own feeds, seems ridiculous, loads of people would rather feed straights and know what they are feeding rather than the variable mix on complete feeds. cant hurt to give it a stir can it?
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I had a look at the feed mixing regs and I have a feeling it does not include people who buy bags of feed and mix them in a bucket just before giving it to the animal....eg a scoop of pony nuts and a scoop of oats to a pony.
I think it applies more to those who mix lorry loads in hoppers on farm....so consumers and the fsa know what was fed in the mix and in what quantity.
Now as for feeding goats a home mix it really depens if for meat or milk and remembering high yeilders need high protein.
I used to have goats producing over 1500kgs milk per lactation and some over 2000kgs and were winning at shows and milking competitions so had to feed accordingly. Others I raised for meat.
A good mix is alfalfa nuts, sugar beet nuts, flaked maize, flaked peas, rolled oats, rolled barley, linseed cake and a good goat mineral
Then I used to do a pick a mix application...more alfalfa and peas for the high yeilders, more maize and barley for the thin less for the fat, no beet for males as causes urinary tract stones, and linseed for all!
Good hay to complement, pref Alfalfa hay (Lucerne) fed ad lib.
I always aimed for a 20% protein mix for milkers and a 16% for the rest....hope that helps!
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No, honestly, I was told it does apply to anyone who mixes straights. This was at an inspection by Trading Standards and I only had 2 goats and 3 sheep at the time so the Inspector knew I would not be mixing lorryloads at a time. Stupid, I know but that's what I was told.
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Well I reckon that if you always keep the feeds seperate, as I always did and still do, then any inspector can see all the feeds are indeed not mixed. I know ours is paranoid re the layers pellets being kept 3 feet away and in a seperate bin from the sheep nuts etc. I would only mix immediately before feeding in the individual animals bucket...... :-\