[Dragon]

 

I see quite a lot of people feeding sugar beet to their goats.  I know this may seem a silly question but do you soak the sugarbeet first.

The reason I ask is that I do feed it to my horses in the form of Speedibeet which comes in flakes and only needs 10 or so minutes of soaking before feeding.  Is this the same for my goats or can it be fed dry?  And also what sort of quantity for 5 month old GG wethers and girls.

Thanks in anticipation! 

[Penninehillbilly]

A regular question Dragon, I feed pellets so like to soak, some don't soak,
with flakes I wouldn't bother, just make sure you don't feed too much at once, considering how much it may swell in the stomach.

[Anke]

I feed shreds, but do put some boiling water on it just before I leave the house (it's about 100m or so to goathouse). Then fed immediately while still warm. They love it, especially in winter. So barely soaked, mine do NOT eat it when slushy, but also not dry either.

In this this slightly damp state it is also great use for adding any sprinkles of things you may need to add in the form of minerals etc. (mine get a sprinkle of seaweed granules and a wee scoop of linseed meal).
I have also found that they really love a splash of olive oil on it... but then I do spoil my lot rotten (and they milk well too).

[mart6]

My boers ate speedy beet soaked but were not to keen
Prefer shreads dry mixed with concentate  or on its own

[macgro7]

I wouldn't feed it at all to wethers. They will get fat on hay and grass alone!

[Dragon]

That's great, thanks everyone for your input 

[Penninehillbilly]

I hadn't noticed wethers mentioned.
Isn't there a risk of urinary calculi when feeding SB to wethers?

[Anke]

I hadn't noticed watchers mentioned.
Isn't there a risk of urinary calculi when feeding SB to wethers?

Not really - but it would be advisable not to overdo it, make sure they drink plenty (I give my males warm water all year round) and if you are in a hard water area either use some cider vinegar in their drinking water or feed a specific supplement, the name of which just escapes me at this early hour.... feeding lots of concentrate is actually more of a risk.

[Mad Goatwoman of Madeley]

I used pellets with my goats and soaked it but found that pouring boiling water on the pellets an hour before I was going to feed them was  enough and they enjoyed it slightly warm. I mixed their concentrates in with it because mine did like wet food.