[mariegold]

Hi all,

I'm getting really worried about one of milking goats. She kidded about 8 weeks ago, twin boys, she is so super skinny and no matter how much I feed her she isn't putting any weight on! Her poo has been really loose for weeks, I've had her tested for worms and cocci -negative. I've tried changing her feed, increasing her feed,,gving more branches (cutting out the Ash) - no change. I have given her Kaolin twice- didn't work...... The vet told me to just give her concentrate feed without any added extras (oats, barley, sugarbeet), as the feed should be balanced and not diluted.
At the moment I separate her from the kids at 8p.m, milk a litre off of her at 6.30 a.m and put her back with the kids. She has plenty of grazing (lots of grass, thistles, comfrey) but I only give her hay in the eve.

Can anyone suggest anything that might help please? Should I leave off milking her,or take the kids off her permanently? She is so lovely to milk, it would be such a shame to have to dry her up!

Many thanks in advance for any advice! 

[cans]

Hi
Sounds like she is putting everything into milk .
How much feed are you giving her.   
I assume the kids are growing well.
Do you know how much milk she is giving. Can you take more than a litre off her one morning just to give an indication of how much she is producing.  At 8 weeks old it wont do the kids any harm to get a bit less for once. 
You have gone down the usual route - worms etc and the vet isnt too worried. 
Oak branches help dry up loose poo but dont give too much

So many questions....... hope they help

[Anke]

I would be worried that her droppings are loose - they shouldn't be. If you are overfeeding on proteins that could also be the cause of this, as you have tested for worms and cocci.
However, just increasing her concentrate will only make that worse, rather than better. I would feed sugar beet shreds are not really a concentrate, and if she likes them I would continue to feed it. If her appetite is good, she is well and happy you may just have to grit your teeth and let her continue as now. If her kids are healthy too, putting on weight then leave it.