Hi we just got a great deal on some alfalfa pellets. Since I've never fed them before I was wondering if anyone has an idea on how much to feed per goat per day or feeding. Thanks for any ideas. Nancy

-- Nancy Steele (nsteele@theofficenet.com), November 06, 2000

Answers

Are they dairy goats? Make sure the protein is between 14%-16% for feeding as a concentrate for dairy goats, the rate varying per individual animal anywhere from 1/4% -1% of the animals body weight, and how heavily she is milking or not. Be sure to offer a good quality hay free choice in addition to the pellets, it is not a substitute for forage/hay. Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), November 06, 2000.

Why is it not a substitute for hay I was wondering?Here we are told by extension to use corn as a perfectly acceptable substitute for hay in years when hay is in short supply like last year.

Is alfalfa too rich/ Of course the corn recommendations were for cattle,so would this translate to goats,I wonder?I am not very familiar with goat needs, but I am interested bc I am starting investigating Boer goats.

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), November 06, 2000.

All grazing animals need sufficient fiber in their diets or bloat,colic, and impaction can result. Concentrates, which are all forms of grain or processed pellets (like the alfalfa pellets mentioned here), should never constitute more than 2% of the total body weight per day for any length of time, if more calories are needed to maintain body weight, feed better quality hay free choice. It is always better to feed more/better hay than to increase the grain ration, their bodies were designed to graze after all. Pardon me for being obsessive, animal nutrition is a specialty of mine. Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), November 06, 2000.

Hey from NM. My curiosity was peaked by 'great deal'. Hope these haven't been exposed to moisture; be sure to check the bags for mold! Good luck; I've been wondering this myself.

-- debra in nm (dhaden@nmtr.unm.edu), November 27, 2000.