We have a milk cow that is due to calf anytime. A friend just gave us an oberhasli(sp) goat. I would like to keep them in the same pasture, and was wondering if anyone else did this or is there a reason that I shouldn't. Also, I'm feeding my cow a 13% dairy feed with corn, oats, wheat bran, cottonseed oil and soybean meal, and molasses. Can I feed this to the goat? Thanks in advance.

-- Lena(NC) (breezex4@go.com), March 12, 2001

Answers

It will be ok as long as you can keep the goat in .The are harder to keep in fence .Is it hornless ? I feed my goats heifer mix and they do well .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), March 13, 2001.

Lena

We have 2 cows ( one is a milk cow ) and 2 goats and one pony. They all run together and do just fine. The pony was not thrilled with the idea at first but decided it was better to have the company than to be alone. Our goats get the same feed as the cow which is a dairy mash, just make sure it has no urea in it. They use it as a filler in some feed but not usually in the dairy ones. They will need to be seperated at feed times or at least fed far apart and undoubtably the cow if she can will take over the goats feed because they think it just might be better than what she has! Good luck! Robin

-- Robin (frontzfarm@1st.net), March 13, 2001.

I'm sure you are going to get some answers telling you that your goat will immediately drop dead if you don't feed her caviar,mineral water and dahlias for dessert.You must also rush her off to the vet for 500.00 worth of test.Some folks tend to forget that homestead goats are meant to produce milk and meat and to do it as cheaply as PRACTICAL.Actually your doe should do just fine on the setup you describe.Keep the advice about urea in mind and worm her every few months.

-- JT (gone2seed@hotmail.com), March 13, 2001.

Lena, just like you can't put JT and me on the same thread without us poking fun at each other, you won't know until you put the two of them together if the cow will tollerate the goat or not.

Cattle feed is the best option for a goat feed anyway.....Geeze JT we don't feed our goats animal products (caviar) :) a 6$ test for CAE, just get someone who is a nurse to pull the blood, if homestead goat owners would just take a few inexpensive minor percautions, they wouldn't be on this list talking about their does milking a cup of milk, ill, kidding problems, the works. Takes less money to feed one doe who milkes 8 pounds and is healthy, than it does to feed 4 does who only milk 2 pounds, are diseased, have shorter lifespans and carry zoonic disease. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 13, 2001.

Vicki what you say is absolutely true.My point is that we don't need to dump the whole load on a new goatkeeper.Many(perhaps most) newcomers will get discouraged and quit if too much is put on them at once.We do need to help them keep their new goat alive and well while they learn.

-- JT (gone2seed@hotmail.com), March 13, 2001.

I would check the label on the feed to make sure it does not contain urea, which is very bad for goats, but commonly used in cattle feeds.

-- Rebekah Leaf (daniel1@itss.net), March 13, 2001.

Your cow has an obvious size and weight advantage over the goat. Some animals get along okay. Others do not. It is really a personaliity thing and you don't know for sure until you try. I would be worried about the cow accidentally or intentionally injuring or killing the goat. If it was me, I would keep them separate and feed them the appropriate diet for each animal, but you might get by okay on the same feed.

-- Skip Walton (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), March 14, 2001.