This is my first year with my two male Alpine goats. I am concerned about their health and want to do everything possible to keep them healthy. Their names are Curlie and Larry. Sweet-hearts too. Just need a few tips on what to feed during the cold, winter months in the snowbelt of Ahstabula County. Your help is appreciated. thanks

-- Patricia A Bryner (Pat) (ripley@alltel.net), November 01, 2001

Answers

Give them plenty of hay, decent quality hay but for wethers it doesn't need to be second cutting alfalfa. They do not need grain even in the winter. What keeps their bodies warm in cold weather is the fermentation of the hay in their rumen. Other than having hay available, they will also apprecaite fresh, liquid water. They can eat snow but that uses up a lot of energy that would keep them warm. If you can do it, warm water is the best when the temperature is very cold. They should also be housed in a dry building with at least two or three sides on it to break the wind. They do not need a heat lamp or anything like that, it would only make them more susceptible to the cold.

Enjoy your goats! :)

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), November 02, 2001.

Patricia, if you opt to feed a grain mix make sure that it contains ammonium chloride, this will keep urinary calculi from forming. A good loose mineral mix or for wethers a block is fine. Good clean hay that is kept up off the ground, and a worming before your first really cold weather. Hay in the rumen, is like their own personal heater. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), November 02, 2001.

I'm not sure where Ahstabula County is, but if you get a lot of snow, make sure that your fencing will continue to keep them confined. When the snow piles up, the fence gets effectively shorter!

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), November 03, 2001.