Responding to an earlier post about custom feed mixes for goats got me thinking about a problem we experienced with our mix. The feed mill substituted LPS (liquid protein suppliment) for molasses without telling us. (We pick up our order at a local feed store so the change wasn't obvious on the bill. Found out when I asked for a copy of the feed mill's invoice.) I will not use LPS in goat feed because it contains urea which can cause breeding problems. Even though I told the feed store that LPS wasn't acceptable the mill again added LPS to our mix. I was told that molasses was no longer available at that mill. I made some phone calls and discovered most feed mills and elevators in our area (midwest) had dicontinued molasses because of the cost. To finally get to the point, has anyone else had problems getting molasses for their custom mixes? If so, how are you handling it? (We have had to use food grade molasses which we dilute and add ourselves. Tried dried molasses but it doesn't bind.)

-- Scotsirish (notreal@anywhere.net), April 03, 2002

Answers

Totally unaware of this !! Is this in your area of the country or from a certain feed mill. We use Blue Seal and never really looked too much into this. Think I'll go up to the barn and read the feed bags. (love your name..scotsirish..)

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), April 03, 2002.

With a custom mix they can not change the recipe without calling you first. They use the product no matter how expensive it has gotten and charge you extra for it. If you are using a mill recipe, than you are at their mercy just like with sacked grain. With a custom mix if corn goes up the feed price per ton goes up etc, they don't change it to cardboard :) For those who are feeding sacked feeds, especially Purina, ever notice how glossy and shinny the feed is during the winter? That is because they add oil, usually cheap linseed oil, to the batch, to make it more pourable :) Wonder why you have digestive upsets/dog poop in your goats, it is because every sack you purchase, even though it carries the same name, can and does contain different ingredents each time, UNLESS the products are listed as corn, oats, barley etc. If you only have a by products tag with only minimum and maximum values listed, they can use any kind of by product to reach that miniumum and maximum. And you probably pay more for your feed also! They do have to legally show on the feed tag the use of urea, the use of animal by products, though they do not have to name them. The first symptom of urea posioning in a goat is death, no thanks! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (Nubians) (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 03, 2002.

We had the same thing happen when we lived in WI. The mill tried to slip it in, but luckily I caught the substitution before I fed it to my goats. I just started buying 'Brer Rabbit' (sp) which got quite expensive. We finally found a place that sold it, but only in bulk barrels. We bought a 55 gal drum & added it to the grain mix ourselves. What really ticked me off was the mill folks had been specifically told NO SUBSTITUTIONS, when I brought it to their attention they said "they're just goats they'll eat anything". These were registered Alpines and even if they had been scrub goats an owners custom order should be honored & not changed without the owners permission. Well I've ranted enough. I hope you can find a supplier for Liq Molasses, my goats wouldn't eat the feed when dry was used either-too dusty. Peace, Kathy

-- Kathy Aldridge (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), April 03, 2002.

This was a custom mix. We gave them the recipe and expected them to follow it each time. Yes, the price would vary. They stated that molasses was too expense for them to carry. Most of their customers, cow dairies, did not mind using LPS. Just made the switch with our mix when they did everyone elses.

-- Scotsirish (notreal@anywhere.net), April 03, 2002.

Doesn't the various state depts of agriculture take interest in feed labeling? Seems like this would be a reportable matter and that mill could be liable for mislabeling their feed.

.......Alan.

-- Alan (athagan@atlantic.net), April 03, 2002.