A doe needs 1# of feed per 3# of milk produced -- that's it, assuming she is healthy and not underweight from parasites or anything like that. If it's a Nigerian and. she has two kids, they need about 1 quart of milk each, so that means that she is producing about 4# of milk, so she'd needs 1.3# of goat feed. If she is only on the stand once, you can give her half of her grain on the stand and the other half in her pen. it's better to split it between two feedings per day.
Thank you for this information. I have stopped milking my does but the kids, who are both 13 months old, are still nursing periodically. Should I continue feeding the does some grain because the kids are still nursing or is it okay to just feed a good quality hay?
As long as they have 50% alfalfa, that should be good if they are only nursing kids at that age. Their production is not going to be much at that point.
Oops! I need to edit the video description. I sometimes say "grain" when I mean 16% protein goat feed, which is made of grain. Feeding simple grains to your goats, such as corn, oats, barley, etc, are like feeding them candy. They have about half as much protein as what you will get in commercial goat feed. They get the protein up to that level with soybeans, and for people who want soy-free feed, they use field peas. If your milkers don't get enough protein, they won't be able to produce to their genetic potential. This also means that at least 50% of their forage (including hay) needs to be alfalfa or another legume that is 16% in protein (or higher). Since our does are on pasture, that means they get 100% alfalfa hay in the barn in the evening when they come inside. Here is an article about what goat eat -- thriftyhomesteader.com/what-do-goats-eat-it-depends/
What’s the maximum amount of feed to give a doe per day? If a doe only goes on the stand once a day. How much should you feed per kid that’s nursing?
A doe needs 1# of feed per 3# of milk produced -- that's it, assuming she is healthy and not underweight from parasites or anything like that. If it's a Nigerian and. she has two kids, they need about 1 quart of milk each, so that means that she is producing about 4# of milk, so she'd needs 1.3# of goat feed. If she is only on the stand once, you can give her half of her grain on the stand and the other half in her pen. it's better to split it between two feedings per day.
Thank you for this information. I have stopped milking my does but the kids, who are both 13 months old, are still nursing periodically. Should I continue feeding the does some grain because the kids are still nursing or is it okay to just feed a good quality hay?
As long as they have 50% alfalfa, that should be good if they are only nursing kids at that age. Their production is not going to be much at that point.
What kind of grain would you suggest, we make our own.
Oops! I need to edit the video description. I sometimes say "grain" when I mean 16% protein goat feed, which is made of grain. Feeding simple grains to your goats, such as corn, oats, barley, etc, are like feeding them candy. They have about half as much protein as what you will get in commercial goat feed. They get the protein up to that level with soybeans, and for people who want soy-free feed, they use field peas. If your milkers don't get enough protein, they won't be able to produce to their genetic potential. This also means that at least 50% of their forage (including hay) needs to be alfalfa or another legume that is 16% in protein (or higher). Since our does are on pasture, that means they get 100% alfalfa hay in the barn in the evening when they come inside. Here is an article about what goat eat -- thriftyhomesteader.com/what-do-goats-eat-it-depends/