When some people get started with goats, they may overlook a very important aspect of their care by failing to provide free-choice, loose goat minerals. Even if they know goats need minerals, they may think that a block is okay or ... Read More The post Goat Minerals: Why, What, and How appeared first on The Thrifty Homesteader.| The Thrifty Homesteader
Minerals Macro Calcium Phosphorus Sodium, Potassium, Chloride Sulfur Magnesium Micro Iron Copper Cobalt Zinc Manganese Selenium Molybdenum Iodine Manganese (Mn) 40 – 1000 ppm Manganese is important for bone formation, reproduction and enzyme functioning. Deficiency symptoms include a reluctance to walk, deformity of forelegs, delayed onset of estrus, poor conception rate and low birth weight. Manganese deficiencies are unusual. Reference: Hart, S. 2008. Meat Goat Nutrition. Pages 58-83 i...| Goats
Minerals Macro Calcium Phosphorus Sodium, Potassium, Chloride Sulfur Magnesium Micro Iron Copper Cobalt Zinc Manganese Selenium Molybdenum Iodine Cobalt (Co) 0.1 – 10 ppm The only well accepted biological function of cobalt is as a component of vitamin B12. Rumen microbes utilize cobalt for growth and produce vitamin B12. Cobalt deficiency symptoms include loss of appetite, anemia, decreased production and weakness. Most natural feedstuffs contain adequate levels of cobalt. There are cob...| Goats
CD6 70% Concentrate Experimental Diet This is an experimental diet with concentrate level of 70 percent, including a variety of concentrate feedstuffs, some of which are relatively high in fiber. It contains some feedstuffs high in protein that escapes microbial degradation and is available for digestion in the small intestine. Trace mineral and vitamin premixes are those used for CD2. Ammonium chloride and white salt are present to minimize problems with urinary calculi. The calculated compo...| Goats
DCD10, DCD11, DCD12 35-, 50-, and 65-Percent Concentrate Dry Period Diets These are three diets used in the dry period in a recent experiment. The does and doelings were in good condition in late lactation before drying off, and performance in the subsequent early lactation period was similar among these different diets. Trace mineral and vitamin premixes are those used for CD2. The calculated composition on a dry matter basis is: ItemDCD10DCD11DCD12 CP, %16.617.917.5 …| Goats
DCD9 65-Percent Concentrate Late Lactation Diet The 65-percent concentrate diet shown below was used in an experiment in late lactation. The level of milk production by doelings supported by this diet was similar to that of other dietary concentrate levels. However, milk production by does consuming this diet was less than production by does consuming a 50-percent concentrate diet (DCD8). Similarly, other researchers have suggested that milk production by dairy goats may not necessarily be gr...| Goats
DCD8 50-Percent Concentrate Late Lactation Diet The 50-percent concentrate diet shown below was used in an experiment in late lactation. The level of milk production by doelings supported by this diet was similar to that of other dietary concentrate levels. However, milk production by does consuming this diet was greater than production by does consuming diets with 20-, 35- or 65-percent concentrate. Trace mineral and vitamin premixes are those used for CD2. The calculated composition on a dr...| Goats
DCD7 35-Percent Concentrate Late Lactation Diet The 35-percent concentrate diet shown below was used in an experiment in late lactation. The level of milk production by doelings supported by this diet was similar to that of other dietary concentrate levels. However, milk production by does consuming this diet tended to be less than production by does consuming diets with 50-percent concentrate, but greater than diets with 20-percent concentrate. Trace mineral and vitamin premixes are those us...| Goats
DCD6 20-Percent Concentrate Late Lactation Diet The 20-percent concentrate diet shown below was used in an experiment in late lactation. The level of milk production by doelings supported by this diet was similar to that of higher dietary concentrate levels. However, milk production by does consuming this diet was less than production by does consuming diets with 35-percent or 50-percent concentrate. Trace mineral and vitamin premixes are those used for CD2. The calculated composition on a dr...| Goats
CD13 Moderate Concentrate Experimental Diet This is a 50 percent concentrate diet used in the same experiment in which CD12 was fed. It also has a fairly high level of CP to ensure that growth would not be limited by protein. Ammonium chloride and white salt are included to minimize problems with urinary calculi, although levels are lower than with CD12, which is higher in concentrate. Trace mineral and vitamin premixes are those used for CD2. Chromic oxide was included …| Goats
This is a 75 percent concentrate diet used in a recent experiment with different breeds of weaned goats, including Alpine, Angora, Boer and Spanish. It has a fairly high level of CP to ensure that growth would not be limited by protein. Ammonium chloride and white salt are included to minimize problems with urinary calculi. Trace mineral and vitamin premixes are those used for CD2. Chromic oxide was included as a marker to allow the determination of diet digestibility. The calculated composit...| Goats