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The goats we raise today are SO FAR from the goats raised for "thousands and thousands of years". And...I choked on my coffee when I read that they're hard to kill. COMMON GOAT MYTH! A goat will die at the snap of your fingers with no warning, and leave you wondering what just happened.
People, having animals is a luxury. It isn't about finding the cheapest way to keep them. The "expensive" feeds save you so much money in the long run...in terms of healthier animals which live longer, thrive better and are less likely to succumb to deficiencies. Buy the best you can afford, not the cheapest you can find.
Back to the OP - 10% is too low for growing goats. I recommend 16% minimum. Avoid textured (sweet) feeds like they're poison (because they ARE to male goats). Purina Show Goat includes AC in the mix, so it is the ideal feed choice for a wether. Offer LOOSE minerals (NOT a block) 24/7.
Once your boys are done growing, you will likely be able to take them off the grain and only feed alfalfa hay to keep them fat and happy.
As someone who has been raising animals for over 30 years, and who has yet to have one drop dead for lack of the fancy, expensive feeds,I was simply attempting to reassure the individual, that while the goats need adequate nutrition, it is not necessary to fill them full of all the chemicals that are found in the higher priced feeds that are often foisted on the less experienced owners by the feed stores. Simplicity, and earnest stewardship of our animals is what is required, not supplements of man made origins that are doing God knows what to our animals and ourselves. I respectfully disagree with you. The young goats need clean water, simple, whole grains in the morning and in the evening, and a good flake of hay. I feed a scoop of mixed corn and oats in the morning with a flake of alfalfa, and a scoop in the evening. I also provide a salt lick and limited treats of organic greens, and I dose with probiotics when I notice any changes in their feces. She should also know that the goats need their hooves trimmed about every 3 months, to watch out for parasites, and to be aware that goats are very curious animals that will get into anything, and that changes in the feces is the best way to notice if the goat is having some issue. My goats are thriving, as are the goats of my friends on the Rez, none of whom feed any of the expensive goat chows or supplements, just the basic minerals and a salt lick and what they graze with some corn in winter, and it has worked for the Navaho and Hopi for thousands of years.
free choice. Just know they're going to waste a lot of it, so you might want to do several small meals rather than one big one.
