Goat question...

[DuckDuckSook]

Hello.

I'm thinking about adding some goats to our homestead. We currently have ducks, chickens, and 3 sheep. If I were to have the goats live with the sheep, I know they have different nutritional requirements and I know that the goats need copper and sheep don't. For those of you who have goats, how do you give them copper (minerals, bolus, etc.) and if you happen to also have sheep or know of someone who has both, how do I prevent the sheep from eating the goat minerals/supplements? Thanks so much!

 

[Weeg]

Not quite sure, but I'm interested in following this thread to see what people say.
The Goat Spot is another god forum for goat owners, try checkin that out to!

 

[cassie]

This may not be of any help, and I am no expert on the subject, but when I had sheep and goats, I just fed hay, pasture, grain when required, and a trace mineral block. That was it. No loose minerals. Everybody did fine.

 

[cassie]

My sheep ppl have supplemented copper if their soil test comes back bad, I never gave my goats copper…sure it’s not reverse uno?

A newbie friend killed a sheep after moving it 3 hours to her farm and continuing the supplements however. The breeder insisted they needed it. I don’t raise either but def double check.

No it is not the reverse. Goats do need more copper than sheep but not as much as a lot of people seem to think they do.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

Thanks so much. This is all very helpful information. I might also reach out to our farm vet and see what they recommend. I know of many people who only use hay, pasture, and mineral block for both sheep and goats with no problems. I guess it all depends on soil/hay/pasture quality. My sheep are in a fenced in area on our property and I plan on extending that area with another fenced in pen to do some pasture rotation. My sheep eat the grass in that area but I also supplement with hay and hay pellets since it's not the best pasture situation. The sheep have been doing well with this set up and I'm hoping the goats will too. I know goats like to forage, but once they eat everything in those two pens, they will mostly be given hay, pellets, and the pasture grass to eat. I could give them some brush from other areas of the property that we typically have to trim back throughout the year. Do you think they'd be happy with that?

 

[alwaystj9]

My goats get copper boluses 2-3 times a year and replamin paste for additional minerals.
I have white salt, brown mineral & blue-green selenium blocks.
Purina Wind & Rain loose minerals are usually available, not during heavy rain events...
During winter, I usually provide protein pails or goat or horse or deer blocks, depending on what's going on with the herd and the weather.
I only feed concentrates during late pregnancy/lactation and as a creep feed until the kids won't fit in the creep feeder anymore. (usually around 5-6 months).
If they are not on pasture or tied on a graze line, I feed hay. This past year I had some great alicia hay and some very good bahia.
Right now the Creepers and my buck are the only ones getting feed, everyone else is on pasture.