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FEEDING BUCKS I am often asked to explain how I feed my bucks. The question intially puzzled me, because I feed my bucks the same pelleted feed and hay which I offer to my does, taking into account their age and weight and the nutrition offered in my pastures. Then I realized that people are concerned about causing urinary calculi. There is much incorrect information offered about Urinary Calculi. The condition is mis-named. Urinary Calculi is NOT caused by too much calcium. Urinary Calculi is the result of too much phosphorus in relation to calcium. There must be at least a two to one (2:1) calcium to phosphorus in feed, and three-to-one calcium to phosphorus is often better. Phosphorus is too high for goats in areas where chickens are raised (Arkansas, for example). Chicken litter is used as fertilizer, raising the phosphorus content of hay and plant materials, resulting in Urinary Calculi if you don't take corrective measures like adding calcium carbonate to the daily feed ration. Alfalfa does NOT cause urinary calculi in bucks. However, feeding too much protein ("hot" feed) to both bucks and does can cause laminitis-founder, bloat, and/or ruminal acidosis. Goats layer fat, like deer and humans; they don't marble fat throughout the meat like cattle. Over-feeding/ improper feeding wastes money, puts layers fat around internal organs, causes kidding problems (in females), and you don't get paid for the fat at point of sale. Getting nutrition right is the hardest thing for goat raisers to do. See my articles on this topic on the Articles page at www.tennesseemeatgoats.com. Suzanne W. Gasparotto, ONION CREEK RANCH, Texas 10.1.21 |
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Important! Please Read This Notice! All information provided in these articles is based either on personal experience or information provided by others whose treatments and practices have been discussed fully with a vet for accuracy and effectiveness before passing them on to readers. In all cases, it is your responsibility to obtain veterinary services and advice before using any of the information provided in these articles. Suzanne Gasparotto is not a veterinarian.Neither tennesseemeatgoats.com nor any of the contributors to this website will be held responsible for the use of any information contained herein. |
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The author, Suzanne Gasparotto, hereby grants to local goat publications and club newsletters, permission to reprint articles published on the Onion Creek Ranch website under these conditions: THE ARTICLE MUST BE REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY AND THE AUTHOR'S NAME, ADDRESS, AND CONTACT INFORMATION MUST BE INCLUDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE REPRINT. We would appreciate notification from any clubs or publications when the articles are used. (A copy of the newsletter or publication would also be a welcome addition to our growing library of goat related information!) |
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All information and photos copyright © Onion Creek Ranch and may not be used without express written permission of Onion Creek Ranch. TENNESSEE MEAT GOAT ™ and TEXMASTER™ are Trademarks of Onion Creek Ranch . All artwork and graphics © DTP, Ink and Onion Creek Ranch. |
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