Posted by GoatWorld on October 05, 2002 at 19:22:03:
Thanks to our dear friend Goatmom, here are some sample rations that I'd like to share with the rest of you who are into mixing your own feeds.
Let's look at the MILKING DOES ration first - this is based upon if they are being fed alfalfa hay:
For a 12.6% digestible protein ration mix
Cracked Corn - 31 pounds
Oats (whole) - 25 pounds
Wheat bran - 11 pounds
Linseed-Oil meal - 22 pounds
Cane molasses - 10 pounds
Salt - 1 pound
The same mix can be substituted as well:
Barley - 40 pounds
Oats (whole) 28 pounds
Wheat bran - 10 pounds
Soybean-oil meal - 11 pounds
Can molasses - 10 pounds
Salt - 1 pound
For the LACTATING DOES fed non alfalfa hay mix this ration to achieve a total of 21.2% digestible protein:
Cracked corn - 11 pounds
Oats (whole) - 10 pounds
Wheat bran - 10 pounds
Corn-gluten feed - 30 pounds
Soybean-oil meal - 24 pounds
Cane molasses - 10 pounds
Salt - 1 pound
The same mix can be substituted as well:
Barley - 25 pounds
Oats (whole) - 20 pounds
Wheat bran - 10 pounds
Soybean-oil meal - 25 pounds
Linseed-oil meal - 15 pounds
Salt - 1 pounds
These are SAMPLE RATIONS ONLY and are meant for comparison purposes only. There are many factors which determine the best feed mix; largely location where you live and location where the products were initially grown. In my opinion, you will need to continue mineral supplementation in addition to each mix. The SALT may be substituted with a good quality TRACE MINERAL SALT which will contain the majority of the essential minerals not supplied with the feed itself.
This information was taken from Raising Dairy Goats - a book Goatmom sent me not long ago. Thank you Goatmom. I'll add some sample mixes for back a bit later.
Best regards,
Gary