They do not need it. The sudden change of being put out on lush green pasture in the spring. We have been keeping goats for 20 years and I always have something at hand, e.g. Overgrazing is the primary cause of parasitism in small ruminants, such as goats. You'd be amazed at what selling animals or putting them in dry lot will do for your parasite control program. Prevention is the best form of treatment: lots of fresh water, and good quality hay. organic oats or organic feed pellets "to keep them sweet", say a cupful per head and to lead them to temporary pasture areas and back. Grain may also be useful, but only as needed, for example: kidding mothers, recovering animals, etc… Wethers do not need typically alfalfa or grain. I feed all my goats a little grain daily and always have hay available to them. My goats eat everything out of the garden except tomato and potato plants (toxic - … In this way, some goat owners can eliminate the need for grain with alfalfa and good pasture. Not grain because too much grain will cause some goats to founder. If goats or sheep are feed grain in groups, one may push the others out and get more grain than planned or even realized. And if I do need to give goats more due to extreme temperatures, I supplement in minerals and hay. Hay and browse are that roughage. Pasture. A goat that consumes too much grain is at increased risk of health issues – like bloat. I have one doe that is almost 2 yrs old that i have about cut out grains from and just have on strictly hay because she was getting overweight. I see you're feeding pellets, so there's no need to get into it. Alfalfa should not be fed on a free-choice basis, but portioned into flakes depending on the goat’s size and nutritional needs. 4. It is important to only feed male goats grass hay, roughage, minerals, and necessary supplements. Goats can thrive in a variety of living situations, but they do best when they are exposed to adequate pasture. If feeding grain to goats it should account for no more than 10% of their overall daily food intake. The heaviest of my goats is 75 lbs. Pregnant does often need a little more. The sweet feed debate is a big one. Finding your goat’s head in the bag of grain after you know you locked the gate and checked twice. A goat must have roughage to survive. Grain should not be overfed: it can make goats fat, cause illness and even death. A quality grain feed is comprised of significant percentages of protein, minerals, and vitamins. I fill the hay feeders another time and they can enjoy a little more protein to keep them warm through the extremes. Grain Feed – usually a combination of oat, barley, & wheat, though some goat feeds have soy & corn in it as well. Many show-goat people are being taught to feed only grain to try to add weight quickly and to reduce the size of the stomach. 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