SamX
no we are not feeding hog concentrates yet,we feed regular goat concentrates 16% protein comes from Cebu at 500 grams per day on average unless the does are preg from 2-4 months then half 250 grams then in the last month of preg bring it back up slowly.A milk goat needs a very high protein and calcium diet to produce milk.We are looking into the 21% hog protein concentrates to add in with the regular 16% starting 1 week after kidding plus extra calcium from mulanggay to see if we can get the anglos to produce more milk plus for a longer lactation period.This is experimential at this point in time.We now think that a goat uses more calcium from forage plants,also we are looking into dolomite lime to add with their concentrates,another experiment will explain to you later the reason.We are being consulted by a big goat milk farm in Texas USA,they offer us advice to help improve our operation.
Our breeds are anglos,upgrades,boers and hybrids (experimentials) and natives.So far our anglo girls only produce 2 litres of milk per day but their lactation period is only from 5-8 months ,5 months is very poor and 8 months is a real struggle to get a few there,climate is part of the problem but we feel it has alot to do with diet.Alaminos Goat Farm is the only farm that has goats producing to 300/305 days of lacation,good for them but it will take us many years of selected breeding and diet to get our girls to 300/305 days.
The kangkong I am talking about is the chinese or upland type not the one that grows in the muddy water,the local DA 2 years ago told all the people here to plant the new type for health reasons,all the old type of kangkong is gone now and the new type is grown like most other vegetables.
Baking soda is good for goats,your goat will not get bloat from concentrates or green forage if you add baking soda with their feed,you would be surprized how much baking soda a goat will eat at first.We like to add it with their salt,we are also thinking of using table salt over rock salt now as the iodine in the table salt should not hurt the goats.Goats need minerals,seaweed dried is good also.
The reason for the vinegar in drinking water,keeps the water clean,no algae will grow plus the mosquitos will not lay eggs in water with vinegar,helps to keep the goats ph level in their urine especially wethers and bucks so they do not get UC,Urine problems from grain feeding,very painful for the goat.There is an old belief that adding vinegar to the does drinking water before they come into heat may produce more females over males.I do not believe this to be fact.I know for fact that some people in the poorer areas in America use to add vinegar in the goats drinking water to keep them healthy.
Your pictures are real nice and they can help other people plan their barns.Thanks for all the great pictures really nice to look at.
Yes it is the chart (famacha),used mainly for field observation daily,the best is the fecal test but one needs a microscope and a set up.We use chemical dewormers only.One of the biggest problems we see is not to worm the kid(s) at 3 weeks of age,they can get cocci and if they do not get dewormed the kid(s) will not grow,stunted and runted and take on that pot belly look,the goat at that point is only good for meat and should never be used for breeding.We also like to worm our does 1-2 days after kidding.
Remember if a goat is not use to eating concentrates,you must start them off real slow and build it up slowly or they will get bloat and die,VERY IMPORTANT TO START OFF SLOWLY,or big troubles.
We are learning all the time ourselves.
Support the goat:
mikey
