Goat mineral basics

Hi everyone,

Since goat mineral issues come up so often, I've decided to create a post with basic mineral info. Here is a link to an excerpt from Raising Goats Naturally:

http://hoeggerfarmyard.com/mineral-deficiencies-in-goats-an-excerpt-from-raising-goats-naturally/

Here is information on how goats regulate their mineral intake:

https://extension.usu.edu/behave/files/uploads/Fact_sheets_basic/Mineral%20Nutr.pdf

Here is a brief audio lecture that I did for the goat class that I teach for the University of Massachusetts. It's less than four minutes, but I explain quite a bit. 

https://app.box.com/s/iz0s9tkowl65rowpyaehlvwa0qja1hny

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  • I don't know.  I just do it once a year and they get back to normal. My does free browse as well.  I only notice it during the winter months.   My does also have multiple births.. My FF's have 3 kids, which is think is unusual for FF's. 

  • Yes, the copper dissolves over a period of one month. It is stored in the liver, so levels might be reasonable for a few months, but definitely not a year. I thought my goats were doing well at twice a year but noticed that we were still getting faded coat an fishtails, so I increased to 3X and then 4X, and I no longer see any symptoms of deficiency, AND we have outstanding milk production and lots of multiple births. Our average this year has been 3.5 kids per doe so far. Of course, you have to have the genetics for that, but we've had these genetics for 11 years, and these same bloodlines used to average less than 2 kids per doe when they were copper deficient and borderline-low selenium. If you ever see any symptoms of copper deficiency, then your goats are deficient at that point. 

  • Wow, interesting.  I only copper bolus (4g)  once a year and mine are good  :-)  I understood that the copper pieces sit in the rumen and it's a slow release.  My goats  tails smooth out and their hair shiney and no curls  ..  I have to find the site that explains everything...

  • A copper bolus (also known as copper oxide wire particles or COWP) only lasts for about a month. I would not want anyone reading this to think that they can just do a COWP once a year and be done with copper. Goats should have a free-choice mineral available 365 days a year that contains at least 1500 ppm copper sulfate, and even with that, many people such as Marin and myself wind up having to do the COWP 2-4 times a years.

  • That's for that Marin.  I watch for the signs...the fish tail, the upturning of the fur.  I only see that in the winter when they don't get the green browse. 

  • Trish,
    Different areas can have different issues with copper. We feed a high copper/high selenium cattle mineral (can't get a goat one locally that we're happy with) and still have to bolus with copper every three months. That's a lot of copper! :-)
    Now I've typed the word copper so many times it's starting to look nonsensical. Hate when that happens.
  • I don't worry about copper content in my minerals as I copper bolus them once a year....


  • Yes, that's also a drawback.  I'd prefer they made one with and one without, so people could choose, or use one for bucks and one for does if they want their bucks to get it.


    Myra Isaac said:

    The problem I have with Manna Pro is that I can't find it without ammonium chloride in it. I'd really prefer not to feed that to my animals full time. I finally ordered in some Sweetlix Meatmaker and the goats seem to really like it.
  • The problem I have with Manna Pro is that I can't find it without ammonium chloride in it. I'd really prefer not to feed that to my animals full time. I finally ordered in some Sweetlix Meatmaker and the goats seem to really like it.
  • Yes, that is the one drawback.  I wish they did make bigger bags or buckets.  Wenever I get to the city, I end up buying 6 or 8 bags.   Maybe we should keep requesting that, and they'll start. :)

    Julia @Woody Glen Farm said:

    Wow that's really interesting Patty! Thanks for doing that research! Only trouble I have with Manna Pro is they don't sell big tubs of it (that I can find) and the little bags add up to be a lot more expensive. Maybe I'll have to do some more research and find bigger tubs for lower prices.
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