So we start slowly adding or increasing grain in the last few weeks of the doe's pregnancy. Got it. But I would think we would also be adding in alfalfa at that time, in whatever form, for the protein and the calcium. Then my vet friend says, "no, you should be decreasing calcium-rich food to cause the doe to maintain her own calcium output." Um, huh? Then I read this... http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/pregnancycomplic06.html...see "hypocalcemia". Any input on this from y'all? Deborah? Rachel? Am I to be cursed with hypocalcemia because I feed my does alfalfa? We *always* fed our pregnant mares alfie at the end of their pregnancies and while they were lactating and we never had a problem. How would a ruminant differ in this aspect?
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OK, that makes sense. I think I am freaking out over everything because this will be my first kidding season and I am spending too much time on the internet, researching every little thing. But the fact that my friend, who is a relatively new vet (and thus pretty up to date on stuff AND willing to research for me) brought it up as well sorta spooked me. She was extrapolating from cows, but still... So I think Rachel's comment about people who feed alfalfa all the time may be the issue. Thanks guys. I'll go look for something else to worry about now! ;-)
I'm not sure how soon my goat dealer feeds alfalfa, but I have been there just before kiddings, and her does are getting alfalfa. Deb's theory on dairy vs. meat seems good to me... I also wonder if free choice vs. rations make any difference? It seems to me reading the info you linked to, that those does would have had to have been on alfalfa for sometime to have such extreme symptoms.
ALSO
The article says "Calcium-rich feeds/hays need to be cut back during the last 30 days of gestation to prevent excess calcium from being deposited in her bones." which sounds like the goats might already be regularly EATING alfalfa. "We" are all agreed that alfalfa isn't for everyday feeding unless you have a doe in milk... I'm thinking that's a pretty big thing. I wonder if it's common practice (and I think it might be?) to feed alfalfa to build meat on meat goats, and since they are bred for butcher, it might mean that they don't live long enough to see problems that dairy goats see from eating it as a regular ration?
I feed alfalfa at the end of pregnancy and have never had hypocalcemia (knock on wood!). Remember that Tennessee Meat Goats is writing for meat goat producers, and they don't produce anywhere near as much milk as dairy goats, so maybe there is a difference?