Minerals

I use Hoegger's Golden Blend minerals and my goats are really gobbling it up. For 2 adult and 2 9 months old goats, they are eating nearly 2 cups in a week. Is this ok? Is it possible for them to overdose on the minerals?

I have always left my minerals out free choice, but I don't remember my previous herd eating this much.

I can't find a list of the specifics on each mineral on the website, but I did a little research and some are saying Golden Blend doesn't have enough copper. Could that be the reason? The goats are trying to get their copper and therefore getting too much of the other minerals? I have no idea what our copper levels are around here... have never had a goat with symptoms, so we are probably ok.

I am open to trying another brand. I heard Sweetlix was good. I am also looking into one from Idaho that is a bit more spendy...

Also, what do you think about the added molasses? Will that encourage them to eat more minerals than they need?

Sorry for all the questions =)

My goats eat a lot more minerals this time of year than they do during the summer when there is grass, browse, and forbs available. I don't remember exactly when you got your goats, but they will also eat a lot more if they have been without it for a while.

Minerals should have at least 1,500 ppm copper. I think Golden Blend has that, but check the label to be sure. I used to use it, but I can get Sweetlix locally, so I don't have to pay for shipping.

I would not add molasses because that might cause them to eat more than they need, but it would also dilute it, so I'm not sure what the final outcome would be. I prefer not to mix anything with my minerals. I have multiple mineral feeders with different things in them (kelp, DE, Redmond conditioner, baking soda) -- all separate. You can get two-compartment black mineral feeders for about $5 at Tractor Supply or online from Jeffers. They eat all of those things at a different pace, so I don't think it's really possible to be able to accurately create a mix.

Replies

Anna Cummings February 26, 2011 at 9:45pm

I don't know. Another goat owner by me said she used it and thought about becoming a dealer so I was curious. It would have been so convenient.

Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:

600 ppm copper for a goat mineral is really low. Most are 1,500 to 1,800. Is that supposed to be used free choice? I'm familiar with Fertrell, and I thought that was supposed to be mixed into grain.

Anna Cummings said:

What about Fertrell minerals? I can get that easier than I can get Sweetlix. Is it any good?

http://www.fertrell.com/analysis_tags/Goat_tag38.pdf
Deborah Niemann-Boehle February 26, 2011 at 1:42pm

I am not a fan of Fir Meadow's dewormer, but then Molly's and Hoegger's doesn't work here either. It also bugs me that the woman who owns it puts out that she has a master's degree when she is a master herbalist. There's a big difference between the two. What does the copper and selenium formula contain?

Laura Jo said:

I bought an herbal copper and selenium formula from Fir Meadow. I haven't been using it long enough to see how well it works yet (barely a week) but I've heard nothing but high praise for Fir Meadow's products so I am very hopeful. :)
Deborah Niemann-Boehle February 26, 2011 at 1:39pm

600 ppm copper for a goat mineral is really low. Most are 1,500 to 1,800. Is that supposed to be used free choice? I'm familiar with Fertrell, and I thought that was supposed to be mixed into grain.

Anna Cummings said:

What about Fertrell minerals? I can get that easier than I can get Sweetlix. Is it any good?

http://www.fertrell.com/analysis_tags/Goat_tag38.pdf
Anna Cummings February 26, 2011 at 1:18pm

What about Fertrell minerals? I can get that easier than I can get Sweetlix. Is it any good?

http://www.fertrell.com/analysis_tags/Goat_tag38.pdf
Kare February 20, 2011 at 1:47pm

If there was a food source that is naturally in copper, that would be nice to put that out free choice as well.
Deborah Niemann-Boehle February 20, 2011 at 1:31pm

Kelp has tons of nutrients and micro-nutrients, and it is especially high in iodine. I get it (and DE) from a Fertrell dealer in my area. If you visit their website, they have a dealer directory. I just store both of them in the bags they originally come in. Nothing bothers it, as in mice, which would get into my goat feed if I didn't keep it in plastic containers.
Adrienne February 20, 2011 at 12:58pm

I never thought of offering kelp or DE to the goats. What is the best way to store the DE?Where do you get kelp? What does it do for them?
Deborah Niemann-Boehle February 20, 2011 at 11:43am

Oh, silly me on the molasses! I was wondering why you wanted to add molasses. Now I get it! Well, I was using Golden Blend when I had copper deficient goats dieing, and now that I use Sweetlix, I still have to do copper oxide, so they're definitely not over-consuming the minerals.

When you first put the kelp out, don't get freaked if they eat it like crazy. If we run out, I let them get caught up by giving them a feed pan with it initially because I would be refilling the mineral feeder about five times a day. When I first started, I initially thought that they would just keep eating and eating and eating because it was like candy to them. But once they have enough, they do seriously stop eating it like crazy, and I only have to refill the mineral feeder every few days. I have a lot more goats, so it might not be so hard for yours to get enough of what they need if you just use the mineral feeder.
Kare February 20, 2011 at 11:26am

I wouldn't add molasses to it, but it is in the list of ingredients for both Golden Blend and Sweetlix.

I have kelp and DE, but never thought about offering them free choice... that's a great idea!
Deborah Niemann-Boehle February 20, 2011 at 11:03am

My goats eat a lot more minerals this time of year than they do during the summer when there is grass, browse, and forbs available. I don't remember exactly when you got your goats, but they will also eat a lot more if they have been without it for a while.

Minerals should have at least 1,500 ppm copper. I think Golden Blend has that, but check the label to be sure. I used to use it, but I can get Sweetlix locally, so I don't have to pay for shipping.

I would not add molasses because that might cause them to eat more than they need, but it would also dilute it, so I'm not sure what the final outcome would be. I prefer not to mix anything with my minerals. I have multiple mineral feeders with different things in them (kelp, DE, Redmond conditioner, baking soda) -- all separate. You can get two-compartment black mineral feeders for about $5 at Tractor Supply or online from Jeffers. They eat all of those things at a different pace, so I don't think it's really possible to be able to accurately create a mix.

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