Well much to my son's relief the wethers I thought would eventually be butchered found a home yesterday! They are almost 2 months old. I insisted that they stay a day or two so that they could be banded and get over their initial discomfort from that. The lady that bought them is a goat newbie but has horses. They are going to be so spoiled from her I can tell. It occured to me when she was asking so many questions that I have never raised a wether to adulthood. The oldest one I had was 6 months old and he was on his mother. My biggest question is about grain and supplementation. Should they have any since they are still growing? How much and for how long? I know your not supposed to feed much grain to wethers. If someone could give me their feeding and care regime for these guys I will gladly add that info to their care sheet. Thanks!
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Deborah, thank you so much for chiming in to help clear that up because I was getting really confused and worried because of all the times I have put baking soda out for my bucks. I think you did a great job, as usual, of clarifying that. I feel much better now. See I have does that stay with my bucks too, so I was trying again ti figure out how to handle this and the vinegar water idea. I think I will fix some water with vin. and some without.
I don't think they'd be terribly interested in eating baking soda if they're not getting grain. That's why all of these things are supposed to be given in separate feeders (minerals, baking soda, kelp) -- so the animals can pick and choose what they need. You should never sprinkle baking soda on their feed because you could be ODing them on sodium. However, I have never heard of sodium bicarbonate causing kidney stones. It is widely accepted that feeding grain causes stones, and a lot of people think early castration causes a smaller urinary tract, which makes stones more lethal because they can't pass as easily. Actually, I do give my bucks grain in Jan/Feb some years when it is insanely cold up here (below zero), and I provide baking soda at the same time, and some eat it.
Hannah Person said:
Does it actually hurt them though even if they're not getting grain?
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
I've never had baking soda available for bucks because I don't give them grain. The role of baking soda is to keep the rumen balanced because ruminants really should not have grain. The more grain they have, the more likely the rumen will be upset. Apparently baking soda is delivered to stockyard by the truckload because they are pushing so much grain on the cattle (and there are so many cattle there). The baking soda is in my milking stall where the milkers spend the night, so they can get as much as they want from the time of the evening milking to the morning milking. Wethers should not normally need baking soda either, provided they're not getting grain.
I believe its for all male goats including wethers.
I've never heard that.
Does it apply only to bucks? Or wethers too?
Amy Bell said:
If he is healthy, in good condition, and growing nicely without grain, then no, you don't have to give it to him. What I outline is the maximum amount of grain they should get. If he seems underweight or isn't growing as fast as others or has a problem with parasites, which could mean his nutrition could be better, then you can supplement with grain. There is no "one size fits all" feeding program because every farm is different. And dealing with a severe drought this year and no pasture, I'm even changing my feeding program. I guess I'm learning how people have to feed in places like Arizona!
Kailyn Elliott said:
Yes. I just saw this passage in Hoeggers catalog. "Male goats of any age should never have access to sodium bicarbonate because it works contradictory to what you are trying to accomplish in your prevention program." I dont give baking soda to my bucks.
Amy, I've been wondering that myself. It does seem that the baking soda and vinegar would cancel each other out?
Kailyn, I was just going to comment on the baking soda. I thought the males should not have baking soda due to urinary stones. I have heard of people putting vinegar in their water to keep the acidity high so that stones dont develop.
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