The Challenges of Feeding Your Goat Herd, J.D. Kleinschmidt

The Challenges of Feeding Your
Goat Herd in 2012-2013
&
Considerations When Feeding a
Goat Herd a TMR
J. D. Kleinschmidt BSc.(Agr), MSc.
janetklein@uniserve.com
1

Feeding the Goat Herd in an Environment of High
Feed Costs and Low/ Poor Quality Forage
Inventories.

This past summer, the United States and parts of
Canada experienced the worst drought in more than
half a century.
In Canada the areas most hard hit included most of
southern Ontario, Quebec and parts of the Maritimes
and Manitoba.

2

Inventories.

In the US the Mississippi River approached record
lows, as far as 20 feet below normal. Throughout the
Midwest, meager corn harvests began on the some of
the earliest dates ever recorded.
Corn and soybean farms produced far smaller yields,
which is affecting livestock production and impacting
food prices worldwide.

3

Inventories.

4

Inventories.

5

Inventories.

Adverse weather conditions like drought present the
goat producer with some major challenges:
1.The largest problem is having enough forage
available to feed all animal groups.
1.The second significant problem is forage quality.

6

Inventories.
3.The third issue (and in many peoples minds the
most important issue) is the economics of the
situation:
Forage quantities are limited, to buy more forages is
expensive and often prohibitive (that’s if you can find
some!).
Grains, proteins and by-products are at all time high
$/Tonne
The palatability of the items being evaluated and
their suitability for use in the feeding system should
also be considered.
7

Inventories.
In addition to the aforementioned items, there are
other risk factors that occur during a drought that can
have a substantial impact on animal performance.
Listeria, nitrates, mycotoxins, molds, prussic acid, and
other poisons can jeopardize both production and
health of animals.

8

Feeding Silage to Goats: The Pros and
the Cons (Let’s address this right off the top)
Goats are natural browsers in the wild, being very
selective of what they eat.
If the seasonal nutritive values of browse and other
feedstuffs decline or fluctuate, silage can be a good
alternative, especially in production situations that
require consistent nutrition on a daily basis.
Feeding silage to goats is generally safe but does come
with some risks and challenges, but there is nothing
inherently wrong with feeding silage to goats.
9

the Cons
As with all forages, quality and nutritional value, as
well as price, should be the deciding factors when
considering feeding silage to goats.
While silages are an excellent way to preserve
forages, improperly processing, ensiling and possible
mishandling after ensiling can result in a dangerous
product that will have an ill/deadly effect on goats.

10

the Cons
Corn silage, haylage, small grain silage and baled
haylage are all potential ensiled feeds for goats.
The biggest concern from a goat perspective with
spoiled, or poorly ensiled haylage is the risk of
listeriosis.
The bacteria causing the disease will not survive in
silage where the pH is below 5.6.
The bacteria will survive in pockets of spoiled silage,
such as the bag closure and any punctures that have
allowed air in.
11

the Cons
Remember that spoiled silage left in the feeders can
contaminate good quality silage, resulting in
perpetuation of the problem.
Because the ensiling process takes a minimum of 3
weeks to complete, listeria may be present during this
time period, since the pH won’t necessarily have
dropped below 5.6 during this time.
I prefer my clients to wait MUCH longer than 3 weeks
to feed out any ensiled feed (3 months)!
12

the Cons
Bottom line: fermented feeds can be fed to goats.
To help reduce the risk of losses to Listeriosis:
lAlways be conscious of the risk of listeriosis
lDo a top job of harvesting and storing haylage
lCheck bags frequently for holes and seal promptly
lNever feed spoiled haylage to goats
lWait at least 3 weeks (!) after ensiling before feeding

13

the Cons
6. Start goats on haylage gradually (as with all feed
changes)
7. Provide plenty of clean drinking water
8. Use a feeding system that minimizes waste and
trampling (TMR)
9. Clean up refused feed regularly isolate and treat
sick animals
10. Remember that the disease is contagious to
humans as well - Use care when handling sick
animals
14

What to do about 2012 feed???
There are many strategies that livestock producers
can do to get thru the 2012-2013 production year.
Some of these strategies we are too late for in in early
2013, but I guarantee you, for the young producers
out there, you will go thru this at least once more in
your careers (take notes!).

15

1. Plant annuals (too late!)
Additional forages may be grown to help supplement
forage supplies. Oats, peas, triticale, wheat and
rye grass, provide an option for additional forage
(must have some moisture).
These forages could either be used in diets of lactating
animals or as forage sources for young stock to
increase the supply of higher quality forages for
the lactating herd.

16

2. Source forages from outside sources (possibly too
late)
Drought conditions result in reduced home grown
forages. Being proactive on sourcing additional
forage can be beneficial as availability of forages
may be reduced and prices will continue to rise as
demand increases.
I recommended my clients buy any needed forages at
the end of last summer before prices got way out
of hand (they will be CRAZY before 1st cut).
17

3. Purchase drought-stressed corn to harvest for
silage (again probably too late)
Even though drought-stressed corn may not result in
Eve
feed values equal to corn silage grown during a
normal year, it can still be a good source of feed.
Increased opportunities for purchasing droughtstressed corn for silage are likely in areas where
corn is commonly grown for grain. However, the
moisture of these crops must be monitored closely
to be sure the crop will ensile and ferment
correctly, and nitrate testing needs to be done.
18

4. Use non-forage fiber sources in dairy diets ($$$ in
2013)
Consider reformulating diets to include non-forage
fiber sources and reduce the inclusion of forages in
the diets of your goats.
Although some eNDF is necessary in a ruminant’s diet,
non-fiber feed sources, such soybean hulls, corn
gluten feed and cottonseed hulls can help to meet
the animal’s fiber requirements.
Less expensive effective fiber such as straw or low
quality hay may be added.

19


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5.Focus on proper forage harvest techniques

(for goat produces this is ESSENTIAL).
Proper management and techniques at harvest will
reduce losses and wasted forage. Even though proper
management at harvest is always important, forage
shortages further increase the importance of properly
preserving as much forage as possible.
Paying attention to forage moisture levels, use of
inoculants and proper packing of silages help to insure
that the harvested forage will be properly preserved.
21

6.Store forages properly.
Harvested forages only will be available to be fed if
they are stored properly throughout the year. Feed
losses can quickly increase feed cost. Use the
following feed management practices to help
minimize these losses:
 Properly cover silage
 Pack bunkers and piles well
 Limit access by raccoons and other wildlife
22


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 Manage the face of bunkers, bags, and upright
silos
 Prevent losses when storing concentrates
and/or commodities.
 Check scales on the grinder mixer and/or TMR
mixer to make sure they are working properly
 Routinely measure DM content of ensiled
forages.

24

7. Reduce waste feed
Pay special attention to how much feed is being
wasted at various points on the farm.
Reduce the amount of feed refusals from groups or
utilize the refusals in the diets of other animals,
when appropriate, can help to minimize wastage.
Keep the area around commodity storage clean and
tidy can also help to prevent shrink and feed
waste.
25

8. Test forages
Running analysis on forages is necessary to know the
quality of the forages and to properly balance
rations.
Without having the forage tested, it is impossible to
know the nutritional value of the feed.
Other nutritional concerns, such as nitrates, also are a
greater risk in drought years.
Be sure to have the feeds tested at a certified
laboratory.
26

9.Inventory the feeds currently available on the farm
Determine the amounts and quality of the forage
sources currently available on the farm to determine
if and how much additional forage may be needed.
Remember that carry-over of corn silage is necessary
to allow time for next year’s crop to ferment
(minimum of 3 months of additional corn silage
should be available).

27

10. Sort forages by their quality.
Energy is the most difficult nutrient to provide to
lactating animals. Thus, they need to consume the
higher-energy forages available.
Within the milking herd, the highest-quality forages
should be fed to the early-lactation animals, highproducing group, and/or fresh animals.
Share the inventory of available forages with your
nutritionist and develop a plan for using available
forages.
28

10. Sort forages by their quality.
For meat animals, the highest quality forage should be
reserved for animals prior to breeding (flushing)
and for lactating animals particularly for those
feeding multiples.

29

11.Group Animals to Improve Feeding Decisions:
1. Early to mid-lactation animals: These are the
current money makers in the herd. They require large
amounts of good quality feed to maintain production.
2. Late lactation animals: These goats are on the back
end of their productive lactation and most of their
feed intake will be used to maintain body condition.
3. Goats close to kidding: Should receive a ration
similar to early lactation animals to maintain body
condition, to help prevent kidding difficulties, and to
promote milk production after kidding.
30

4.Young stock: A maintenance ration is usually
sufficient, but it is important to remember they are
the future milk makers in the herd.
If animals are sorted and feed rations are mixed to
fulfill the requirements of the respective groups, then
feed costs can potentially be minimized based on a
certain milk production level.

31

12. Keep rumen health a top priority
A healthy rumen environment, regardless of ration
changes, is critical for consistent performance.
Focus on rumen pH and maintaining a neutral
environment to allow rumen microbes to thrive.
Sodium bicarbonate free choice or 28 g/h/day?

32

13.Cull
Reducing the numbers of animals that need to be fed
will help to stretch forage inventories.
Ensure that the animals being retained on the farm
are healthy and profitable for the operation.
Animals with longer days in milk and short bred,
problem breeders, and those with milk production
below the level needed to cover feed costs may need
to be culled or dried off early.
33

14.Constantly review balanced rations for the milking
herd.
The dry weather pattern has greatly changed the
quality of forages available to feed the milking herd.
In addition, commodity prices are fluctuating widely.
To deal with these rapidly fluctuating feed costs,
producers will need to balance and evaluate feeding
programs more frequently than in previous years.
Working closely with your nutritionist is very
important to capitalize on any available feed savings.
34

15. Consider replacing some corn and soybean meal
with lower-priced commodities in diets.
Goats need nutrients, not ingredients, to support
body maintenance, milk production, and growth.
Replacing some of the corn, soybean meal, or other
high-priced commodities in the diet can reduce
feed costs.
Commodities and by-products increase in price
alongside increased prices seen for corn and
soybean meal.
35

What to do???
Computer programs such as:
FeedVal(FREE!)
http://
www.uwex.edu/ces/dairynutrition/spreadsheets.cfm
Sesame http://www.sesamesoft.com
can be used to calculate the feeding or nutritional
value of these feeds.
If these feeds can be purchased more cheaply than
their price based on nutritional value, they may be
able to partially substitute for higher-priced
ingredients.

36

Feeding drought stressed corn
silage
Drought-stricken corn can make nutritious silage:
Absence of ears does not imply that corn silage
lacks fermentable energy.
Forage portions should contain reasonably high
levels of soluble sugars.
As corn approaches maturity, the energy level and
dry matter yield increase. It is recommended to allow
corn to develop as fully as possible (even w/o ears).
37

silage
There are wide variations in the nutritive content of
drought-stressed corn silage.
It may have an energy value 85 to 100 percent of
normal corn silage, or it may be quite different.
A standard forage analysis is highly recommended,
along with testing for levels of nitrates.

38

silage
Another weather-related complication is frost on
drought-stressed corn.
When frost occurs on immature plants, it will appear
drier than unfrosted corn of the same moisture
content.
Even though leaves may brown off along the edges
and dry rapidly after a few sunny days, the green stalk
and ears do not.
The crop will continue to accumulate dry matter and
should be left in the field until it reaches the
appropriate moisture content.
39

silage
Immature plants that are killed will likely contain too
much moisture for immediate ensiling.
These plants will dry slowly and dry matter losses will
increase as the dead plants drop their leaves.
The best option is to leave the crop in the field until it
reaches the appropriate dry matter level.
Drought-damaged corn is usually lower in energy and
dry matter, but similar or higher than usual in protein
level.
40

silage: At The Barn Level
Supplement with other forages to avoid excess
intake and dilute potentially dangerous silage.
Feed a small number of animals and observe
carefully before feeding a large number of animals.
Feed poorer quality feed to low producing animals.
Since immature corn is high in nitrates and NPN,
limit the amount of urea in the total ration.
41

silage: At The Barn Level
 Adding grain (carbohydrates) will improve
fermentation and silage quality, but cost must be
considered.
 Add non-protein nitrogen (NPN), such as urea, only
to corn silage at the right moisture level (60-70%).
If the silage does not ferment (too dry), losses will
occur as ammonia gas. If seepage occurs (too wet),
the NPN will leach out since it is water-soluble.
 Well-balanced rations minimize stress on the
animals.
42

Feeding drought stressed soybeans
Drought or immature soybean plants can be used as a
forage crop (soybean hay & silage).
Plants should be allowed to mature as much as
possible before harvesting.
Plant moisture should drops below 60 to 65% for
ensiled product.
If possible, mix soybeans with other forages,
preferably during ensiling to enhance palatability.
Soybean forage is high in calcium and should be
avoided as the major forage source for animals close
to kidding.
43

Feeding drought stressed soybeans
The stems of soybean plants are not very palatable,
and animals will sort them out if given the
opportunity; chopping into a total mixed ration will
help reduce sorting.
If soybean forage contains substantial amounts of
developed beans, you may need to reduce the
amount of other fats and oils in the ration for
lactating cows based on the analyzed fat content of
the soybeans.
As with any forage, soybeans should be analyzed for
their nutrient content.
44

Drought and feed poisoning in goats

The incidence of listeriosis, nitrate poisoning, molds
and mycotoxin and other problems may be increased
when crops are grown or harvested under extreme
weather conditions; however, these may be kept to a
minimum if good judgment is used.

45

Listeriosis
Listeriosis is a brain-stem disease caused by the
bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, which is found in
soil, water, plant litter, silage, and even in the goat's
digestive tract.
There are two forms of Listeriosis:
1.One form results in abortions
2.Other causes encephalitis.
Because some goats are carriers who never display
any symptoms, it is possible to buy infected animals
and introduce this disease into a previously
uninfected herd.
46

Listeriosis
Listeriosis is brought on by:
 Feeding moldy silage
Suddenly changing type and kind of feed (grain or
hay)
Parasitism
Dramatic weather changes
Advanced stages of pregnancy
The encephalitic form is most common, causing
inflammation of the nerves in the goat's brain stem.
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Listeriosis

Symptoms include some or all of the following:
Depression
Decreased appetite
Fever
Leaning or stumbling or moving in one direction
only, head pulled to flank with rigid neck
Facial paralysis on one side
Blindness
Slack jaw, and drooling.
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Listeriosis
Diarrhea is present only in the strain of Listeriosis
which causes abortions and pregnancy toxemia.
Immediate treatment is critical. There is no time to
waste with Listeriosis.
Treatment involves administration of high doses of
procaine penicillin (talk to your veterinarian regarding
protocol).
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Nitrate poisoning in goats
The potential for high nitrate levels occurs when crops
such as corn, sorghum, and some grasses are exposed
to stress situations including drought, hail, frost,
cloudy weather and fertility imbalance.
The potential for nitrate poisoning is exasperated in
crops that have been heavily fertilized with manure
or nitrogen.
Nitrate levels generally decrease somewhat during
ensiling, as dangerous nitrogen oxide gas is formed.
However, nitrate levels may increase in hay if it
undergoes heating and molding in the bale.
50

Nitrate toxicity may result when animals suddenly
consume large amounts of forage containing 2-3 % or
more nitrate ion on a DM basis:
Forage with lower levels may adversely affect
reproduction or become toxic if animals are
nutritionally stressed and suddenly eat large amounts
of such forage.
Animals may develop blue mucous membranes
from lack of oxygen in the blood.
Rumen paralysis may occur.
Labored or difficult breathing may be observed.
Animals may go down and die suddenly.
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Subacute or chronic nitrate poisoning may result in
more of the usual reproductive problems, including
abortions.
Milk production and appetite generally are not
affected by subacute nitrate intake.
Reproductive problems generally may be prevented if
feeds are gradually introduced and the nitrate level in
the total ration DM is kept below 0.40%.

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Risk of nitrate poisoning may be reduced by the
following:
Do not harvest suspected crops for three to five
days after an appreciable rain or long cloudy spell.
Harvest as close to usual maturities as possible.
Cut the crop somewhat higher above the ground
than usual as nitrate often accumulates in stems.
Contentious as forage is needed! The fermentation
process will degrade 30-50% of the nitrates and there
will be a dilution effect with other forages.
53

Gradually introduce suspected forage into the ration
over a period of one to two weeks and don't feed it to
hungry animals.
Utilize suspected material for silage rather than
green-crop (I never recommend green chop corn
silage).
Test all forages and water in the ration for nitrates if
one forage contains over 1.0 percent nitrate on a DM
basis.
Feed at least 1.5-2.25 kg of concentrate per head
per day when suspected forages are fed (dilution and
energy).

54

Nitrate levels in forages for goats
Nitrate Ion %
0.0-0.44

Nitrate Nitrogen ppm
<1000

Recommendations
Safe to feed under all conditions

0.44-0.66

1000-1500

Safe to feed to non-pregnant
animals. Limit use for pregnant
animals to 50% of total ration on a
DM basis.

0.66-0.88

1500-2000

Safely fed if limited to 50% of
the total DM ration.

2000-3500

Feeds should be limited to 35-40% of
the total DM in the ration. Feeds
over 2000 ppm nitrate nitrogen
should not be fed to pregnant
animals

1.54-1.76

3500-4000

Feeds limited to 25% of total
DM in the ration. Do not feed
to pregnant animals.

Over 1.76

>4000

0.88-1.54

Feeds containing these levels are
potentially toxic. DO NOT FEED.

55

Molds & Mycotoxins
Weather conditions during growing and harvesting
seasons may appreciably increase the incidence
and degree of moldy feed and mycotoxin
problems from year to year:




Fusarium toxins are more likely to occur under
cool, wet conditions during growth, harvesting,
and storage.
Hot, humid conditions favor the development of
aflatoxins.
56

Molds & Mycotoxins
Delaying harvest to increase maturity and reduce
moisture levels, or to avoid muddy field conditions,
may result in increased mold growth and mycotoxin
formation.
Storing grains, feedstuffs, and forages at moisture
levels beyond recommended ranges or in poor
storage units also may increase mold-related
problems.
57

Molds & Mycotoxins
Moldy feed won't always contain mycotoxins, but the
presence of considerable mold in itself may
adversely affect production and health.
Molds can have detrimental affects in cows when the
immune system is suppressed during stressful
periods.
The effect of high mold loads can occur in locations
such as the lungs, mammary gland, uterus, or
intestine. In the field I have seen feed lot animals
stop eating completely with disastrous results
because of high mold load in high moisture corn.
58

Molds & Mycotoxins
Under some conditions, molds may produce potent
mycotoxins at levels that may adversely affect
animal production and health such as higher
incidence of disease, poor reproductive
performance, or suboptimal milk production.
There also is a potential public health concern when
milk contain a level of aflatoxin, a potent
carcinogen.
The effects of mycotoxins are cumulative over a
period of time and the presence of more than
one mycotoxin may increase these effects.
59

Molds & Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins may develop in almost any feedstuff
during the growing season, at harvest, or during
storage.
While grains receive the most attention, by-product
feeds, protein concentrates, finished feeds,
oilseeds, wet brewers grains, food wastes, and
forages may also contain mycotoxins.
Whole-plant corn silage and haylage are more likely to
be contaminated than hays.
Heat-processing and ensiling do not destroy
mycotoxins.
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Molds & Mycotoxins
It is important to note that signs of mycotoxin toxicity
mimic those of other metabolic and infectious
diseases:






Reduced intake or feed refusal
Reduced nutrient absorption and impaired
metabolism
Altered endocrine and exocrine systems
Suppressed immune function
Altered microbial growth
61

Individual Mycotoxins
 Aflatoxins are extremely toxic, mutagenic, and
carcinogenic compounds.
 Deoxynivalenol (DON) or Vomitoxin is commonly
detected in feed.
 T-2 toxin is a very potent mycotoxin that occurs in a
low proportion of feed samples.
 Zearalenone is a mycotoxin that has a chemical
structure similar to estrogen and can produce an
estrogenic response in cows.
 Fumonsisin is much less potent in ruminants than
in hogs, but it is toxic in ruminants. OTHERS…
62

Mycotoxins Testing
Testing for mycotoxins should be considered when
signs of potential effects on performance and
health exist and cannot be readily explained.
This is particularly important when moldy feeds are
being fed or when marked changes in production
or health have occurred among a relatively large
proportion of animals.
Analytical techniques for mycotoxins are improving
and costs are lowering.
63

Treatment of Molds & Mycotoxins
Eliminate other possible causes as soon as possible
with the help of nutritionists, veterinarians and other
consultants.
Properly adjust energy contents of any moldy feeds
or lightweight grains in the ration.
Clean moldy grains and remove fines from whole
grains suspected of having mycotoxins.
Adding mycotoxin binders to contaminated diets
has been considered the most promising dietary
approach to reduce effects of mycotoxins.
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Test the ration or most of its components for
mycotoxins.
Consider testing to help eliminate other possible
causes of the adverse effects. Other tests on feed,
disease testing via feces, blood, and possibly
metabolic profiling may be necessary.
Discontinue or severely restrict use of obviously
moldy feed or suspected non-moldy feed pending test
reports.
65

Animals a few weeks to several months of age are
more susceptible to mold and mycotoxin problems.
Likewise, animals close to parturition or in early
lactation are more sensitive to mold and mycotoxins.

66

Considerations When Feeding a Goat
Herd a TMR
What are the advantages of TMR feeding?
Each mouthful of feed that the goat consumes
contains the proper amount of ingredients for a
balanced ration. This results in a more stable and ideal
environment for the rumen microbes
The incidence of digestive and metabolic problems
often decreases.
A TMR provides greater accuracy in formulation and
feeding if managed properly. Using feed scales allows
the quantity of each ingredient fed to be closely
controlled.
67

The Six Most Common Mistakes of
TMR Feeders
1.They over mix.
Most mixers call for 3 to 10 minutes of mixing time
after all ingredients have been added.
Over mixing will cause separation of ingredients
(especially if the mix is dry), reduced forage particle
size and pulverize the feed.

68

TMR Feeders
1. They over mix.
Most mixers call for 3 to 10 minutes of mixing time
after all ingredients have been added.
Over mixing will cause separation of ingredients
(especially if the mix is dry), reduced forage
particle size and pulverize the feed, leading to
digestive upset, displaced abomasums, laminitis
and reduced butter fat.
69

TMR Feeders
2.They don’t moisture test.
TMR feeding forces animals to eat a specific amount
of forage. The disadvantage can occur if the moisture
content of the forage is not watched constantly.
For example, if the TMR calls for 3 kg of haylage at
50% moisture this provides 1.5 kg of DM. But, if the
moisture of the haylage changes to 60%, this would
provide 1.2 kg of DM. This would leave the ration
deficient in fibre and protein.
This would leave the ration deficient in fibre and
protein.
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TMR Feeders
3. They feed free-choice forage.
Baled hay fed separately from the TMR can be
necessary if there is a shortage of eNDF in the
TMR.
Generally, nutritionists agree that a small amount of
hay fed separately from the TMR is acceptable.
However, feeding hay separately can cause more
problems than it prevents. The problem occurs
when goats are given a choice between the TMR
and baled hay.
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TMR Feeders
In order to meet fibre requirements, the goat must
consume her specified amount of baled hay. If the
goat does not eat any hay, her ration will consist
entirely of the TMR.
This TMR probably contains 16 to 17% ADF, so once
again she is in an acidosis-prone situation. If a goat
over consumes hay and does not eat her TMR, she is
shortchanging herself in terms of by-pass proteins and
dense energy feeds.
72

TMR Feeders
4. They top-dressing.
Top-dressing can have its place with some TMR’s but
there must be EXCELLENT communication
between the nutritionist and the producer.
New TMR users are reluctant to believe animals can
get all the grain or protein she needs out of the
TMR. Therefore, they have a tendency to overdo
the top-dress.
73

TMR Feeders
Once again, the TMR becomes unbalanced and the
forage-to-concentrate ratio actually consumed is not
what is listed on the ration report.
To avoid these problems, top-dress only the amount
called for on the ration report. Anything else can
cause acidosis . Also, allow animals enough time after
kidding to adjust to the TMR before introducing
additional top-dress grain.
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TMR Feeders
5. They change batch size incorrectly.
This mistake usually begins when animals don’t eat
the amount of feed listed on the ration report. The
producer decides that grain and protein are the
most important and makes sure the animals get all
of the grain and protein called for. He then cuts
back on forage so the goats clean up the mix.
This is possibly the biggest “no-no” for TMR users.

75

TMR Feeders
The greatest advantage of a balanced TMR is that
every bite contains the correct amounts of forage and
concentrates.
If animals aren’t eating the projected amount, never
cut back on one ingredient.
Keep everything in the same ratio and cut back on the
total kg’s of TMR fed.
Have your nutritionist reformulate your ration so it is
closer to actual consumption.
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TMR Feeders
6.Mixing errors.
Errors in mixing cause the bunk ration to be different
from the formulated ration.
A good way to stay on top of the mixing errors is to
take samples of the TMR routinely as it leaves the
mixer.
The analysis of these samples should be close to what
is listed on the ration report.
Taking samples toward the beginning, middle and end
of the TMR load-out helps you check on separation
during mixing and unloading.
77

TMR Feeders
Avoid mixing errors by occasionally verifying the
accuracy of your scale by weighing an object of known
weight such as a feedbag.
Also, resist the temptation to take a shortcut and not
use the scale on some ingredients.

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The Challenges of Feeding Your Goat Herd, J.D. Kleinschmidt

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The Challenges of Feeding Your Goat Herd, J.D. Kleinschmidt