(12-26-2015, 12:09 PM)Nanno Wrote: Yeah, I was thinking volume too, not weight. One 8 oz can = 1 cup of grain. 3 - 4 cans/day = 1.5 - 2 cups of grain/day per goat. That's a lot for any wether to consume unless he really needs the calories like my old guy does. Dave has been raising goats a whole lot longer than I have and I trust his wisdom when he says "no grain for wethers." Alfalfa pellets are a great alternative and most goats are as eager for them as for sweet feed, so it makes a great "Thanks for coming when I call!" treat. 

I don't use alfalfa cubes for goats. They're too big for a goat to chew comfortably unless soaked first. I would also recommend soaking the beet pulp if you feed it. It can be a choking hazard if fed dry, and I think feeding it dry could cause it to absorb too much moisture from the rumen while digesting. It's always best to err on the side of giving too much liquid than not enough.

I've never used diatomaceous earth so I can't comment on that. We have very few worm issues where I live because of the dry climate and the large amount of above-ground browse available, so I only treat for worms on an as-needed and per-goat basis. 

RE: Halters. My favorite halters are from Sopris Unlimited. They generally seem to fit the best because of the little rings below the noseband. To get the proper fit, measure around the nose just below the cheekbones. I also like to add a halter handle to mine to make it easier to grab a goat on the fly. Handles are also easy to make at home if you don't want to buy one.