Question: I recently got 3 new additions to my boer goat farm. They are the most beautiful kids my herd has produced. The little buck is already large for his size and the two does have great body structures. I decided that I was going to get back into the shows this year with the three kids and their moms, but they need to gain more weight. The does basically need to be filled out more so that they have a large bulky appearance. They are very healthy and have been dewormed on a monthly basis. I just need to know what to feed the new kids and their moms should get so that they are ready to succeed in the show ring this year. What kind of feed regiment do you recommend. They are on a very large pasture. Should I put them in a smaller pasture so they do not keep walking off the weight? Also I was wondering if you knew of a way to exercise them so that they get more muscle on there back legs and thighs? I heard that some breeders use treadmills that are set on an angle and have the goats front legs on a platform. Does that really work?
Answer: Chelsie,
Thank you for your email and your interest in HONOR Show Chow showgoats products.
I recommend our HONOR Show Chow XClamation product. It is designed to produce fast growth, bloom, and muscle development in meat goats.
We also have a couple of High Octane show supplements that will work.
High Octane Champion Drive will do a nice job at promoting more muscle development when fed at 8 ounces per day along with XClamation.
High Octane Power Fuel is a high energy supplement that also contains many ingredients to improve the overall health of the goat and thereby improve feed efficiency. Power Fuel also promotes faster growth and bloom due to its high energy content. The feeding rate is 4 to 8 ounces per day.
You want the goats to have exercise, but not enough to burn calories intended for growth. I think you will find that if they are in a large pasture, they will use more nutrients for maintenance and have less for growth. So, you will need to feed more feed per day. Or, with less exercise (just less than in a large pasture) you can feed less feed as they use more for production (or growth).
Reverse treadmills are used successfully by many feeders, and they do work.
Thanks again,
Dr. Kevin Burgoon
HONOR Show Chow Nutritionist
