I am seeking help on knowing whether or not it is necessary to give my goats selenium injections given that I live in the midwest. What do other people raising dairy goats do? Without them what happens if your goat is deficient in this mineral? Also,do you give mineral salt free choice or baking soda on a regular basis? I have noticed others talking about giving their goats black oiled sunflower seeds as a treat but sense that it is in small quatities. What is the appropriate amount,like a handful once a day? Thank you in advance for answers to my questions!

-- Linda Foster (rcfam@csinet.net), July 08, 2000

Answers

Ask your local vet. It depends on how much is now in their diet as forage (which varies greatly from area to area) and feed. Too little causes problems. Too much can be deadly.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), July 08, 2000.

Hi Linda, do you know any other goat folks in your area that have nice animals. Not a lot of reason to listen to folks who have horrible looking stock! :) Texas has selinium deficency and since most of the hay we use is from here, and who knows where you grains come from? So yes we use minerals. Instead of listing all of the causes of selenium difficency and copper difficency go to the saanendoah.com site and read up on this. There is a map that shows you which states have problems. We up the selenium and vitimin E in our does diet with a product from Horse Health in the Jeffers equine catalog, I give all of my kids 300iu of vitamin E at birth with the capsules from wallmart, just snip the end and squish in the mouth. I increase the copper in my does diet with loose cattle minerals. And I use a nutritional supplement in my feed mix by using calf manna, head start or Animax from purina. We use about 1 laundry scoop twice a day on the milk stand of Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (BOSS) to increase the fat of our does diet during the winter when they are starting to milk, and feed it all the way through milking. I always tuck a big handful in my barn pockets, my does know where they are to! I put baking soda out in the barns during first part of lactation, and also keep it out after we worm. I also use vinegar in the my white water buckets, 50 gallon white plastic barrels, to keep from having to clean them twice a week! We used to give Bo-Se shots to everyone before they kidded and before they were bred, with uping our E in our mix, we simply don't need to use this anymore. Good luck with your does.

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), July 08, 2000.

As Vickie and Ken have said, check out the seilnium deficiency in your area. We have the porper amount put in our speciality mix. then we feed minerals as well.. loose minerals and baking soda. I know some breeders will also give a tums daily for calcium too, we don't. I also have sunflower seeds in our mix with flaz seeds too. but check out your deficiency situation and then go from there. Its important to watch for this as white muscle can be a problem.. will have weak legs in kids as a sign. Bernice

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), July 08, 2000.

The local vet clinic is really the only one I have had any experience with, and that is only for about 4 1/2 years. I can call in a question or problem. If one of the vets is available, they will discuss it. If not, I can expect a call back. No charges on these calls. I am a cattle farmer. Sometimes it is just to let it ride, sometimes it is to bring the animal in for their examination, sometimes it is to come in to pick up something and sometimes it requires a vet visit. Use your local vet as a valuable resource.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), July 08, 2000.

I purchase a selenium rich mineral salt from my livestock feed store. It is in a loose form and I allow my goats to free feed when ever they want it. It is very inexpensive about $8.00 for a 50 pound bag. I have small containers hanging and fill when needed. I also do the same with regular baking soda.

-- Ima Gardener (ima@gardener.com), July 09, 2000.

My area is low in selenium. I feed a dairy mineral mix with selenium free choice. At first introduction the girls gobbled it down but later they ate it as they wanted and needed it.

-- Marci (ajourend@libby.org), July 10, 2000.