I have always bought the plain white salt block for my goats. My husband picked up a mineralized salt block this week. It says for cattle, horses, and sheep - but contains a warning that sheep are copper sensitive. Can I give this to my goats? It contains copper and I thought this was also a no no for goats.

-- Tiffani Cappello (cappello@alltel.net), January 13, 2001

Answers

I use them all the time. Goats can tolerate a much higher level of copper than a sheep can. They actually need more copper than sheep.

-- Wendy (weiskids@yahoo.com), January 13, 2001.

Hi Tiffani,

We also use a mineral salt block along with loose minerals. Goats do need copper. Without my old speciality mix formula handy I can't tell you off the top of my head what is the correct amount. Cooper is a no-no for sheep from what i uinderstand. i would recommend the loose minerals versus the blocks as they can eat it better and the block can create some problems with their teeth, etc. Hope this helps. I also saw your post about your skinny doe. i just saw some information on a feed program for that, will forward to you. Take care. hang in there, sometimes all does not go smoothly and the more goats you have the greater the chance of problems happening.

Bernice

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), January 13, 2001.

I also use mineral blocks as well as loose mineral salt.Goats require more copper than sheep.

-- JT (gone2seed@hotmail.com), January 13, 2001.

I feed a loose selenium salt mix , that includes copper(our area is low in selenium) as well as providing a cobalt block. Supposedly our area is also low in cobalt, and a deficiency can cause poor weight gain, and rough haircoats, so I got one to see if they would want it, and to see if it'd help put more shime into the hair. It does seem to have improved their coats, but it's hard to say whether they were actually deficient or not. Goats need copper, some say that Johnes is caused by a copper deficiency.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), January 13, 2001.

I am a 4-H leader and you would not believe the trouble I have getting people to realize that sheep and goats are different. They have different needs and different feeds. yes a goat needs copper. and too much copper will kill a sheep...never let you sheep eat your guard dogs dog food...it has copper in it Grant

-- grant (organicgrange@yahoo.com), January 13, 2001.

If I can ask? My feed store only had the mineral block when I asked for minerals for the goats. I read here that cattle minerals were okay or something on that lines. I also read somewhere that offering baking soda is good for them. I have the block but they don't touch it (it is also cold now too) Any suggestions? Thanks

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), January 13, 2001.

Some of my friends who raise meat goats use the cattle minerals, they use a 2:1 variety, I don't know the brand name, but know that they get it here in VA from Southern States. i also feed baking soda to my goaties too, helps to balance rumen. I think the best loose minerals you can get for a goat are available from http://www.springbriar.com a bit expensivem but so worth it.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), January 13, 2001.