| Yep, I said Baking Soda Baking soda is a natural antacid. It helps a goat maintain the proper acid level in its rumen. A goat's rumen is full of "good bacteria" which helps them to digest their food. (Sidebar: did you know that all of the goat's vitamin B needs are met by the functions of these "good bacteria"?) If the goat's rumen is not properly balanced, these organisms can become too few or too many - that's when you start dealing with problems of bloat and poor nutrition. Goats actually know when they need an antacid. If you keep the sodium-bicarbonate on hand, free choice, they can help themselves to it whenever they need it. Sodium-bicarb can be found at your local feed store and is far less costly than the boxes of baking soda you find at the grocery store. Provide the sodium-bicarb in free-choice feeders. Keep in mind that during warmer weather goats tend to need more bicarb than during other times of the year. Check out the PVC mineral and soda feeders I keep in the goat barn. It's easy to make and even easier to use. |
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Hastings, Michigan Call: (269) 945-6247 email: sleepyz@mei.net |
| See my PVC Mineral Feeder I use this feeder for the goats' baking soda also. |
| Photo taken by Carlos Zink |