Summer Goat Tips - Baking soda, mineral, salt licks, water, and DE are all important to the general health of your goats.

Well, goat season is in high effect. My boys are very interested in the girls and vice versa. The heat is also causing them anxiety. Here are a couple of reminders now that Summer is here to stay for a while...

1. Offer free-choice baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to your goat herd. This effective because it keeps the goat’s digestive system functioning properly by balancing the acid in the rumen. This is a big help against goat urinary calculi. The micro-organisms that live in the rumen need a steady level of acidity. Levels that are too high or too low can result in various issues. It is thought that a stable digestive tract also encourages better digestion overall– and a decreased chance of bloat.
2. Provide mineral blocks as well.  These help offer the nutrients that they may lack all year round.   If your goats run in the pasture, they might miss some offerings that a mineral block can offer.  This is also free choice.  
3. Offer a salt lick or block.  The concept is the same as the mineral and baking soda.  Goats have to keep hydrated and in the heat, they sweat just like any other animal or human.  Salt licks and blocks afford them the opportunity to keep their sodium-potassium cycle balanced.
4. Keep the water coming and make sure it remains clean.  Goats are extremely fussy.  They don't like dirty or super cold water.  In the summer, water heats up and forms an algae in stock tanks.   Water should be changed frequently to ensure that it is clean and drinkable.   A key with does that are in milk; if you are drinking the milk, consider keeping their water super clean as you are drinking the water that they did indirectly through their milk.
5. Diatomaceous earth (DE) is also a must have.  I use food grade quality.   Throw this in their living areas to reduce fly issues and fleas.   Yes, goats get fleas just like dogs.  Fleas can be deadly to a goat so make sure you keep their area clean.  DE is great for a farm everywhere.  You can use it in your garden, on your chickens, etc.  Chickens will bathe in it so make sure it is offered.
6. Offer shade.  Goats will overheat quickly.  If they get too hot, they will not eat or drink.   Keep the babies cool.  

What is Diatomaceous Earth?


Diatomaceous Earth (also referred to as "DE") is an all-natural remarkable product made from tiny fossilized remains of marine phytoplankton / water plants. These plants have been part of the earth's ecology since prehistoric times. It is believed that 30 million years ago the diatoms built up into deep, chalky deposits of diatomite. The diatoms are mined and ground up to produce a powder that looks and feels like talcum powder to us. Diatomaceous Earth is a natural compound.

• Sprinkle a little DE on your pets’ food daily for the same benefits you receive. This is a great de-wormer!
• Carefully sprinkle onto your pets’ and livestock’s coats – making sure none is inhaled – for protection from lice, ticks and fleas.
• Sprinkle in the kitty litter box and pet beds for extra odor and flea protection.
• Sprinkle in your barn and stalls for pest protection.
• Decreased mastitis and increased milk production in livestock with internal use. Causes healthier coat and hooves.
• Sprinkle in the chicken coop to control flies.
• Better and stronger eggs produced by hens who have it sprinkled in their feed.