Cost of Bottle Feeding A Bottle Baby
|
We receive
at least a phone call a week from someone looking
for assistance in bottle feeding a kid. We normally
tell them what we do, what formula we use, and some
of the methods we use to get the kids on a bottle.
We are not experts at the bottle feeding, but we have
had some experience. The dairy folks have had years
of experience in bottle feeding, using the Lambar
feeder, and the entire operation; but since the dairy
folk do not share information with the meat folk,
I’m going to share. |
On our web
site we have articles about the formula, how to get
a baby to start nursing on a bottle, not to over feed,
etc. |
But, what is
the COST of bottle feeding a baby goat? |
It is only
a little baby and he/she is sooo cute and for some
reason his/her mother cannot or will not raise it.
In making the decision to start a kid on the bottle,
unless your goats are “pets”, cost should
enter into the calculation. |
We use a Formula
of Whole Milk, Cultured Buttermilk and Evaporated
Milk. |
|
Cost per Container |
Ounce per Container |
Cost per Ounce |
Whole Milk |
$2.84 |
128 |
$0.022 |
Cultured Buttermilk |
$1.90 |
64 |
$0.030 |
Evaporated
Milk |
$0.67 |
12 |
$0.056 |
|
Prices as of
March 2007 |
Amount in Formula
|
Whole Milk |
108 oz
|
$0.02
|
$2.40
|
Cultured Buttermilk |
8 oz
|
$0.03
|
$0.24
|
Evaporated Milk |
12 oz
|
$0.06
|
$0.67
|
Cost of mixed gallon at the above prices |
128 oz
|
|
$3.30 |
|
Estimate * |
Daily Feeding
|
Days of Feeding |
Ounces
|
Times / day
|
Ounces per day
|
Total Ounces
|
6 Days
|
10
|
8
|
80
|
480
|
12 Days
|
20 |
5
|
100
|
1200
|
12 Days
|
30
|
4
|
120
|
1440
|
30 Days
|
40
|
3
|
120
|
3600
|
30 Days
|
40
|
2
|
80
|
2400
|
Total number of ounces of formula
per grow out. |
9120 |
|
Total number of Gallons |
71
|
Cost to feed a bottle baby |
$ 235.39
|
|
* Each bottle baby is different. Some take more
/ less at individual feedings. And some require
more / less feedings per day.
|
| |
We have bottle
fed bucklings and doelings. When we sell breeding
stock, we get between $300 and $500 for our bucklings
and $400 to $1000 or so for our doelings. If the plan
is to sell that cute little thing at weaning for meat,
a positive return on our investment cannot be expected.
Therefore, each time the situation comes up, we have
to decide if the effort is worth the cost. |
