Kelp: buying, storing and feeding

[mzgarden]

Considering adding kelp to our goat feed (grain, hay, alfalfa, minerals, baking soda); 2 does, 1 buck, 1 wether
I keep hearing good things about it.

For those that feed kelp:
1.  What benefits have you seen?
2.  Where do you buy it
3.  How do you store it (for how long)
4.  How do you feed (sprinkle on top grain, mix into minerals, ?)
and
5.  How much do you feed?

[willowwood]

I feed kelp to my does. Sometimes they are crazy about it for several months, and then they take a break. If I'm not sure they want it, I offer a small bowl full at feeding times and let them lick up what they want. Right now they all are eating kelp heavily, so I just sprinkle it on their grain every feeding. On hot days they sometimes want mineral mix as well, but usually they just want the kelp. I order organic kelp from my feed store, it's more expensive but it smells good enough to be possible people food!

I store the 50 pound bags in a large metal garbage can with a lid--just in the bag it came in. A bag last just under a year for the two milkers I've had in the past--this year I've got four does milking and I expect it will go faster.

There's a lot of potential nutrition in the kelp, often different than the grains I feed. Iodine especially is lacking in the soils in our area. The does are healthy, have healthy twins or triplets, and are great milkers I don't know if any of that is due to the kelp, but since they like it and it's full of good nutrition, I don't plan on changing.

[Deleted]

I buy kelp, keep it in tupperware, sprinkle a handful in as I mix feed. Sometimes I sprinkle some in with their loose minerals.