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Feeding Your Goat

READING

FEED

TAGS

Common Sense

Meat Goat-Nutrition

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Nutrient Requirements

for Goats

• Water

• Energy

• Protein

• Fats

• Minerals

• Vitamins

Water

• Though the cheapest of the nutrients it is commonly the most overlooked.

– Intake (need) varies by . . .

• Moisture in feed

• Goats should be given free choice to clean fresh water at all times.

• A mature goat will consume between ¾ to 1

½ gallons per day.

• As temperatures increase over 70 degrees water intake will climb substantially

• If water intake is decreased feed intake will also be decreased.

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Requirements: Mature Doe

Maintenance 110 vs 132

Body

Weight (lb) DMI (lb) TDN (lb) CP (lb) TDN (%) CP (%)

110 2.18 1.17 0.15 53.6 6.9

132 2.51 1.32 0.17 52.6 6.8

Important Points

� The highest energy requirement time for the Doe is late pregnancy

� This is different than with the ewe and cow.

� Watch feed intake carefully with pregnant does

� Don’t let Does get too fat.

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Practical Dietary Recommendations for Feeding Goats.Class of Goat % Protein %TDNGrowing kids, dry does, and bucks 9-10 54-58Pregnant goats 10-11 56-60Lactating goats 12-13 62-68Source: Pinkerton and Pinkerton, 2000

Acidosis occurs when goats eat too much feed with high

levels of starch or sugar. This includes grains, grain by-

products and vegetable parts. This makes the rumen more

acidic and gives the goat a stomach ache.

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Enterotoxemia is caused by an organism that is normally present in the intestine of

goats. When a goats feeding schedule is changed suddenly or large amounts of grain

are consumed the organism will grow rapidly and produce a toxin that causes death in a

few hours.

Urinary Calculi is found only in male animals. Similar to kidney stones in humans, this

disease is the formation of stones in the urinary tract. Calculi results from high

phosphorus levels and an imbalance of phosphorus and calcium levels in the feed

ration. Make sure that feed rations have a 2:1 calcium:phosphorus ratio, and 10 to 15

pounds of ammonium chloride per ton of feed. This, along with plenty of fresh drinking

water will help to prevent calculi from forming.

Coccidiosis is caused by a tiny parasite which lives in the cells of the goat’s intestine.

The severity of the disease depends on the number of parasites living in the intestines.

If the diseased goat becomes stressed the symptoms become worse and other

diseases may be contracted.

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Soremouth is a viral disease found in sheep and goats. The virus can live for long

periods of time in the soil and equipment in a barn or corral. The symptoms are thick,

scabby sores that can be found on the lips and gums of an animal. In severe cases the

sores can be found on the udders of does. These sores are painful and make nursing

impossible. Adult goats will develop immunity to a disease if they are continually

exposed to the virus. A vaccine can be given to kid goats within a month of age. Once

an animal has developed the disease, treatment is of little help. Softening ointment on

the sores may be helpful. Most importantly make sure that the animal is still eating and

drinking water.

Caseous lymphadenitis (CL) can be contracted when goats eat contaminated feeds or

through breaks in the skin. There is even some proof that the bacteria can enter

unbroken skin. The disease is caused by a fairly common bacteria found in the soil.

Ag

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Go

ats

By

Tee

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