Goat Nutrition and Feeding Jim White MFA Ruminate Nutritionists 573-876-5256
Overview: Goats can be very selective. Feeding across the life cycle Discuss nutrients Comments
Kids Provide colostrum, can be fed milk replacer from bottle, bucket, or mob feeders Feed milk or milk replacer at room temperature, at 10% of body weight/day Feed on a regular schedule At one-two weeks of age, provide small quantity of goodquality hay and starter grain Wean when the kid is eating forage, drinking water, and consuming at least half a pound of starter feed Goats mature very young, segregate does and bucks at weaning Provide clean, fresh water
Growing goats: Growing meat goats usually achieve.33 to.5 lbs ADG Adapt finishing goats to finishing rations over a three week period NPN use rates in goats are lower than for fat cattle If forage is of high quality, and performance goals are modest, supplemental concentrate feeding may not be needed Concentrate feeding increases ADG, reduces age at first breeding, and increases overall performance If not supplement feeding, MFA goat mineral should be offered free choice
Dry does Non-lactating does have low nutritional requirements Does in good body condition are maintained on good quality forages with free choice vitamin mineral Flushing has been shown to increase ovulation rate in yearling does and does in poorer body condition Nutrient requirements increase as pregnancy progresses Feed more MFA goat ration during the last six weeks of pregnancy
Milking does Lactation drastically increases nutrient requirements Raising twins Dairy goats Increase grain feeding after kidding to support milk production, Offer a pound of concentrate for every three pounds of milk
Type % Protein General lbs/hd/day Pre-weaning or as creep feed 18% 0.25-0.33 lb Weanlings 16% 0.5-0.75 lb Grow-Fin 14% 1 lb Flushing does 14-16% 1-3 lb Gestation, mid 14-16% 0.5-1 lb Gestation, late 14-16% 0.75-2 lb Lactation, average 14-16% 0.75-1.25 lb Lactation, high 14-16% 2 lb Replacement does 16% 0.5-1 lb Adult males, non breeding 14% Not more than 0.5 lb
Feed chemical classification Water Protein Carbohydrates Fats Minerals Vitamins
Water: Clean, fresh water should be available at all times Dry feed intake is closely associated with how much water they consume Waterers should be cleaned at least weekly. Goats are picky about clean water, and prone to foul water sources
Protein for goats N must be supplied Cannot be stored other than in muscle tissue Utilization of non-protein nitrogen Most efficient with high-grain diets Limited with low-quality forage Limited with high protein diets After 21-day adjustment, urea can be 90% effective as natural protein Not more than 1/3 of total nitrogen content
Ruminants handle feed differently
Feeding forage: Feed or offer adequate amounts Forage will often be low in protein or energy Spring and Fall growth-high in protein with low energy Summer low in protein Summer annuals low in both at maturity Grass-legume mixtures tend to be robust
Forage preferences Goats: forbs>grass>legumes Cattle: grass>legumes Sheep: grass>=forbs Deer: forbs>grass Horse: grass>legumes Note characteristic browse line
Energy: Carbohydrate, fat, An animal moderately gaining weight needs about 1.0% BW/day as concentrate Dusty or moldy feed should not be used Processing should not make the grain too fine hog feed is too fine! Appropriate supplements should be offered in adequate quantities protein
Mineral supplementation In practice, most producers provide free choice minerals year round Goats should be offered goat mineral Goats have higher copper requirements than sheep Goats are an eighth-tenth the size of cattle, minerals formulated for cattle are not the best choice for goats, but it won t hurt them
Organic, but distinct from carbohydrates, fat, protein, and water Present and effective in minute amounts Essential for normal tissue necessary for metabolic activity When absent or not properly absorbedutilized: deficiency disease or syndrome Vitamins
Reading feed tags Name of product Purpose statement Drug information (if medicated) Guaranteed analysis List of ingredients Feeding/mixing directions Cautions/warnings (if necessary) Name- address of manufacturer Weight or bulk statement
Basis On what basis are the animals fed? Animals eat a certain amount of feed, as-is Non ruminant nutritionists work off of per head per day of grams of lysine, Ca, etc. Ruminant nutritionists use dry matter basis However: concentration of a nutrient is always higher on a DM basis one can formulate on an as-is basis, even if you have specs laid down on a DM basis
As-fed vs dry matter Lbs as-fed x %DM= lbs DM Lbs dm / %DM= lbs as-fed Total lbs DM Total lbs as-fed = % DM total Amt nutrient (AFB) / % dm= amt nutrient (DMB) Amt nutrient (DMB) x %dm= amt nutrient (AFB)
How much will an animal eat? Feed Intake: Requirements can be met with small amounts of a concentrated source or larger amounts of lower concentration feeds Expected upper limit, as a % of bodyweight: kids- 4.5%, dry doe- 2.8%, early lactating doe-2.7%, high milking doe- 5.0%, low milking doe- 4.0%
Feed storage makes a difference
Summary Goats have unique behavior-feeding traits Nutrient functions and specs are established Feeding practices vary by desired outcome