Feeding of Goats

Dr. Chet Raj Upreti

C.C #: ANU – 223
Lecture # 18, 19

1.0 Eating Habits of Goats

It is important to understand the feeding habits of goats, so that their natural habit can be
copied as closely as possible. The goat, being a ruminant, is able to live and be
productive on fibrous vegetation of relatively poor quality. The goat is a natural browser,
feeding by preference on tree leaves, flowers, and seed pods. Goats are able to eat quite
woody stems of trees and bushes. They are very active when they eat, moving rapidly
around a tree, picking off the best parts, and quick moving to the next tree or bush. Goats
naturally prefer to eat at a height 20 -120 cm above the ground. Goats do not eat if the
feed stuffs are dropped on the ground.

2.0 Nutrient Requirement

Dry matter

The average dry matter requirement for goat is 3.21 % of live body weight or 66 g DM /
wkg 0.75.

2.1 Energy Requirement

Maintenance

The energy requirement for maintenance of any animal is primarily dependent upon how
much energy it expends to: maintain its metabolic processes; satisfy stress requirements
caused by management, environmental or disease factors. All of these needs must be
satisfied.

The ME requirement varies between 57.05 to 139.85 kcal ME /w kg 0.75. The average
of many reports is 103.45 kcal ME/ w kg 0.75 which is used to calculate daily nutrient
requirement of goats.

A total description for maintenance requirement of goats/d for different weight and
growth rate is shown in Table 3. Using the value given, requirement can be calculated for
different size and growth rate of goats.
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Growth

The energy recommendation for growth is 6.7 Kcal metabolizable energy per gram of
growth. Which is derived from mean value of several study and this value is used to
calculate the ME requirement for growth at all body weight and increments of activity.

Using the value given in Table 3, requirement can be calculated for different size and
growth rate of goats.

Lactation

The ME maintenance requirement for lactating goats apparently follows the pattern of
other ruminant special. i.e. 118 kcal / w kg 0.75 for non-lactating dairy cows compared to
134 kcal / wkg 0.75 for those in lactation (Kearl, 1982).

The average energy requirement for lactation is 162.94 kcal ME / w kg 0.75 and this
value is used to calculate as shown in Table 3.

The average ME requirement to produce 1 kg of milk of 4% FCM (fat corrected milk) is

1203 kcal / kg milk produced. This value is used to calculate the Table 4. (pp 69 Kearl).

Pregnancy

The increase in energy requirement during the early stages of pregnancy is minimal. The
suggested requirement is shown in Table 3.

The average value of several studies is 191.77 kcal ME / W kg 0.75 which is used to
present the values in Table 1.

Reproduction

Sufficient intake of energy is required for good reproductive efficiency. Sufficient energy
and protein intake encourage sexual maturity, conception, pregnancy, and birth of kids
with a relatively high birth weight.

Protein Requirement

Protein requirement in goats ( ruminants ) can be broadly classified in to rumen

degradable protein and non-degradable protein. In addition, ruminants are able to
synthesize their microbial protein with the non protein nitrogen ( eg urea) provided in the
feed.
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Maintenance

Proteins sufficient to meet the animal’s daily losses in feces, urine, and by miscellaneous
means must be provided in the diet. Animals are only able to store small amount of
reserve protein in their bodies. Therefore, protein must be available at all time in order to
promote optimum performance and maintain the health of the animal.

Average DP requirement of several works done in the over 50 years is 2.51 g DP/wkg 0.75.

Growth

The caloric to protein ratio used to calculate the DP requirement presented in Table 1 for
maintenance and maintenance plus growth is 1 Mcal ME = 28.8 g DP = 42.3 g total
protein ( the average digestibility of total protein is assumed to be 68% ) . This value is
slightly higher than that suggested by the NRC which is 1 Mcal ME = 27 g DP = 40 g
total protein. Estimation of protein requirement for growth can be improved when energy
and protein interaction is also considered, because microbial protein synthesis is
dependent not only on the supply of ammonia and amino acids in the rumen, but also on
the amount of carbohydrate available on the rumen.

Study in India suggested 4.5 g DP/kg w 0.75 for goats of 12.6 kg live weight and gaining
at 88 g/d

Pregnancy

The DP requirement for pregnancy and lactation appear to be slightly higher than
maintenance and growth. The recommended value is 31.6 g DP/ Mcal ME which is used
to calculate the value as shown in Table 3 for the last weeks of gestation.

Lactation

The recommended requirement for lactation is 53 g DP / kg 4 % fat corrected milk

(FCM). This value is used to calculate the requirement as shown in Table 4.

NRC (1981) recommended of protein requirement for milk production in goats was 72 g
CP /kg of milk containing 4 % fat FCM).

Minerals

The NRC ( 1981) recommended 3 gram ca and 2.1 g P daily for an animal weighing 60
kg. Average of several studies is 3.50 g ca, 2.55 g P for a 60 kg goat was used. This is
equivalent to 0.16 g Ca /d / w kg 0.75 and 0.12 g P/ w kg 0.75. This value is used to
calculate the mineral requirement as shown in Table 3.
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Vitamins

Pasture and range plants usually contain adequate level of vitamins to maintain healthy
animals. During period of drought, or when the only source of feedstuffs is crop residues,
Vitamin A supplementation may become extremely important.

Vitamin A

During period of drought, or when the only source of feedstuffs is crop residues, Vitamin
A supplementation may become extremely important.

Vitamin D is essential for the proper utilization of calcium and phosphorus by goats.
Normal grazing condition provided adequate vitamin D to meet the requirements of goats

Vitamin E

Occasionally, vitamin E is found to be deficient in the diet.

Other Vitamins

Vitamin K, B complex, and C are either adequate in the diet or are synthesized by the
microflora in the rumen. Young ruminant animal needs adequate amounts of all essential
vitamin in their diet.

Practical Goat feeding

Colostrums Feeding

When young kids do not receive colostrums, postnatal mortality may be high. In fact
colostrums not only supplies immunoglobulin, minerals and vitamins but it is also rich in
lipids. The energy of milk lipid is important for thermoregulation of kids since adipose
reserves are very limited at birth. If colostrums is not available ( Due to early death of
doe for example) following suspension can be made and fed to kids 3-4 times a day
(Joshi et al , 2003).

Constituent Quantity

Egg 1 Nos
Luke warm water 200 ml
Ordinary milk 300 ml
Liquid paraffin 10 ml.

Creep Feeding

To spare the milk for human consumption and to get a faster gain in kids, it is required to
feed them a balance starter ration. After nursing the kids for 4 to 7 days on colostrums
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and milk, kids should be separated from their dams and kept away from on starter ration.
They should be allowed restricted suckling 2 to 3 times a day or should be bottle fed a
definite milk allowance. Free choice legume hay, mineral, and drinking water should be
made available along with starter ration.
An example of starter/creep rations calculated to supply about 12 to 18 % DCP and 2.5 to
2.9 Mcal per kg feed is given below;

Table 1. Starter creep feeds*

Items Feeds %
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Mize 60 40 20 15 - 25 30
Barley/oats - 23 45 40 40 40 30
GN Cake 20 20 20 20 22 10 10
Fish Meal 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Molasses 7 7 2 3 5 12 7
Wheat bran 7 7 2 3 5 12 7
Mineral Mixture 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Salt 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Calculated value
DCP 17 17 17 17 17 12 12
TDN 78 77 75 71 70 72 70
ME (Mcal/kg) 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.6 2.5 2.7 2.6

To 100 kg creep
 Add 150 g TM-5/Aurofac
 Add 25 g Vitablend Rovimix
 Linseed cake, sesame cake, , Mustard cake may be use to replace Ground
cake on equivalent basis.

Feeding Schedule of Kids up to Weaning

Following feeding schedule can be used

Table 2.1. Feeding schedule for kids

Age of kids Number of Dams milk Green fodder Starter feed

(days) feeding (ml)
1 to 7 With the dam Dam’S milk - -
8 to 42 4 100 Ad lib Offer creep feed
ad lib
43 to 60 days 3 100 Ad lib -

Simultaneously free choice hay of dubo, oat, cowpea, berseem, or lucern should be
offered.
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Grower’s Ration

A complete ration providing 9 to 10 percent DCP and 62 to 65 percent dry matter from
good quality roughage will meet the requirement. Fodders containing less protein and
energy are to be balanced with the concentrate mixture as shown in below.

Table 2.2 Grower ration

Particular Percent in Feed

Ration 1 2 3 4
Maize 50 - 30 12
Dal chunies - - 30 35
Oats/Barley - 50 30 -
Wheat bran 30 20 - 30
G.N.Cake 10 10 - 5
Molasses 7 17 7 5
Mineral mixture 2 2 2 2
Salt 1 1 1 1
Note:
 Maize can be substituted with jowar and rice polish
 Dal chunnies may be replaced with leguminous seeds like pea, gram,
lobia etc.

Feeding of Pregnant Goats

High quality roughages provide the basic nutrients needed during the last 6 to 8 weeks of
gestation when 70 to 80% gain in fetus mass is made. Therefore, liberal feeding of
quality leguminous fodder and concentrate having 25% protein should be offered
between 400 to 500 g depending upon the condition of doe should be fed.
A free choice lick of mineral mixture will take care for the calcium and phosphorus
requirement of dam and foetus. Allow good grazing if available and mahe sure that does
get plenty of exercise.

Feeding of Lactating Goats

Nutrient requirements are higher during lactation. The ration for lactating does should
contain high quality roughages like Lucerne, berseem, and other cereal grass that can
supply mineral, vitamins, and protein and also the bulk needed for volatile fatty acid, viz.,
acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid needed for high milk production. To supplement
more nutrients particularly of energy, cereal grains at the rate of 350 gram for each liter
of milk must be provided.

Concentrate feed need to prepare adding 1% trace mineralized salt and 1 % calcium –
phosphorus mineral mixture to concentrate mixture. Molasses of 5 to 7 % of concentrate
mixture can be used to increase palatability and reduce dustiness of feed.
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Keep a clean, fresh supply of water available at all time. After 2 weeks gradually increase
the concentrate level to that suggested by the milk yield.

Feeding Breeding Bucks

During the non-breeding season, the buck does not require additional grain if the buck is
under good pasture. During the breeding season, concentrate used to feed to the does can
be fed @ 450-900 g (depending on the body weight). Care must be taken not to allow the
buck to get too fat. Buck needs to have plenty of exercise.

Table 3. Daily Nutrient Requirements of Goats

Please Refer;

(1) Book by Reddy

(2) C. R. Upreti, Livestock, Poultry and Fish Nutrition in Nepal Pub by Balika Upreti, PP
125-142.