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COLLECTION: GOAT HANDBOOK
ORIGIN: United States
DATE INCLUDED: June 1992
Extension Goat Handbook
This material was contributed from
collections at the National Agricultural Library.
However, users should direct all inquires about the
contents to authors or originating agencies.
DOCN 000000023
NO C-2
FEEDING
R. S. Adams; Pennsylvania State U., University Park
B. Harris; U. of Florida, Gainesville M. F. Hutjens;
U. of Illinois, Urbana E. T. Oleskie F. A. Wright;
Rutgers U., New Brunswick, NJ
D. L. Ace; Pennsylvania State U., University Park
Nutrition
1 Goats are good browsers and can
selectively utilize a wide variety of shrubs, woody
plants, weeds, and briars. If you allow the goats
to roam the woods, be sure that there is no wild cherry,
hemlock, azaleas, or species of laurel family nearby
because these plants are poisonous. While such grazing
simplifies management, it can result in bad eating
habits.
2 Does enjoy browsing, but they cannot
produce much milk without hay or pasture plus grain.
Yearlings, dry does, and even low producers, however,
may get enough nutrients from browsing to satisfy
their minimal needs.
3 Feed Choices Pasture -- Often the
lowest cost feed available is pasture. It does not
have to be harvested, stored, and fed out if grazing
is permitted. You can economize by relying heavily
on pasture during the summer months. The best pasture
for goats con- sists of alfalfa-bromegrass or a mixture
of clover and timothy. Pastures will yield their most
when they are limed, fertilized and clipped on a routine
basis. Small herd owners very likely will not have
the equipment to develop good pastures. When limited
pastures are available, they are often overstocked
and overgrazed, which kill off the pasture and encourage
the growth of weeds. When circumstances do not permit
extensive pasture management, an effort should be
made to rotate animals to other pasture lots if they
are available. If not, pasture feeding should be appropriately
supplemented with other feeds such as greenchop, root
crops, or wet brewery grains.
4 Pasture has some limitations. Bloat
is a constant concern with pastures heavy in alfalfa,
particularly in early spring and fall. The quality
of pasture changes with each passing day. The energy
level drops between 0.5 and 0.75 megacalories per
hundred pounds of dry matter per day. The water content
of lush pasture is so high that it cannot support
high levels of milk production.
5 Because of these fluctuations in
nutrient content, it is always good management to
provide grazing goats free access to hay while they
are on pasture. It will offer some protection against
bloat and provide a source of feed to compensate for
the decline of nutrients in the pasture.
6 Management tips for goats on pastures:
1. Provide easy access to shade and water.
2. Have available salt and a mineral mix or offer
a mix of equal parts trace mineral salt and dicalcium
phosphate.
3. Rotate animals among pastures where possible. This
permits pastures to rejuvenate and also tends to break
the cycle of internal parasites.
4. Provide ready access to hay.
5. During early spring pastures, be alert to possible
cases of bloat and grass tetany.
7 Dry Forages -- Aside from brush
lands and pasture, another low-cost feed for goats
is good quality legume hay, such as alfalfa or clover,
even when heavily mixed with bromegrass, orchard grass,
or timothy. Legumes are favored over grasses because
they are much higher in protein and in a variety of
minerals.
8 The nutrient composition of forages
can be determined by analysis in a forage-testing
laboratory. Your county agricultural agent can help
you select a laboratory. A visual examination can
yield considerable information about hay quality such
as:
1. Earlier cutting date indicates more digestible
nutrients.
2. More leaves provide more protein and minerals.
3. Lack of seed heads indicates early cutting.
4. Coarse stems suggest late cutting while crushed
stems indicate early removal from the field, and thus
less damage.
5. Foreign material (weeds or tree leaves) mean reduced
feed value.
6. Green color indicates presence of vitamin A.
9 The date of harvest is the most
important single factor affecting feed consumption
and quality. As the stage of maturity changes, there
is a marked effect on the protein content.
10 As the protein content decreases
over this period, the fiber content increases from
about 27 percent to approximately 38 percent. When
this occurs, the digestible energy values not only
decline but the crop is less palatable so that animals
consume less.
11 Silages, Haylages, and Root Crops
-- Silages and haylages have never been used extensively
as feeds for goats. This is due more to management
problems than to any limitations in the nutritional
or feeding value of the crops. A small herd of goats
would have to be associated with a cattle operation
to have enough volume to justify using silages and
haylages as a practical feed.
12 Because silage contains only about
30 to 35 percent dry matter, 2-1/2 to 3 pounds are
needed to replace one pound of hay. Only about 2 pounds
of haylage are needed to replace one pound of hay.
Normally, silage should be limited to the replacement
of only 1/3 of the hay - about 1-1/2 to 2 pounds of
silage daily for a mature goat. Young goats should
not be fed silage until their rumen is functional
(6-8 weeks after birth); otherwise digestive disturbances
and scouring may result.
13 Even mature goats should be allowed
a period of adjustment when silage is incorporated
into the ration. Gradual increases in the amount of
silage will prevent any digestive disturbances.
14 Goats are quite fond of root crops
and garden products. These types of feeds can be effectively
incorporated in the ration for a change of routine.
Carrots, beets, turnips, and cabbage are especially
relished by goats. These types of feeds are high in
moisture and should be fed in the same manner as silage.
Several of these feeds, such as turnips, can create
off-flavors in milk, if fed too closely to milking
time. A general rule of thumb is to avoid offering
feeds which impart flavors to milk within 3 hours
of milking time. It is better to offer these feeds
after milking.
15 Feeding Additives -- There is
some evidence that antibiotics and other drugs can
increase growth rate and feed efficiency when added
to the rations of diseased animals. However, improved
performance has not been demonstrated in disease-free
animals. Dairy goat owners would do well to use only
feed additives commonly available for dairy cows and
to avoid those for which extravagant claims are made.
16 There is no research to show that
dairy goats require any vitamins, minerals, ''organic''
health food additives, or medications that are not
required for milking dairy cows. Indiscriminate use
of such highly touted materials can be expensive and
can do more harm than good.
17 Concentrates -- The cereal grains
are excellent sources of energy. Corn, oats, barley,
and wheat frequently form the foundation of concentrate
mixes for goats. Beet or citrus pulp is especially
valuable in the ration when the hay is poor and fibrous.
18 Grains should not be fed whole
or most of them will go straight through the animal.
They should be rolled, crimped, cracked, or flaked.
This will improve digestibility and taste. They should
be free of mold and have very few fine particles.
19 Concentrate mixtures for goats
should include pellets containing linseed meal, soybean
meal, or dried brewers grains. No supplemental calcium
is needed for alfalfa-fed herds, but add 1.0 percent
trace mineralized salt and 0.75 percent monosodium
or monoammonium phosphate. If grass hay is being fed,
then the mineral supplement could be one percent dicalcium
phosphate in place of the monosodium phosphate.
20 When a protein supplement is needed,
a commercial supplement containing other nutrients
in addition to protein may be preferable to one of
the meals. This could either be fed separately or
mixed with grains available on the farm. Be sure it
does not contain urea to avoid problems with palatability.
These commercial supplements also contain minerals,
so additional minerals may not be needed.
21 Molasses, an excellent energy
source, is commonly used to reduce the dustiness of
feed and to increase palatability. If too much molasses
is included in the ration, the feed becomes sticky
and the digestibility of other ingredients is reduced.
For these reasons, molasses is usually limited to
5 to 10 percent of the concentrate mixture.
22 Premium-quality dairy cow feeds
can usually be fed to dairy goats satisfactorily.
Occasionally commercial cow feeds contain by-product
ingredients that are not palatable to goats, but this
is rarely a problem.
23 Horse feeds should be avoided.
Most have too much molasses, excessive amounts of
fiber, excessive calcium for alfalfa-fed goats, and
few have enough protein for milking does.
24 Kids While there are several ways
of raising kids, one of the most popular is to take
the kids away from the does immediately, before they
begin to suckle. Then put the colostrum milk in a
bottle with a nipple and encourage the kids to drink
from this.
25 Colostrum -- Colostrum is the
first milk produced. It contains higher levels of
total protein, milk solids, globulins, fat, and vitamin
A than normal milk. It is also laxative. Most important,
colostrum contains antibodies against diseases to
which the doe has immunity. Young kids are able to
absorb this antibody protection effectively at birth,
but by the time they are three days old, this ability
will almost disappear. The newborn kid should receive
fresh warm colostrum before it is 15 minutes old,
if possible, to give maximum protection. During the
first two days of life, kids should receive at least
three colostrum feedings per day. A kid will consume
about 1-1/2 to 2 pints daily.
26 As soon as the kids are strong
and can drink milk easily, they can be fed from a
pan or pail. Cow's milk may be substituted for goat's
milk after the kid is a few days old. This sometimes
reduces the cost. Make the change gradually over a
period of several days. Excellent growth and health
can be achieved by feeding kids one of the high-quality
milk replacers currently available. Because of varying
formulations, care should be taken to follow the manufacturer's
directions. The milk or milk replacers should be heated
to about 100F. Twice-a-day feeding of milk is adequate
and no more than 3 pounds should be fed.
27 Weaning -- As young kids approach
weaning age - three to four months gradually add warm
water to their milk diet. This will provide them with
the necessary fluids for rumen development and ease
the stress of weaning them. After the kids are weaned
from the milk, feed them all the bright green forage
they will eat, plus 3/4 to 1 pound of any good dairy
calf-starter ration.
28 Feeding grain and forage -- Young
kids will not consume much solid food at first, but
small amounts of a starter feed can be placed in front
of them during the first week. A mixture of equal
parts of cracked corn, crushed oats, wheat bran, and
about 10 percent soybean meal can be used. Early consumption
can be encouraged by putting some of the grain in
the milk. Hay can also be offered at this time, but
it should be the finest hay available. Early forage
consumption will lead to early rumen development and
will thus permit early weaning.
29 To develop prime herd replacements
with a chance for good milk production, good eating
habits must be established. Browse feeding is not
necessary. Such feed is often very fibrous, woody,
and low in energy. Train a goat to eat a ''domesticated''
ration of hay, pasture, and grain from the early days
of life. If treated to woods and weeds from birth,
kids will not break such habits easily.
30 Yearlings In feeding young animals,
the object is to provide enough nourishment for body
maintenance and growth. Too much feed causes animals
to fatten which could lead to difficulties in breeding.
After 4 to 6 months of age animals should have good
pasture - if available, high-quality hay and a place
to exercise. A 1/2 pound of grain per day should lead
to ample growth. If the forage is poor, animals may
require 1 to 1-1/2 pounds of grain daily. Yearlings
can be fed the same grain mix that is fed to the milking
herd. Low-quality forages should be supplemented with
a 12 to 14 percent protein grain mixture. Free access
to water, if located away from the manager, will encourage
exercise. A mixture of equal parts of trace mineralized
salt and dicalcium phosphate is suitable for free-choice
feeding.
31 Dry Does Dairy goats should be
given a 4-to 6 week dry period prior to kidding. The
unborn kid develops 70 percent of its weight during
these last 6 weeks of pregnancy. It is important that
a balanced diet be fed. Unborn kids grow rapidly and
need protein, calcium, and phosphorus for muscle and
bone development. A steady diet of scant pasture and
poor hay could produce weak or dead kids, or ones
that die shortly after birth.
32 The dry period is a good time
to rejuvenate the ruminant system. Good pasture will
maintain a doe at this time, with only mineral supplementation
needed (salt and dicalcium phosphate should be available).
In the absence of pasture, a mixture of good alfalfa
and grass hay can be used. Alfalfa contains too much
calcium in relation to phosphorus to be used as the
sole forage for pregnant does. If the doe is under
weight, 1/2 to 1-1/2 pounds of grain might be fed
daily. The grain should contain 12 percent protein
if alfalfa hay is fed or 16 percent protein if grass
is the major forage. Does should be kept in good flesh
but not fat.
33 A few days before freshening,
cut the grain feeding in half and replace it with
wheat bran. This is a good source of protein and phosphorus.
The laxative effect of the bran will help clean out
the digestive tract.
34 Milking Does The nutritional demands
upon the lactating does are tremendous. It is essentially
impossible for the doe to consume enough to meet the
demands for body maintenance and milk production during
the first few months of lactation. She must draw upon
her body reserves to balance the nutrients consumed.
35 To meet the needs of the lactating
doe as closely as possible, it is necessary to feed
the best quality legume hay or green forage available.
The quantity of hay may have to be limited to 3 pounds
to encourage the consumption of a maximum amount of
grain. The grain intake should be gradually increased
until the doe is receiving 1/2 pound of grain for
each pound of milk produced. In later lactation this
ratio can be widened to 1/2 pound for each 2 to 3
pounds of milk produced. Grass hay will usually require
16-18 percent protein grain while 12-14 percent would
be enough for top-quality legume hay.
36 Catering to the animals according
to individual needs can be of considerable benefit
to the small herd owner, ''TLC'' (tender loving care).
Such special attention makes it possible for individuals
to better perform. In large herds, this extra effort
can be costly.
37 Succulent feeds such as silage
or root crops are particularly helpful during the
winter months in keeping the goat's digestive tract
in good order.
38 During winter all mixtures should
be supplemented with 6 million IU of vitamins A and
3 million IU of vitamin D per ton of grain.
39 Bucks The buck can have the same
kind of feed as the doe, but because of his size,
he needs a larger amount of hay and other forages.
Grain should be fed according to the buck's general
condition. Feeding 1 to 2 pounds of grain daily should
be adequate. Exercise in the pen or out in the pasture
is important for the buck to maintain a good disposition,
strengthen his legs, and keep him in a vigorous breeding
condition. When the buck is not being used for breeding,
good pasture or hay should be adequte for insuring
good health. Avoid excessive levels of calcium to
minimize urinary calculi (stones).
40 A Final Word Be careful not to
overfeed or underfeed as this can cause digestive
problems. Animals can easily be thrown off feed by
eating from equipment that has not been cleaned and
where feed has spoiled. Discard all moldy feeds. Regularity
of feeding is important. Any changes in the ration
should be made gradually whenever possible.
41 All in all, proper feeding of
dairy goats requires that the owner have a basic knowledge
of nutritional principles to plan an efficient feeding
program and the experience and management ability
to carry it out.
FEEDING
COLLECTION;GOAT HANDBOOK
ORIGIN;United States
DATE_INCLUDED;June 1992
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