Nutritional Requirements of the Dairy Goat

Nutritional Requirements of The Dairy Goat

Requirements for Maintenance
Charts from U.O. Guelph Dairy Goat Production

Body Weight

Crude Protein

TDN

Calcium / Phos.

Kg.	lb.		lb.		lb.
36	80	54	.12	404	.89	1.4
41	90	63	.14	449	.99	1.4
45	100	68	.15	490	1.08	2.1
50	110	73	.16	531	1.17	2.1
55	120	82	.18	568	1.25	2.1
59	130	86	.19	608	1.34	2.1
64	140	91	.20	645	1.42	2.1
68	150	95	.21	681	1.50	2.8
73	160	100	.22	717	1.58	2.8
77	170	104	.23	754	1.66	2.8
82	180	109	.24	790	1.74	2.8

Body

Weight Crude

Protein

TDN

Calcium

Phos.

		lb		lb
2.5	27	.059	152	.334	1.0	.8
3.0	29	.064	153	.337	1.0	.8
3.5	31	.068	156	.343	1.0	.9
4.0	33	.072	157	.347	1.5	.9
4.5	35	.077	160	.352	1.5	1.0
5.0	37	.082	162	.357	1.5	1.0
5.5	39	.086	165	.363	1.5	1.0
6.0	41	.090	167	.368	1.5	1.1

Fat

Crude

Protein

Calcium

Phos.

		lb		lb
2.5	59	.13	334	.735	2.2	1.8
3.0	64	.14	336	.741	2.2	1.8
3.5	68	.15	343	.755	2.2	2.0
4.0	73	.16	346	.763	3.3	2.0
4.5	77	.17	351	.774	3.3	2.2
5.0	82	.18	356	.785	3.3	2.2
5.5	86	.19	363	.799	3.3	2.2
6.0	91	.20	368	.810	3.3	2.4

*T.D.N. (Total Digestable Nutrients) Charts from U.O. Guelph Dairy Goat Production

When formulating a ration for dairy goats, try not use over 25% oats in the ration. Oats contain about 25% hulls giving them a higher fibre content, thus affecting the digestibility of the ration.

If adding molasses to your ration , add no more than 150 lb. per ton (75 kg per tonne). Around 5% is best. Molasses tends to interfere with digestion if present in large quantities, because it has an adverse effect on the rumen flora. This may result in bitter-tasting milk particularly in the low butterfat breeds. Some molasses is useful to provide energy to cut down dustiness in the feed. It also adds palatability to the ration.

Goats do not like finely ground feeds. They do like pelleted feeds and eat them with relish. Many professional goat breeders feed their goats whole grains, even the corn. Goats tend to chew their grain thoroughly before swallowing. One of the oil meals should be added to increase the protein percentage (e.g. soybean or linseed) a ration should contain at least 16% crude protein for milking does.

Adjust protein level according to the forage quality. Cottonseed and rapeseed should not be overlooked where they are available, since they are high in phosphorus. Palatability to individual goats may be the deciding factor, as to which one to use. Many goats prefer linseed meal over soybean.

Any changes in concentrate feeding should be undertaken gradually over a period of two weeks if possible. Even a change in protein such as a 2% increase, should be accomplished over a period of time. Any radical changes in feed can be dangerous and lead to enterotoxemia, known as over-eating disease.

Goats do not like stale or off-odour feeds. In fact, the goat is very selective about what it eats. Seldom will it suffer from "hardware disease" a common problem in cows when they swallow nails, stones, bits of wire, etc. The goat is a fussy eater and nothing short of starvation will force it to eat soiled, dusty, or mouldy feed they don't even like to eat from the floor of the pen. Grain rations should be fed in a minimum of two feedings a day.

Some experts say that goats should not have more than one lb. (0.5 kg) of grain per feeding and never more than 4 lbs. ( 1.8 kg) daily as a total. Others will feed larger amounts, but in frequent feedings during the day. Occasionally, breeders will feed free choice, with the grain always before the milking animal.

Goats should be offered iodized cobaltized salt blocks free choice, it is also a good idea to add loose iodized cobaltized salt to the ration at a rate of 1%.

Related Link:

Information of Nutritional Requirement for Goats Research Project
Langston University Oklahoma

Ontario Goat Milk Producers' Association

Founded October 1989 ~ Incorporated January 1997

Nutritional Requirements of The Dairy Goat