Feeding
Ahh feeding. Seems so simple, right? Throw some hay and water at a goat and they live, right? Well, probably. Honestly, I am just now, after seven years, starting to understand this subject and I know I still have so much to learn, but in the interest of being transparent and trying to help you to understand how FEED FUELS THE SYSTEM, I will tell you what I know.
We have already been over how the digestive system works. If you missed it, you can catch it again in the very first section, Goat Anatomy. I also previously overviewed feeding in Prepare for Goats, but now we want to get down to the nitty gritty. Anyone can have a few backyard goats and throw some feed at them and they will probably sustain themselves on that feed with minimal issues for the rest of their lives. I raise dairy goats, and the purpose of the dairy goat is to...MAKE MILK! Not just any milk...the best milk. And the best milk comes from healthy, sleeked out, balanced, strong dairy animals. In order to achieve this, we must feed a well balanced diet in order to maximize the productive life of the doe.
Diet
Hay and forage make up the main diet of goats and should be available to them at all times. A legume hay, such as alfalfa, is best for lactating does. Alfalfa or alfalfa grass hay should provide 16% protein to the does diet. A high quality grain with 14-16% protein should also be fed to the doe at a rate of approximately 1 lb for every 3lbs of milk produced. Grass hay can also be used as a doe's main diet if a higher protein (16-18%) grain is used to supplement the lower protein content of the grass hay. Grain intake should be adjusted according to the body condition of the doe and her stage of lactation. Be careful not to overfeed grain, as feeding too much creates a hazardous and potentially deadly environment in the rumen. All changes in feed intake should be done gradually.
Hay Testing
If you are serious about what your goats are eating, you need to both visually inspect the bales you will be buying, as well as have the hay supply tested. Many times the hay producer will agree to test the hay at their expense. Many feed stores will send out hay for testing and some even do it free of charge!
Please note: I use the term "good" in the following paragraph to mean, neither fair nor premium quality hay.
When hay is tested, (ask your local ag extension office for lab recommendations) the analysis is going to provide you with three major results that you need to pay attention to. The first result is CRUDE PROTEIN (CP). You want to see AT LEAST 16% CP for lactating does. The second result you should pay attention to is ADF or Acid Detergent Fiber. ADF is the part of the hay that is not digestible by goats, is mostly wasted on the floor of your barn, and is otherwise the inactive portion of a bale. A good bale of hay should contain less than 30 ADF. The last number you want to pay attention to is TDN or Total Digestible Nutrients. This is the actual percentage of the hay that your does will be eating and directly using as their fuel to make all that delicious milk. A good bale of hay should be around 59%.
There are many other numbers you will get when you get your hay analysed, but I'm not going to discuss them here. For a very thorough explanation of how hay is tested and what the results mean open this PDF document on Forage Quality.
Elements and Trace Mineral Requirements
Calcium (Ca) and Phosphorus (P)
Calcium and Phosphorus is stored in the skeleton of the doe, and the body has the ability to draw from its stores during times of need. A doe builds up its stores to excess values during pregnancy, and depletes the excess after kidding, so it is important that ample nutrients be provided during this critical time of need. A doe's body requires 7.1 g Ca and 4.9 g P for daily maintenance plus 1.3 g Ca and 1 g P for every kg of milk produced. Ample amounts of Vitamin D help the body retain calcium in the bones.
Magnesium (Mg)
Goats require a daily supply of 1.2 g of Magnesium. Like Ca and P, a goats magnesium supply can be drawn from the body in times of need. 70% of Magnesium is stored in the bones and teeth, while the other 30% can be found in the blood supply.
Zinc (Zn)
Zinc is found in the hair, skin and enzymes. Exact zinc needs are not well documented, but 10-60 ppm in the feed seems to be satisfactory. Ample zinc helps the body retain copper and iron.
Manganese (Mn)
Manganese is stored in the liver and is essential to a goats reproductive health. The daily requirement of manganese is 60-90 ppm in the feed.
Iodine (I)
Iodine is stored in the thyroid gland and is essential to a healthy goats metabolism. Only 0.15mg per day is required but this amount is essential.
Copper (Cu)
Copper aids digestion and utilizes iron in the body. Excess iron in the water supply can often create an imbalance if proper copper is not supplemented. Copper can be provided by bolusing deficient goats.
Sidenote: I recently installed a filter on my barn water source to remove excess iron in our well water. My hope is that the removal of the iron from their water source will help the animals to use other nutrients more efficiently (copper, zinc, selenium), make them healthier, and save money on supplements I give to overcome the excess iron. I will update with results when I have a conclusion. I installed this filter. www.walmart.com/ip/Camco-EVO-Premium-RV-Water-Filter/23636871
Selenium (Se)
Selenium is essential to cell metabolism and works in conjunction with Vitamin E. Many areas of the country are deficient in Selenium (Map of Selenium Averages in United States). Even if your area is not technically deficient according to the map, selenium is mostly stored in the soil so the amount of selenium that is contained in plants which grow there is less than what is officially measured in the soil. Selenium can be supplemented by injection, and should be provided several weeks before a doe is due to kid, to make sure the babies are not born deficient.
Iron (Fe)
Iron is stored in the blood and essential to red blood cell production. Daily intake of 75mg is required for lactating does. Iron should be supplemented (Red Cell Iron Supplement) when a goat becomes anemic during heavy parasite load to aid in the repopulation of red blood cells in the blood.
Cobalt (Co)
Cobalt is important to the production of the Vitamin B12. The daily requirement of cobalt is .5 mg.
Sodium (Na)
Goats require a daily supply of 1.5g per day of Sodium, which is equivalent to 3.5 g of salt (sodium chloride).
Potassium (K)
Relatively high values of Potassium are required by goats. Luckily, most forage contains ample amounts in the roughage, but feeding a grain with potassium added will do no harm.
Vitamins
Vitamin A- aids disease resistance and is required for good vision, lactation and reproduction.
Vitamin D- required for the storage of Calcium and Phosphorous in the skeleton.
Vitamin E- works in conjunction with Selenium and Vitamin A.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)-helps disease resistance and is essential to the health of the nervous system
Pantothenic acid- important to the formation of enzymes and antibodies
Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)- directly associated with cobalt and important to the health of the gut
Loose Minerals
Goats generally know what they are lacking when it comes to trace minerals. For this reason, they should have free access to a a good, clean loose mineral at all times. They will eat it when they need it. Keep it clean, dry and accessible in their pen near a clean water source. Below is an example of a good loose mineral blend for milking does:
Calcium, 7.50%-9.00%
Phosphorus, Min 8.00%
Salt, 10.00%-12.00%
Magnesium, Min 4.50%
Cobalt, Min 240 ppm
Copper, Min 1,750 ppm
Iodine, Min 450 ppm
Manganese, Min 1.25%
Selenium, Min 50 ppm
Zinc, Min 1.25%
Vitamin A, Min 300,000 IU/lb
Vitamin D-3, Min 30,000 IU/lb
Vitamin E, Min 400 IU/lb
I recommend Sweetlix Magnum-Milk for Dairy Goats.
Ahh feeding. Seems so simple, right? Throw some hay and water at a goat and they live, right? Well, probably. Honestly, I am just now, after seven years, starting to understand this subject and I know I still have so much to learn, but in the interest of being transparent and trying to help you to understand how FEED FUELS THE SYSTEM, I will tell you what I know.
We have already been over how the digestive system works. If you missed it, you can catch it again in the very first section, Goat Anatomy. I also previously overviewed feeding in Prepare for Goats, but now we want to get down to the nitty gritty. Anyone can have a few backyard goats and throw some feed at them and they will probably sustain themselves on that feed with minimal issues for the rest of their lives. I raise dairy goats, and the purpose of the dairy goat is to...MAKE MILK! Not just any milk...the best milk. And the best milk comes from healthy, sleeked out, balanced, strong dairy animals. In order to achieve this, we must feed a well balanced diet in order to maximize the productive life of the doe.
Diet
Hay and forage make up the main diet of goats and should be available to them at all times. A legume hay, such as alfalfa, is best for lactating does. Alfalfa or alfalfa grass hay should provide 16% protein to the does diet. A high quality grain with 14-16% protein should also be fed to the doe at a rate of approximately 1 lb for every 3lbs of milk produced. Grass hay can also be used as a doe's main diet if a higher protein (16-18%) grain is used to supplement the lower protein content of the grass hay. Grain intake should be adjusted according to the body condition of the doe and her stage of lactation. Be careful not to overfeed grain, as feeding too much creates a hazardous and potentially deadly environment in the rumen. All changes in feed intake should be done gradually.
Hay Testing
If you are serious about what your goats are eating, you need to both visually inspect the bales you will be buying, as well as have the hay supply tested. Many times the hay producer will agree to test the hay at their expense. Many feed stores will send out hay for testing and some even do it free of charge!
Please note: I use the term "good" in the following paragraph to mean, neither fair nor premium quality hay.
When hay is tested, (ask your local ag extension office for lab recommendations) the analysis is going to provide you with three major results that you need to pay attention to. The first result is CRUDE PROTEIN (CP). You want to see AT LEAST 16% CP for lactating does. The second result you should pay attention to is ADF or Acid Detergent Fiber. ADF is the part of the hay that is not digestible by goats, is mostly wasted on the floor of your barn, and is otherwise the inactive portion of a bale. A good bale of hay should contain less than 30 ADF. The last number you want to pay attention to is TDN or Total Digestible Nutrients. This is the actual percentage of the hay that your does will be eating and directly using as their fuel to make all that delicious milk. A good bale of hay should be around 59%.
There are many other numbers you will get when you get your hay analysed, but I'm not going to discuss them here. For a very thorough explanation of how hay is tested and what the results mean open this PDF document on Forage Quality.
Elements and Trace Mineral Requirements
Calcium (Ca) and Phosphorus (P)
Calcium and Phosphorus is stored in the skeleton of the doe, and the body has the ability to draw from its stores during times of need. A doe builds up its stores to excess values during pregnancy, and depletes the excess after kidding, so it is important that ample nutrients be provided during this critical time of need. A doe's body requires 7.1 g Ca and 4.9 g P for daily maintenance plus 1.3 g Ca and 1 g P for every kg of milk produced. Ample amounts of Vitamin D help the body retain calcium in the bones.
Magnesium (Mg)
Goats require a daily supply of 1.2 g of Magnesium. Like Ca and P, a goats magnesium supply can be drawn from the body in times of need. 70% of Magnesium is stored in the bones and teeth, while the other 30% can be found in the blood supply.
Zinc (Zn)
Zinc is found in the hair, skin and enzymes. Exact zinc needs are not well documented, but 10-60 ppm in the feed seems to be satisfactory. Ample zinc helps the body retain copper and iron.
Manganese (Mn)
Manganese is stored in the liver and is essential to a goats reproductive health. The daily requirement of manganese is 60-90 ppm in the feed.
Iodine (I)
Iodine is stored in the thyroid gland and is essential to a healthy goats metabolism. Only 0.15mg per day is required but this amount is essential.
Copper (Cu)
Copper aids digestion and utilizes iron in the body. Excess iron in the water supply can often create an imbalance if proper copper is not supplemented. Copper can be provided by bolusing deficient goats.
Sidenote: I recently installed a filter on my barn water source to remove excess iron in our well water. My hope is that the removal of the iron from their water source will help the animals to use other nutrients more efficiently (copper, zinc, selenium), make them healthier, and save money on supplements I give to overcome the excess iron. I will update with results when I have a conclusion. I installed this filter. www.walmart.com/ip/Camco-EVO-Premium-RV-Water-Filter/23636871
Selenium (Se)
Selenium is essential to cell metabolism and works in conjunction with Vitamin E. Many areas of the country are deficient in Selenium (Map of Selenium Averages in United States). Even if your area is not technically deficient according to the map, selenium is mostly stored in the soil so the amount of selenium that is contained in plants which grow there is less than what is officially measured in the soil. Selenium can be supplemented by injection, and should be provided several weeks before a doe is due to kid, to make sure the babies are not born deficient.
Iron (Fe)
Iron is stored in the blood and essential to red blood cell production. Daily intake of 75mg is required for lactating does. Iron should be supplemented (Red Cell Iron Supplement) when a goat becomes anemic during heavy parasite load to aid in the repopulation of red blood cells in the blood.
Cobalt (Co)
Cobalt is important to the production of the Vitamin B12. The daily requirement of cobalt is .5 mg.
Sodium (Na)
Goats require a daily supply of 1.5g per day of Sodium, which is equivalent to 3.5 g of salt (sodium chloride).
Potassium (K)
Relatively high values of Potassium are required by goats. Luckily, most forage contains ample amounts in the roughage, but feeding a grain with potassium added will do no harm.
Vitamins
Vitamin A- aids disease resistance and is required for good vision, lactation and reproduction.
Vitamin D- required for the storage of Calcium and Phosphorous in the skeleton.
Vitamin E- works in conjunction with Selenium and Vitamin A.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)-helps disease resistance and is essential to the health of the nervous system
Pantothenic acid- important to the formation of enzymes and antibodies
Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)- directly associated with cobalt and important to the health of the gut
Loose Minerals
Goats generally know what they are lacking when it comes to trace minerals. For this reason, they should have free access to a a good, clean loose mineral at all times. They will eat it when they need it. Keep it clean, dry and accessible in their pen near a clean water source. Below is an example of a good loose mineral blend for milking does:
Calcium, 7.50%-9.00%
Phosphorus, Min 8.00%
Salt, 10.00%-12.00%
Magnesium, Min 4.50%
Cobalt, Min 240 ppm
Copper, Min 1,750 ppm
Iodine, Min 450 ppm
Manganese, Min 1.25%
Selenium, Min 50 ppm
Zinc, Min 1.25%
Vitamin A, Min 300,000 IU/lb
Vitamin D-3, Min 30,000 IU/lb
Vitamin E, Min 400 IU/lb
I recommend Sweetlix Magnum-Milk for Dairy Goats.
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