Goats

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 by Jennifer Sartell 

 Feeding a herd of goats can be tricky. Goats have a complex digestive  system that requires different types and amounts of food to run  smoothly. When you enter the goat world, it seems that everyone has an  opinion on what is the “best” way to feed. As a result, it can be  confusing to know what is right for your animals. In this post, I break  down the different options for meeting a goat’s nutritional needs so  that you can decide for yourself what is the best method for your herd. I  also share a bit about what has worked for us and what we’d like to  improve on when it comes to goat nutrition. 

Feed Components for Our Herd 

These ratios change when winter arrives and pasture is not available.

• Grass Hay: 50%
• Pasture: 25%
• Grain: 20%
• Treats: 5% or less

Hay

When keeping domestic goats, hay is essential for two reasons: It  provides both nutrition and dry roughage to balance the moisture and  fiber content in the rumen.

Hay vs. Straw 

I often hear the terms “hay” and “straw” used interchangeably, and I  cringe. Thankfully, it’s usually from people who don’t keep animals. But  just in case, or if you’re new to raising goats, it’s important to know  the difference as well as why you should include them in your goat’s  diet.

• Hay is grass that has been cut and dried, then  baled or collected to use as animal feed. Much of the nutrition in the  grass is preserved in the hay, and it makes great feed for goats. Think  of it as dehydrated pasture. It’s usually grayish green and dull in  color.
• Straw is the collection of stalks left over after  grain kernels have been harvested for food. Straw is a by-product of the  grain harvest (like wheat, for example). It has little to no  nutritional value and is used for bedding.

Straw makes for great bedding because it is nice and fluffy as well  as insulating because each straw is hollow, trapping warm air pockets in  the tubes. Straw is also slightly slippery in texture, so manure and  wetness fall through the straw and away from the animals. It also  doesn’t rot or mold as quickly as hay. Straw is golden and shiny. You do  not want to feed it to your animals. They may nibble a piece now and  then, but it should not be a source of nutrition.

Brown Hay

Some browning of the hay is normal, but excess or very brown hay is  low in nutrition and you may be wasting your money. Brown hay means that  the elements were not ideal while the farmer was baling. Either it was  sun-bleached, or it was rained on during the drying process. Rain will  actually “wash” away nutrition and color from the grass blades.

Brown hay can also be the result of old hay that has been stored too long or in improper conditions.

Never feed moldy hay to goats! It can cause digestive and respiratory problems, among other things.

Grass Hay vs. Alfalfa 

Grass hay may contain a blend of different grasses.  You may hear of types such as timothy hay, orchard grass, canary grass,  fescue, etc. Each of these grasses may be found in your hay bale. They  hold different nutritional values as far as protein, fiber and minerals  are concerned. Ask your hay supplier what is in the bales you are  buying.

We hay our own field with a mix of grasses including orchard grass,  timothy hay, some swamp grass and goldenrod, plus an under-layer of red  clover. Each year we work to improve our field. This year, we plan to  plow up sections and plant a hay mix seed so that we will have a better  understanding of our hay’s nutritional content.

Our goats always have access to grass hay.

Alfalfa is a very rich fodder made of the dehydrated legume alfalfa. Its protein content is about double that of grass hay.

Most grass hay protein falls around 7–8%

Alfalfa protein is around 16%, which is similar to that of most manufactured grain blends.

 In this way, some goat owners can eliminate the need for grain with  alfalfa and good pasture. Alfalfa should not be fed on a free-choice  basis, but portioned into flakes depending on the goat’s size and  nutritional needs. 

Pasture

Goats can thrive in a variety of living situations, but they do best when they are exposed to adequate pasture.

In the wild, goats are grazers, which means that the herd moves  throughout the day nibbling on tree branches, weeds, brambles, etc.

For most people, pasture means grass.

Goats do well on grass, but remember to introduce lush pasture slowly  to allow their system to regulate the fresh wet green. Provide plenty  of hay to help balance out the system.

In the spring, we allow our goats out for an hour at a time until  they have adjusted to the new food after the lack thereof during the  winter. Wet, lush pasture can be particularly hard on the system and may  cause scours. Pasture rotation helps keep the plant cycle healthy and  reduce worm problems.

Grain 

In reality, goats were never meant to eat much grain. Goats are  natural grazers; their systems are meant to digest shrubs, weeds, small  tree branches, bark, leaves and some grasses. In nature, goats would  have a hard time finding a mix of oats, corn, soybeans and sweet  molasses.

But, in the same respect, dogs were never really meant to eat kibble.  Dogs in the wild hunt deer and rabbits for food. They consume raw meat  and chew bones for healthy marrow. But when you domesticate an animal,  things change. It would be difficult to hunt for my dog every day and  bring home freshly killed meat for his dinner. So, we improvise. Grain  is a version of that adaptation.

Feeding grain ensures that a goat is getting enough nutrition. Most  formulas provide around 16% protein. Feed amounts should be labeled on  the bag according to the animal’s weight. Or you can discuss portions  with your vet.

Does in milk, pregnant does, and fiber goats require more grain than  bucks and wethers, though some bucks need additional nutrition because  of the toll that hormone production takes on their bodies.

An increase in the amount of grain fed should be done gradually so as to prevent overwhelming the bacteria in the rumen.

Sweet Feed vs. Not 

Sweet feed is a mix of whole grains or pelleted food tossed with  molasses. The molasses makes the grain very palatable to goats; in fact,  they can become obsessed with it! The molasses adds iron and sugars,  and in some feed mill blends helps supplements, such as minerals or  medications, to stick to the feed. 

Our goats will turn their noses up at feed that isn’t coated in  molasses. They also prefer a mix of whole oats and pellets rather than  just pellet feed. Because goats love sweet feed, it can be used as a  training tool. It helps them stay still on the stanchion during milking,  shearing, hoof trimming and health checkups. It also encourages them to  come when they are called. If the goats get into the garden, grab a  bucket of sweet feed and shake it. They’ll be on your tail faster than  you can say “tomato!”

Grain can also be useful for administering supplements. We sometimes  add pelleted wormers to the goats’ grain ratio, or sprinkle probiotics  to help with their immune systems.

Our fiber goats get the addition of 5% black oil sunflower seeds to  provide healthy fats for lanolin production. Lanolin is a waxy oil that  helps protect the wool.

Sweet Feed and Urinary Calculi 

Sweet Feed and grain can sometimes cause urinary calculi in goats,  particularly wethers. Urinary calculi is when calculi or stones, usually  comprised of phosphate salts, lodge in the urinary tract and prevent  normal urination. The primary cause of urinary calculi is feeding a  concentrated diets that is excessive in phosphorus and magnesium.  (University of Kentucky)  

Ways to Prevent Urinary Calculi

• Wait until male goats are older to wether. This allows the urinary tract to develop completely
• Make sure the goat’s diet is made up mostly of hay and roughage, and only supplemented with grain
• Check to see if ammonium chloride is one of the ingredients in  their feed. If it’s not, ask your vet whether a supplement would be a  good choice
• Provide plenty of fresh clean water at all times to help flush out  the goat’s system. Also provide salt on a free-choice basis. Consumption  of salt encourages consumption of water

Treats 

Treats make up a variety of foods that your goats don’t consume on a  daily basis. Treats are given to our herd because we simply love our  goats and love to spoil them. They are particularly fond of the new  apple-flavored Manna Pro® Goat Treats.

Sometimes we use kitchen scraps or things we pick from the garden as  goat treats. Some of our goats’ favorites are pumpkin and raspberry  plants.

Some fruits and vegetables are not a good choice for goats. Consult your veterinarian for a list of safe treat choices.

Treats should be given in small amounts. Any time you introduce a new  food, do so gradually so that it doesn’t upset their tummies.

Once your goat’s diet is balanced, feeding is quite easy and becomes  routine. With a basic outline about goat nutrition, you will soon learn  what works for your goats and what doesn’t.