DEPARTMENT OF LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENTLPM 312Feed and feeding management of goatsIRSHAD 2K6,COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES,MANNUTHYKERALA, INDIA

Feeding habits of goatsSelective feedingBrowsing-mobile lips & very prehensile tongue. They can graze on very short grass and browse on foliageFastidious eating habits – consume wide varieties of feeds & vegetation than sheep or cattle.

Selective feeding

Browsing-mobile lips & very prehensile tongue. They can graze on very short grass and browse on foliage

Fastidious eating habits – consume wide varieties of feeds & vegetation than sheep or cattle.

Ability & distinguish between various tastesConsume certain species at definite stage & reject them at other stageRumen is not developed at birth but young kids start picking at hay or grass at 2-3 weeks of age and by 3-4 months the rumen fully functional.

Ability & distinguish between various tastes

Consume certain species at definite stage & reject them at other stage

Rumen is not developed at birth but young kids start picking at hay or grass at 2-3 weeks of age and by 3-4 months the rumen fully functional.

RoughagesGreen chopHays and other roughages-most economical, good quality legume hay/mixed legume grass- excellent source of nutrientsMixed hay should contain at least 50% legume hayHays- Alfalfa, red clover, ladino cloverTree leaves- Pipal, Neem, Mango, Asoka, mulberry etc.

Green chop

Hays and other roughages-most economical, good quality legume hay/mixed legume grass- excellent source of nutrients

Mixed hay should contain at least 50% legume hay

Hays- Alfalfa, red clover, ladino clover

Tree leaves- Pipal, Neem, Mango, Asoka, mulberry etc.

Shrubs, herbs & climbers-Jharhari, Karonda, GokhurchGrasses- Anjan, Senji, HirankhuriVegetable wastes- Carrot, Raddish, Turnip, Cabbages, Cauliflower, MustardCultivated fodders- Lucerne, Berseem, Cowpea, Mustard, Sorghum, MaizePods & berries – Gular, Pakar.Hays and straws- Oat hay, Paddy hay, Maize

Shrubs, herbs & climbers-Jharhari, Karonda, Gokhurch

Grasses- Anjan, Senji, Hirankhuri

Vegetable wastes- Carrot, Raddish, Turnip, Cabbages, Cauliflower, Mustard

Cultivated fodders- Lucerne, Berseem, Cowpea, Mustard, Sorghum, Maize

Pods & berries – Gular, Pakar.

Hays and straws- Oat hay, Paddy hay, Maize

Energy feeds- Corn, Oats, Barley, Milo & wheat & byproductsProtein feeds- Cotton seed meal, Soya bean meal & others(Copra meal, Peanut meal, Sunflower meal, distillers dry grain).Urea and NPN substancesConcentrates

Energy feeds- Corn, Oats, Barley, Milo & wheat & byproducts

Protein feeds- Cotton seed meal, Soya bean meal & others(Copra meal, Peanut meal, Sunflower meal, distillers dry grain).

Urea and NPN substances

Commercial feedsComplete food- roughage and concentrate combinedConcentratesProtein supplement

Complete food- roughage and concentrate combined

Concentrates

Protein supplement

Feed preparationsPelleting and cubing

Pelleting and cubing

Concentrate requirement for adult goatMaintenance- 250 g/ 50 Kg body weightProduction rate – 450g /2.5 L milk/doePregnancy- during last months of gestation-220g / day/doe

Maintenance- 250 g/ 50 Kg body weight

Production rate – 450g /2.5 L milk/doe

Pregnancy- during last months of gestation-220g / day/doe

Formulation of concentrate mixtureWheat bran – 1 partGrain (maize , barley) – 2 partsOil cake (linseed cake, GNC) – 1 partMineral mix – 2%Salt – 0.5%

Example for concentrate mix

Nutrient requirements of goats

Dry matterFor better growth and production performance, all nutrients should be present in the ration in correct proportion. DM consumption is different for meat and dairy type goats. It is 3-4 % of body weight for dairy type 5-7 % in meat type goats.

For better growth and production performance, all nutrients should be present in the ration in correct proportion.

DM consumption is different for meat and dairy type goats.

It is 3-4 % of body weight for dairy type

5-7 % in meat type goats.

EnergyEnergy is the vital component of goat diet affecting utilization of other nutrients and overall productivity. If more energy provided, the goat will gain weight faster. 1g live wt gain/3g starch equivalent1kg milk/ 300 g SE.

ProteinA minimum of 6 % total protein requirement in diet. additional protein requirement for growth pregnancy, lactation and mohair production This can be achieved by adding concentrates in the ration.

MineralsGoat milk is rich in mineralsNa, Cl, Ca, P, S are the main minerals to be supplemented.Ca and P require in larger quantities. It is recommended to feed a mix made of equal parts of iodised salt and dicalcium phosphate at free choice.Formulate mineral mix using sterilized bone meal, lime stone, iodised salt, copper sulphate, zinc oxide and ferrous carbonate.

Goat milk is rich in minerals

Na, Cl, Ca, P, S are the main minerals to be supplemented.

Ca and P require in larger quantities.

It is recommended to feed a mix made of equal parts of iodised salt and dicalcium phosphate at free choice.

Formulate mineral mix using sterilized bone meal, lime stone, iodised salt, copper sulphate, zinc oxide and ferrous carbonate.

DM Vitamins and antibiotics Vitamins A, D & E are to be supplementedGreen forages and yellow maize are rich in Vitamin A. Vitamin D can be obtained from sunlightVitamin E present in almost all rations.

AntibioticsAureomycin and terramycin are included It will:increase growth rate of young kidsimproves general appearance of kidsdecrease the incidents of infectious diseases

increase growth rate of young kids

improves general appearance of kids

decrease the incidents of infectious diseases

Nutrient requirements of goats

Feeding management of goats

DMFeeding of kids and finisherFed with colostrum within 30 mins after birth and continue for 3 days.Colostrum feeding is very important asit is rich source of all essential nutrientsprovide Absgood source of vitamins like Vit A,D and minerals like Cu, Fe, Mn & Mggot laxative properties and cleans intestine of meconiumAfter feeding colostrums for 2-3 days whole milk or milk replacer can be fed for 4 months

it is rich source of all essential nutrients

provide Abs

good source of vitamins like Vit A,D and minerals like Cu, Fe, Mn & Mg

got laxative properties and cleans intestine of meconium

DMHow many times the milk or milk replacer should be fed?Thrice daily feeding in first week and twice daily thereafterHow much amount to be fed?450ml up to 8 weeks and thereafter minimizing the quantity and completely stopped when kids attain 4 months of age. More accurately saying1/6 th body weight during 1st month1/8th body weight during 2nd month1/10th body weight during 3rd month Instead of using whole milk we can use milk replacer also.

How many times the milk or milk replacer should be fed?

Thrice daily feeding in first week and twice daily thereafter

How much amount to be fed?

450ml up to 8 weeks and thereafter minimizing the quantity and completely stopped when kids attain 4 months of age.

What is milk replacer?It is constituted feed with 25% CPused to replace whole milk.we can practice mixing of whole milk& milk replacer we can use cow milk in place of goat milk.

It is constituted feed with 25% CP

used to replace whole milk.

we can practice mixing of whole milk& milk replacer

we can use cow milk in place of goat milk.

DMKids start chewing their cuds by 3 weeksprovide good legume hay or fresh green grass and creep feed along with fresh water & salt. creep feed with a DCP level of 18-20%, TDN 75% and 2.5-2.9 ME/kg,fed at rate of 450g/day.

Kids start chewing their cuds by 3 weeks

provide good legume hay or fresh green grass and creep feed along with fresh water & salt.

creep feed with a DCP level of 18-20%, TDN 75% and 2.5-2.9 ME/kg,fed at rate of 450g/day.

From 4 months to breeding Fed roughages supplemented with concentrates (15-16% CP level) at rate of 450g daily). Dairy goats are not allowed to become too fat, for this reduce the intake of energy feeds. Always provide clean, fresh water and minerals Commercial mineral mix can be used.

Fed roughages supplemented with concentrates (15-16% CP level) at rate of 450g daily).

Dairy goats are not allowed to become too fat, for this reduce the intake of energy feeds.

Always provide clean, fresh water and minerals

Commercial mineral mix can be used.

DMFeeding of pregnant goatsProvide high quality leguminous fodder adlibitum.concentrate with 15% CP at 400-500g/day. A free choice lick to mineral mix will take care of Ca and P requirement of both dam and foetus. Allow good grazing

Provide high quality leguminous fodder adlibitum.

concentrate with 15% CP at 400-500g/day.

A free choice lick to mineral mix will take care of Ca and P requirement of both dam and foetus.

Allow good grazing

Reduce the amount of conc. mix to half before some days of kiddingincrease amount of bran & succulent type feed to provide more bulk. After kidding fed the dam with bran & warm water gradually bring the doe to its full feed for milk production.

Reduce the amount of conc. mix to half before some days of kidding

increase amount of bran & succulent type feed to provide more bulk.

After kidding fed the dam with bran & warm water

gradually bring the doe to its full feed for milk production.

DMFeeding of lactating goatsNutrient requirement are higher during lactation. Ration should contain high quality roughages like Lucerne,Berseem and other cereal grasses. It will provide fresh nutrients and bulks needed for production of VFAs like acetic, propionic and butyric acid, which are needed for high milk production.

Nutrient requirement are higher during lactation.

Ration should contain high quality roughages like Lucerne,Berseem and other cereal grasses.

It will provide fresh nutrients and bulks needed for production of VFAs like acetic, propionic and butyric acid, which are needed for high milk production.

A concentrate feed with 14-16% CP level can be fed at the rate of 350g/L of milk obtained.It has to be fed 2 times/day.Add 1% trace mineralized salt and 1% Ca-P mineral mix to this conc mix.

A concentrate feed with 14-16% CP level can be fed at the rate of 350g/L of milk obtained.

It has to be fed 2 times/day.

Add 1% trace mineralized salt and 1% Ca-P mineral mix to this conc mix.

Molasses added upto 5-7% of conc mixIt helps to increase palatability and decrease dustiness of feed.Keep a clean, fresh supply of water at all times.After 2wks gradually increase conc. level according to milk yield and individual requirement. Individual requirement can be assessed easily by feeding conc. feed at milking time.

Molasses added upto 5-7% of conc mix

It helps to increase palatability and decrease dustiness of feed.

Keep a clean, fresh supply of water at all times.

After 2wks gradually increase conc. level according to milk yield and individual requirement.

Individual requirement can be assessed easily by feeding conc. feed at milking time.

DMFeeding of breeding bucksDuring non-breeding season, buck doesn’t require additional concentrate if it is on good pasture.During breeding season, conc. mix fed at the rate of 400-900g/day depending on its body wt. not allow buck to get too fat, hence reduce intake of energy feeds.Provide adlib. roughages, clean fresh water and minerals.

During non-breeding season, buck doesn’t require additional concentrate if it is on good pasture.

During breeding season, conc. mix fed at the rate of 400-900g/day depending on its body wt.

not allow buck to get too fat, hence reduce intake of energy feeds.

Provide adlib. roughages, clean fresh water and minerals.

Feeding guide for goats