A Guide: What Can Goats Eat
A Guide: What Can Goats Eat
Goats require nutrients to grow but can be picky eaters while also indulging in things they shouldn’t. They need proper nutrients to thrive and survive. So, let’s explore what goats should eat. Goats require energy, protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and water. As a goat owner, you want to give them the best nutrition possible. But what can goats eat?
So, What Can Goats Eat?
Goats need the same basic nutrients as most living beings: protein, energy, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and water. Let’s examine the key ingredients in a goat’s diet more closely to better understand how to care for them.
Water
Water is the most essential nutrient for every living being. Many biological functions, including growth, development, and reproduction, depend on adequate water in the goat diet. While water needs vary depending on the production phase your herd is in, one thing remains constant. Goats need a constant source of fresh, clean water.
Typically, a 110-pound goat will drink 1 to 3 gallons of water daily, depending on diet, intake, and weather. A lactating doe requires an additional 1 quart of water for every 1 pint of milk she produces. If a goat is producing 5 pints of milk at peak lactation while raising twins, 2.5 gallons of water are necessary each day.
Forage & Fiber
Goats are ruminants with four-compartment stomachs that digest roughage like trees, shrubs, grass, hay, and silage. Forage adds bulk to the diet and keeps the rumen functioning correctly by increasing rumination and salivation.
Most nutritionists agree that goats should always have roughage in their diets, at least one pound per head per day. Goats are active foragers that exhibit a high degree of selectivity. They can cover a wide area in search of scarce plant materials.
Their small mouths and split upper lips enable them to pick small leaves, flowers, fruits, and other plant parts, choosing only the most nutritious available feed.
If you want to improve the results of your goats’ grazing, here’s what some studies show about goat grazing habits:
- Select grass over clover.
- Prefer browsing over grazing.
- Prefer foraging on rough and steep land over flat, smooth land.
- Graze along fence lines before grazing the center of a pasture.
- Graze the top of the pasture canopy fairly uniformly before grazing close to the soil level.
Protein Sources
Forage
- Legumes: Alfalfa, clover and other legume hays are rich in protein. Alfalfa hay, in particular, is a high-protein, high-calcium forage commonly fed to goats.
- Pasture: Fresh pasture grasses, especially those mixed with legumes, provide a useful source of protein.
Feed
- Commercial Goat Feed: Specially formulated feeds often contain balanced protein levels tailored for goats.
- Soybean Meal: A common protein supplement in goat feeds due to its high protein content.
- Cottonseed Meal: A high-protein supplement you can include in their diet.
By-products
- Brewers’ Grains: A by-product of the brewing industry and can be a high-protein supplement for goats.
- Distillers’ Grains: Similar to brewers’ grains, these are a by-product of the distilling industry and are high in protein.
Energy Sources
Forage
- Grasses: Fresh pasture grasses provide valuable sources of energy through carbohydrates.
- Hay: Good-quality grass hay is a significant energy source, especially in the winter when fresh pasture is unavailable.
Grains & Concentrates
- Corn: A high-energy grain that’s okay in small quantities.
- Oats: Another energy-rich grain that’s easily digestible.
- Barley: A good energy source, though it’s slightly less digestible than corn.
By-products
- Molasses: Often added to commercial feeds, molasses provides a quick energy source and makes the feed more palatable, but can be disruptive to the rumen if used in excess.
- Beet Pulp: A by-product of sugar beet processing, it is high in energy and fiber, and you can feed it dry or soaked. However, it’s high in phosphorus, so it should be carefully balanced with calcium when fed to male goats.
Vitamins & Minerals
To provide your herd with a balanced diet, round out your nutritional program with vitamins and minerals. Something like DuraFerm that has a complete package is great, although there are other options as well.
Proper, Balanced Nutrition is Best.
Providing the proper hay, feed, vitamins, and minerals, along with plenty of fresh, clean water, will keep your herd healthy and performing at its best.
DuraFerm is a renowned brand of nutritional supplements for sheep and goats that supports optimal digestion, nutrition, and reproduction using organic trace minerals for the best health at every stage.
