Dairy goats have become increasingly popular recently, not only for their delicious and nutritious milk but also for their adaptability to various farming environments. Proper nutrition is a critical component in maintaining the health and productivity of dairy goats, ensuring they can reach their full potential in milk production.
Feeding behavior of dairy goats.
Goats are ruminants and they prefer browsing to grazing because they are selective feeders. This gives them an advantage in choosing their diet under extensive feeding conditions. Goats select the most nutritious pasture from the provided forage and reject coarse stalk materials, leading to a 10 to 20% waste.
Nutrient Requirements for Dairy Goats
Dairy goats have unique nutritional needs compared to other livestock due to their high milk production demands. In fact, dairy goats are not heavy feeders compared to dairy cows. For example, one goat requires 4 kg of feed daily, whereas a dairy cow requires about 100 kg daily. Consequently, even a smallholder farmer can engage in dairy goat farming. For example, one can fully support 4 goats on a quarter acre of land, meaning that one can successfully raise 20 goats on one acre.
Dairy goats require a well-balanced diet that provides adequate energy, protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals to support their metabolic processes and meet the demands of lactation. Energy requirements for goats are typically met through the inclusion of grains, such as corn, barley, or oats, as well as high-quality forage sources like alfalfa hay, sweet potato vines, maize, or grass hay. The specific energy needs will depend on the stage of lactation, with higher energy requirements during the peak of lactation.
Proteins.
Protein is essential for milk production, and these goats require a combination of both rumen-degradable and rumen-undegradable protein sources. Common protein-rich feeds include soybean meal, cottonseed meal, or high-quality pasture or hay.
Fiber.
Fiber is crucial for maintaining a healthy rumen environment and preventing digestive issues. Dairy goats should receive a diet that includes a balance of long-stem forage, such as hay or pasture, and concentrate feeds.
Vitamins.
Vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, and trace minerals, are also vital for supporting dairy goats’ overall health and productivity. Proper supplementation can help prevent deficiencies and optimize milk yield.
Feeding Strategies for Dairy Goats.
Effective feeding strategies for dairy goats involve a combination of forage, concentrates, and supplements tailored to their specific production stage and individual needs.
Feeding program for dairy goats
In the morning
Concentrate cereals.
Farmers should feed the goats with concentrate supplementation, for example, cereals such as grains, maize bran, or protein-rich feeds. These also provide supplements to the forage and meet the increased energy and protein requirements. In particular during lactating periods to produce a good quantity of milk. In addition, farmers should provide adequate clean water for their goats to support the goats’ hydration requirements. This is especially during lactation when water intake increases. Farmers should ensure that their goats never run out of water in their troughs.
Mineral and vitamin supplementation
Mineral and vitamin supplements are essential to ensure the goats receive a balanced diet and prevent deficiencies. Therefore, farmers should hang mineral mixes or block supplements in the goat house for them to lick all the time. These offer goats free choice to self-regulate their intake. Afterward, the farmers should allow the goats to sleep and relax while digesting the concentrate for about two hours.
Dairy goats feeding At around noon
Forage-based diet for dairy goats
Dairy goats should receive high-quality forage as the foundation of their diet, providing essential fiber and nutrients. Alfalfa hay, sweet potato vines, grass hay, and well-managed pasture are the primary forage sources.
In the evening
Farmers feed the concentrates cereals again to their goats after milking.
At night
Forage-based feed: Farmers should feed their goats heavily with good quality forage after milking. Before they sleep, farmers should feed them properly to encourage good milk production. If farmers don’t feed their goats well at night, they make a lot of noise, which consequently lowers milk production.
Feeding management
Consistent feeding schedules, proper feed storage, and monitoring of individual goats’ body condition can help ensure optimal nutrient intake and milk production.
By implementing these feeding strategies and considering the unique nutritional requirements of goats, farmers, and producers can foster a healthy and productive dairy goat herd, ensuring a sustainable and reliable source of high-quality milk.
