Feeding Female Goats: 6 Things to Know

Goat feed management stages of female goat (doe):

This will give you more details about goat feed management in female goats at different stages.

1. Goat feed management in breeding female goats.

In a case where there is enough pasture present, there is no need of supplemental concentrate mixture for your goats.

In case of poor grazing conditions, goats may be supplemented with a mixture at 200 to 350 grams of concentrate feed/ animal/ day depending on their age.

Usually, the crude protein level of concentrate feed mixture used in the adult feed should be about 12%.

2. Goat feed management during the first 4 months of pregnancy.

You should allow pregnant goats in good quality pasture at least 5 hours/ day.

Goat feed ration must be supplemented with available green fodder at 5kg/ goat/ day.

3. Goat feed management during the last month of pregnancy.

In the last month of goat pregnancy, the foetal growth increases 60 to 75%, so it is recommended to allow these pregnant goats in good quality pasture for 5 hours/ day.

You should also feed the pregnant goats with concentrate mixture at 250 to 400 grams/ day/ animal.

Goat feed ration should be supplemented with available green fodder at 7kg/ day/ goat.

4. Goat feed management at kidding time.

Just before kidding time or immediately after goat kids (gives birth), the grain feed should be reduced but good quality dry roughage should be fed ad hoc.

It is recommended to feed lightly on the day of parturition. Make sure to provide plenty of clean and cool water.

As soon as the female goat gives birth, it must be provided with slightly warm water.

After parturition, the ration of the female goat should be gradually increased to meet the daily requirement of 6 to 7 doses/ day.

You can include laxative feed stuffs in the ration during the first few days after the goat delivery.

It is recommended to provide a mixture of wheat bran and barely or oats or maize (corn) at 1:1 proportion.

5. Goat feed management in lactating female goats.

It is recommended 6 to 7 hours of grazing plus 10kg of cultivated green fodder/ day/ goat.

It is recommended 6 to 7 hours of grazing plus 450 grams of concentrate mixture/ day/ goat.

It is recommended 6 to 7 hours of grazing plus 750 to 800 grams of good quality legume hay/ day/ goat.

6. Goat feed management in non-pregnant female goats.

In case of good pasture availability, there is no need to provide a supplemental concentrate mixture.

In case of poor grazing conditions, goats should be supplemented with 150 to 200 grams of concentrate/ goat/ day.

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