Goats are inquisitive feeders and will walk long distances in search of food. Herbage is, therefore, an important part of their diet. This is a difficult requirement to meet in the case of zero grazing. Goats are browsers and eat variety of plants/feeds when left to find their own food. This ensures a balanced diet according to their individual needs. Goats are able to distinguish between bitter, sweet and sour tastes and show a higher tolerance for bitter tasting food than, say, cattle. They relish variety and will not thrive when kept to a single type of feed for any length of time, which is often the case when goats are kept in zero grazing situations. They need plants. They tend to prefer to nibble at the shoots and leave the stems. Palatability appears not to be their main consideration. They look mainly for a variety of feeds.
The mobile upper lip enables the goat to browse a variety of plants
to meet its nutrient requirements and up to 80% of their total intake may be
taken as browse. When browse is not available they are, however, quite capable
of utilizing grasses and other crop residues. A variety of grasses can be grown
suitable for goats. They generally prefer the less coarse grasses such as
Napier. Wild legumes are also a beneficial part of the diet.
Goats greatly benefit from a wide variety of tree leaves and make
good utilization of woodland vegetation. Like all other animals goats need
sufficient feed for:
·
Maintenance of body weight and condition.
·
Production of meat/milk (There will be very minimal
production/growth rate, unless the goats have access to more feed than they
need for body maintenance).
Goats get bored when fed on the same feed every day. They are clean
feeders and will not eat feeds which are not fresh and nor will they eat dirty
feed e.g. Napier with mud splash from rain. Goats do not like sticky, mouldy,
wet or dusty feeds. Goats need the same balanced ingredients as other
creatures, only proportions vary according to the stage in the life cycle:
1. Proteins
Proteins are needed for growth, production of meat and milk as well
as reproduction. Proteins are found in:
Legumes such as Lucerne, green beans (this is not advised), cowpeas
and other wild legumes (sweet
potato vines, acacia leaves etc.).
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| Goats feeding on cassava products |
Dairy meal, cotton seed cake, sunflower cake, soy
bean cake and other oil seed cakes (the 'cakes' should be fed
sparingly).
2. Energy feeds
Energy feeds (carbohydrates and fats) are needed for maintenance of
body condition, fattening, all body functions, in general for anything to work.
Energy feeds are for example:
Grains such as sorghum, maize, millet, barley and wheat can be fed
in small quantities. Green maize husks should be fed with caution. The
carbohydrate and sugar content is very high, therefore very palatable.
Especially in a dry period goats will gorge themselves resulting in
'Carbohydrate Engorgement'. The symptoms are very difficult to reverse, there
is no treatment and mortality is very high. If caught very early it can be
treated by a period of starvation, but success is limited.
Grasses: Napier grass,
kikuyu grass, or any green grass.
Hay, dried grasses/weeds are an essential part of a goat’s diet,
etc.
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| Goats feeding on grasses |
Fibre is needed to keep the rumen (stomach) in a healthy working
condition. Fibre is found in all plant material. Old dry stems of plants (Do
not use dry legume hay. The clostridia content of this is higher than green
legume) are almost pure fibre.
Young green plants have less fibre and more nutrients. Ruminants
such as goats can digest a large amount of fibre, but do need supplements,
especially if all the available fodder has dried out. If goats get too little
fibre they tend to either suffer from bloat or from indigestion (badly
functioning stomach).
4. Molasses
Molasses added to the water is much appreciated by goats. This can
be given from a large bucket when the goats come in for milking. They should be
allowed to drink from this freely. Molasses assists with the fermentation
process that takes place in the rumen. Dairy goats carry very little fat, so it
is important that there is good rumen action at night to keep them warm.
Molasses is also an excellent source of vitamins and minerals.
5. Minerals
Minerals constitute an important part of the diet. Symptoms of
mineral deficiency which, if ignored, could result in death and will definitely
affect production. Minerals are needed for maintaining fertility, building body
condition, keeping body functions healthy. Minerals are found in weeds, salt
licks, etc. Excess in one or more minerals is also undesirable.
A number of minerals are essential and are classified into 2 groups
- macro and micro elements. The macro minerals include: calcium, chlorine,
phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, sodium & sulphur. The micro elements
which are required in much smaller quantities are: cobalt, copper, fluorine,
iodine, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and zinc.
There may also be a need for other trace miners such as barium,
bromine, cadmium, chromium, nickel, selenium, silicon, strontium and tin.
6. Vitamins
Vitamins are essential food substances and are required in very
small quantities. They are usually classified into 2 groups: fat soluble and
water soluble vitamins.
The fat soluble vitamins
are: Vitamin A (present in plants), Vit D, D2 and D3, Vit. E and K.
The water soluble vitamins
are: Vitamin B, B1 (thiamine) B2 (riboflavin), B6 (pantothenic acid, folic
acid, and biotin), B12 (cobaltamin), Vit C (ascorbic acid).
Most of the above are widely available in feeds and green leafy
materials and in cereal grains. Some of the B vitamins are synthesized by the
intestine microflora when cobalt is present. A practical way to ensure that
vitamins and minerals in the correct amounts are incorporated in the diet is to
feed them as supplements. There are many supplements available on the local
market.
Note: Pasture
management is important.
This is enough for today! You may be tired of us.
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