Madeleine Hull
Goats are known for their hearty appetites and will eat almost anything in front of them, but this doesn't mean they can. Their diet should be primarily made up of forage (hay or pasture) and they require five essential nutrients: water, energy, protein, minerals and vitamins. Goats with higher protein requirements may be fed fresh, pelleted or long-stemmed alfalfa, or grains such as soybean meal. They also need access to salt, which is usually provided in the form of a block for them to lick.
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What You'll Learn
Goats need a constant supply of fresh, clean water
To ensure that your goats always have access to water, it is important to clean and refill their drinkers or bowls regularly. During the winter, it is also important to remove any ice from their water sources, but avoid using chemicals to do this. Goats often prefer water that is a little warm or at least not too cold. Secure the drinking containers so that the goats cannot knock them over.
In addition to water, it is important to provide your goats with a diet that includes energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins. Goats typically consume a minimum of 1-3% of their body weight in dry matter per day, which can increase during times of increased energy needs. For maintenance, goats should consume a forage with a crude protein concentration between 7-9%.
Goats are known for their ability to forage and will eat anything from fresh grass to woody shrubs. They are browsers rather than grazers, so they prefer shrubs and tree leaves to grass. However, they can also eat grass and other plants while grazing. It is important to note that there are many plants that are toxic to goats, so care must be taken to avoid these.
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Hay is a staple of a goat's diet
Goats are known for their hearty appetites and will try to eat almost anything, but it is crucial to be mindful of toxic foods. Many common plants, including garden plants, are poisonous to goats and can even be fatal. Some plants to avoid include alder, yew, rhododendron, laurel, privet, laburnum, honeysuckle, walnut, evergreen shrubs, and various bulbous plants.
When introducing new foods, it is important to do so gradually as goats do not cope well with sudden dietary changes. A regular and predictable feeding routine is ideal, with feed suitable for their age and breed. Supplementary foods, such as mineral salt licks, are also beneficial to their diet. While treats may be given in moderation, it is important to prioritize a consistent and nutritious diet for your goat's health and well-being.
Baby goats typically wean off their mother's milk or bottle after six weeks, and it is important to provide them with a high-quality diet formulated for growth. Kids can be separated from their mothers around 3-4 months of age, and the amount of feed they require will depend on their life stage and energy needs. Maintaining a consistent and nutritious diet with adequate hay is key to keeping your goats healthy and happy.
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Goats need energy, protein, minerals and vitamins
Goats are known for their hearty appetites and will eat almost anything put in front of them. However, it is essential to ensure they receive the correct balance of energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins in their diet to maintain their health.
The foundation of a goat's diet should be forage, such as hay or pasture. Goats can also eat plants and digest them through their four-compartment stomach, which is uniquely adapted for eating hay. They are more similar to deer in their nutritional requirements than sheep or cattle, which eat a lot of grass. Goats will graze on grass but tend to prefer shrubs and tree leaves. They are browsers rather than grazers, and their ability to forage on anything from fresh grass to woody shrubs means they are relatively easy to feed.
Goats require energy in their diet, and the amount they need will depend on their life stage and energy requirements. For example, lactating and growing goats have higher energy requirements and can be fed grain to help them satisfy their energy needs. Goats get their energy from the feeds they eat, and the energy portion of the diet is the same as the calorie content. If a goat eats too much energy or too many calories, they will get fat, and if they don't eat enough, they will get thin.
Protein is another essential nutrient for goats. When feeding hay to baby goats, it is important to wait until they are a few days old. Once weaned, they should be fed a high-quality diet formulated to help them grow. Growing kids can be fed high-protein ingredients such as fresh, pelleted, or long-stemmed alfalfa, or grains such as soybean meal. Adult goats with lower protein needs can be fed grass pasture or grass forage.
Minerals are also vital to a goat's diet. Salt (sodium and chloride), calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, copper, and zinc are all essential for a goat's health. An easy way to ensure goats receive the proper amount of minerals is to provide a free-choice, granular mineral source. Vitamins are also necessary, and vitamin A and vitamin D may require supplementation into goat diets.
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Certain plants are toxic to goats
Goats are known for their hearty appetites, but it is important to be aware that certain plants are toxic to these animals. While the foundation of a goat's diet should be forage (hay or pasture), and they may eat grasses and weedy plants while grazing, they tend to prefer shrubs and tree leaves.
It is important to be vigilant about what plants your goat has access to. Plants that are toxic to goats include alder, yew, rhododendron, laurel, privet, laburnum, honeysuckle, walnut, evergreen shrubs, and green stuff from flowers such as delphiniums, hellebores, tulips, daffodils, hemlock, buttercup, bryony, ‘dog’s mercury’, ragwort, mayweed, foxglove, celandine, nightshade plants, and ‘old man’s beard’. These plants contain toxins that can cause mechanical injury or problems with resins. For example, saponins are naturally occurring glycosides that produce foam and reduce the surface tension of water. They can cause haemolysis by destroying the membranes of red blood cells, releasing hemoglobin. Cyanogens are another type of glycoside that contains cyanide and can release hydrogen cyanide, a very potent toxin that inhibits the terminal respiratory enzyme, cytochrome oxidase.
Signs that your goat may have ingested a toxic food include the inability to stand. If you suspect your goat is having digestive issues or has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian immediately.
To avoid toxic plants, it is recommended to feed your goat a commercially prepared diet, as these ensure your goat gets all the nutrients they need while avoiding hazardous foods.
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Treats should be given in moderation
Goats are known for their hearty appetites and will eat almost anything in front of them, including potentially hazardous non-food items. However, it is important to remember that treats should be given in moderation as part of a healthy and balanced diet.
The foundation of a goat's diet should be forage, such as hay or pasture. Goats are ruminant animals with a four-chambered stomach, designed to eat hay, grain, and browse (leaves and bark). Hay is cut plant material that is dried and stored, and it is an important part of a goat's diet as it is broken down by beneficial bacteria in the first chamber of their stomach (the rumen) and transformed into fats that the goats can digest. Goats typically consume a minimum of 1-3% of their body weight of dry matter per day, with this amount increasing during times of increased energy needs.
In addition to forage, goats require five essential nutrients: water, energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins. Water is the most essential of these, and goats should always have access to clean, fresh drinking water. Energy requirements can be met through feeds such as pasture grass, plant leaves, grass, and alfalfa long-stemmed forage or pellets, and grain. Goats with higher energy requirements, such as lactating does and growing goats, may need to be supplemented with grain.
Protein, minerals, and vitamins are also important components of a goat's diet. High-protein ingredients such as fresh, pelleted, or long-stemmed alfalfa, or grains such as soybean meal, are typically fed to goats with higher protein requirements. Goats require a variety of minerals, including salt (sodium and chloride), calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, copper, and zinc. These can be provided through a granular mineral source or a powdered mineral mixture made especially for goats. The vitamins most likely to require supplementation are vitamin A and vitamin D.
While treats can be given to pet goats in moderation, it is important to avoid certain plants that are toxic to goats, such as alder, yew, rhododendron, laurel, privet, and laburnum. Overfeeding or improper feeding of concentrates and grains can also cause disease in goats, and sugary human foods can stall their digestive process and make them very sick.
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Frequently asked questions
The foundation of a goat's diet is forage (hay or pasture).
Goats can eat grain, leaves, bark, and branches with leaves still on them.
Goats require five essential nutrients: water, energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins.
Goats cannot eat alder, yew, rhododendron, laurel, privet, laburnum, honeysuckle, walnut, evergreen shrubs, and many other plants that are toxic for them.
A goat may be unable to stand if it has ingested toxic food. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your goat has eaten something poisonous or is experiencing digestive issues.
