The first thing you have to remember when it comes to feeding goats is that their nutritional needs are heavily dependent on their age, weight, stage of growth and their breeding cycle. Although goats are notoriously known to consume just about anything, farming productive animals means knowing precisely how you should go about feeding goats. This is especially true if you want to farm these animals for their milk or meat.
As an example, livestock owners provide a highly concentrated diet to fertile female goats (high producing does) about one month prior to their breeding. This is called flushing or egg flushing. This practice makes the does believe that food is abundant, and thereby produce more fertile eggs. At the same time, grains are removed from their diets during the last stage of their gestation (pregnancy). After breeding, it is very likely that the female goats produce a healthy litter of 4 kids instead of the usual 1 or 2. This is to avoid possible complications during kidding (birthing).
Generally, raising goats means providing regular sources of energy, minerals, proteins, vitamins and water. Clean drinking water must be accessible to the goats at all times. Among all this, water plays a critical part in the hoofed creatures' diet. Otherwise, the animals tend to either become sickly or aggressive.
Energy means feeding goats grains and cereals. Most of the goat feeds available these days are formulated mixtures of grains, cereals and other carbohydrate based food stuff. However, these must be limited according to the goats' nutritional needs to help prevent a common condition called mastitis or the infection of the udder. This is usually caused by a bad build-up of gas from the consumed grains and cereals.When it comes to minerals, goats would need calcium, phosphorous and selenium in order to maintain their peak health. In the wild, goats usually consume these minerals through the grass and other plants they eat.
Sources of proteins should be regulated as well. Aside from the fact that adding a lot of proteins in the goats' diet is not commercially viable, some animals tend to become picky with the food items they consume, favoring one type of protein source only. This could become a problem later on. Lastly, these animals would need regular doses of Vitamins A, D, E and K in order to remain healthy. Fresh water is essential for a healthy goat. A good way to provide water is simply a bucket, refilled each day; or a trough, or even an automatic water station.
As an example, livestock owners provide a highly concentrated diet to fertile female goats (high producing does) about one month prior to their breeding. This is called flushing or egg flushing. This practice makes the does believe that food is abundant, and thereby produce more fertile eggs. At the same time, grains are removed from their diets during the last stage of their gestation (pregnancy). After breeding, it is very likely that the female goats produce a healthy litter of 4 kids instead of the usual 1 or 2. This is to avoid possible complications during kidding (birthing).
Generally, raising goats means providing regular sources of energy, minerals, proteins, vitamins and water. Clean drinking water must be accessible to the goats at all times. Among all this, water plays a critical part in the hoofed creatures' diet. Otherwise, the animals tend to either become sickly or aggressive.
Energy means feeding goats grains and cereals. Most of the goat feeds available these days are formulated mixtures of grains, cereals and other carbohydrate based food stuff. However, these must be limited according to the goats' nutritional needs to help prevent a common condition called mastitis or the infection of the udder. This is usually caused by a bad build-up of gas from the consumed grains and cereals.When it comes to minerals, goats would need calcium, phosphorous and selenium in order to maintain their peak health. In the wild, goats usually consume these minerals through the grass and other plants they eat.
Sources of proteins should be regulated as well. Aside from the fact that adding a lot of proteins in the goats' diet is not commercially viable, some animals tend to become picky with the food items they consume, favoring one type of protein source only. This could become a problem later on. Lastly, these animals would need regular doses of Vitamins A, D, E and K in order to remain healthy. Fresh water is essential for a healthy goat. A good way to provide water is simply a bucket, refilled each day; or a trough, or even an automatic water station.
About the Author:
Are you researching on feeding goats? Separate yourself from the usual goat owners who are prone to common mistakes. If you are keen to learn more tips on raising goats and how to raise goats correctly, please visit: www.raising-goats.com
No comments:
Post a Comment