Environmental FactorsAffect

Nutrient RequirementsFor Goats

An PeischelSmall Ruminant Specialist (Goats)

Cooperative Extension ServiceTennessee State University

andUniversity of TennesseePhone: 615-963-5539

the GOAT

• Environmentally Adaptive

• Extremely Opportunistic

• Food Security

• Biological Land Enhancement

• Value-Added Products

• Alternative Enterprise

Ecosystem Foundation Blocks

• Succession – Change and development– Complex, stable communities– Competition, interdependence and

adaptation

• Water Cycle– Maximum use of rainfall– Minimize erosion– Percolation / infiltration

Ecosystem Foundation Blocks

• Mineral Cycle– Effective cyclic pattern– Biological soil – atmospheric interaction– Continuous decomposing plant & animal residues

• Energy Flow– Carbon cycle– Keeps all processes of life functioning– Solar power– All living things depend upon plants to harvest

(capture) energy from sun & convert it to a useable form

-INTER · RELATIONSHIPS-ITEM PLANT ANIMAL SOIL ECON-

OMICS

SOCIAL

Herd

Objectives

Unit Size

Feed on Offer

Desired Residual

Growth Rate

Growing Conditions

Animal Conditions

Days Browsed

Days Grazed

the CONTINUUM

• SOIL

• PLANTS

• ANIMALS

• ATMOSPHERE

Healthy Soils

• Drain and warm up quickly in spring• Aeration and permeability maintained• Store moisture for dry spells• Resist erosion and nutrient loss• Support populations of microbes, earthworms, and other

soil life which cycle nutrients and build humus• Do not require ever-increasing fertilizer rates to maintain high

yields• Produce healthy, quality forage crops• Ability to sustain vigorous root systems

The condition of the soil is at least as important as its fertility

SOIL MINERAL DEFICIENCIES (Tennessee)

• Copper (Cu)• Fragile bones• Low conception rate• Anemia

Selenium (Se)

White muscle disease Reproductive failureZinc (Zn)

Foot rot Compromised immune system

WEEKS OF GROWTH

I II III IV

Dormant

GR

OW

TH

RA

TE

(# /

AC

/ D

A)

Forage Quality & Goat Requirements PROTEIN

0

5

10

15

20

Pasture Veget. Pasture Mature Pasture Dead

CP %

J-M Luginbuhl

Dry and Early Pregnant Does

Yearling

Weanling Does in Early Lactation

Forage Quality & Goat Requirements TDN

30

40

50

60

70

80

Pasture Veget. Pasture Mature Pasture Dead

TD

N % Dry & Early Pregnant

Does

Does in Early Lactation Yearling

Weanling

J-M Luginbuhl

Energy Physiological Priorities

Energy has the number one effect on reproduction– Basal metabolism– Activity– Growth– Energy reserves– Pregnancy– Lactation– Energy reserves (milk fat)– Estrus cycle / Initiation of pregnancy

• Hormonal• Ovulation

– Excess energy reserves

TNC

(%)

35

30

25

20

15Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept

verbinagoldenrodironweed

TNC – Lipids, Sugars, Starches, Pectins

Chemical composition of various plants browsed by goats (%)

Browse type Crude protein

Neutral

detergent fiber

Calcium Phosphorous

Multiflora rose

18.8 34.5 0.99 0.32

Honeysuckle 12.8 34.5 1.21 0.30

Brambles 15.9 24.5 0.23 0.84

Privet 18.0 26.8 0.89 0.34

Green briar 17.0 39.5 0.60 0.18

Kudzu leaves

23.7

Trumpet creeper

16.7 43.1 0.42 0.22

Goat’s Eye1) Young green leaves / stems

70 – 75% digestible20% CP24 – 30 hour turn over rate

2) Old green leaves60 – 65% digestible10% CP50 hour turn over rate

3) Dead / brown leaves45% digestible6% CP65 hour turn over rate

4) Mature stems35% digestible4% CP72 hour turn over rate

Body Condition Score (BCS)

BCS 2 BCS 7

Extremely thin

Spine and ribs visible

Sternum protruding

Skin on bone

“V” cavity at tailhead

Spinous processes not visible

Frame not visible

Sternum covered

Hooks and pins rounded

Flat between hooks

Browsing Calendar(based on the goat)

Specie Preferred Time Not Preferred

Notes

Yellow Star Thistle

Leaf phase through seedhead production

Cane heads are dead & empty

All ages & classes select 1st at various growth phases

Scotch Broom

Before flowering

All fall die back

Flowering Caution using young doelings & pregnant does

Chamise Fall / winter / spring Mid to late summer

Buckeye Fall as leaves die

Back & seeds drop

Green & productive Toxic

Tamarisk New shoots,

Young branches

Old decayed plants Continuously barking & trampling

Vegetation

Energy Requirement

of Goats

DietaryPreference

•Management•Terrain•Physiological state•Climate

•Plant specie•Fiber composition•Nitrogen content•Seasonal patterns•Browse and grass

Quality

•Browse•Density

•Plant part•Chemical composition

BehaviorSoil•Quantity•Residual•Dung and urine•Grass•Browse

•Fertility•Moisture•Organic Matter

Factors Affecting Rate of Improvement from Selection

Heritability

Generation interval

Genetic correlation

Environmental Factors

South Island of New Zealand

Environmental Factors

Nutrition

– Environment / weather– Breed– Stage of production– Quality of diet– Age and sex of goats– Body weight and

body condition– Activity and exercise

• Energy and protein levels in balance to reflect stage of production

• Vitamin and mineral requirements are being met

ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS

• Heat and Cold• Weather (precipitation and humidity)

• Nutrient density• Quality of feed on offer

• Predation• Travel (activity)

• Topography

DEGREE of STRESS(affected by)

•Breed of small ruminant•Physiological state

•Age / Body size / Sex•Nutritional status•Social dominance

•Fight / flight distance

ECONOMIC LO$$

• Decreased reproductive performance of both males and females

• Inability to maintain body condition score

• Decreased growth rate of off-spring

• Increased incidences of internal parasitism

• Suppressed immune system

Maintain Thermal Balance

• Thermal Radiation• Humidity

• Air Movement• Contact Surfaces

• Precipitation

Major Effects of THERMAL STRESSon Nutrient Requirements

• Reduction in voluntary feed intake• Digestibility and energy metabolism

lowered• Increased water consumption• Mineral requirements shift – K and Na• Forage quality decreases

Major Effects of THERMAL STRESSon Reproduction

• Delayed puberty (male and female)• Lower semen quality• Conception rate lowered• Adverse effects on fetal growth• Decrease of birth weights and weaning

weights• Increase in number of abortions

Management to Minimize Stress

– Vegetation – browse, pasture, woodlands– Mineral(s) and sea kelp on offer – Nutrient deficiencies corrected– Health (disease prevention, foot problems

controlled, internal parasites minimized)– Facilities / Fencing– Dogs – guardian / herding– Behavior– Water

Cooperative Extension Program