By: Dr. Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension County Livestock Specialist Jeff Yearington, Lincoln University Farm Outreach Worker – West Central Region

Goat Nutrition Forage Quality Feeding Strategies

Goat Digestive Physiology Goat Feeding Behavior Nutrient Requirements

Rumen • Fermentation vat where bacteria and protozoa

break down fiber.

Reticulum • Extension of the rumen, collects heavier

particles.

Omasum • Removal of excess moisture and further

grinding.

Abomasum • Gastric juices and enzymes secreted.

Kid Digestive System

Adult Goat Digestive

System

1 – Rumen; 2 – Reticulum; 3 – Omasum; 4 - Abomasum

Goats are browsers • They eat with there heads up If pasture gets to short that could increase parasite

problems

• Prefer forage diversity Brush/weeds Grass Legumes

Pasture Grazing Systems • Good quality pasture system 6 to 8 goats per acre

• Good brush – browse system 9 to 11 goats per acre

Poisonous plants • Clippings from Yews and rhododendrons • Clippings from cherry, apricot, and peach trees • Plant during certain times of the year Cocklebur

Symptoms of poisoning • Vomiting and death • Call vet immediately

Learn response associated with poisonous plants or bad tastes

Class of nutrients • Water • Protein • Energy • Vitamins • Minerals

All are required

Water • Most important as it is related to intake • Insufficient water intake affects Production Growth General appearance

• Should always have access to high quality source of water

Protein • Source of nitrogen for the bugs in the rumen • Source of amino acids for protein synthesis in

the animals body • Used for Body tissue development Development of hormones and enzymes Milk production

Energy • Primarily comes from carbohydrates Sugars Starches Fibers

• Fats 2.25 times the energy of carbohydrates Sources Animal and plant

No more that 2 to 3% of the ration

Energy • Needed for Growth Reproduction Milk production Health Proper kidding and raising kids

Carbohydrates Fiber and Starch

Protein RDP RUP

Peptides AA NH3

+ Carbons Skeleton

• For animal • Growth • Reproduction • Lactation

• For Microbes • Cell growth • Cell division Sugars VFA

Microbial Cell Microbial Enzymes

Urea Via Urea Cycle

AA Synthesis

Microbial protein for use by animal to meet its needs

Weaning Yearling Gestation LactatingAVG

LactatingHigh Buck

Intake 2 3 4.5 4 5 5

0123456789

10

Lb

s. o

f dry

mat

ter

Physiological states effect on intake of goats

Weaning Yearling Gestation LactatingAVG

LactatingHigh Buck

TDN 68 65 60 60 65 60%CP 14 12 10 11 14 11

0102030405060708090

100

%

Physiological state effects on energy and protein levels required for goats

Minerals • Required in small portion • Macro Ca, Cl, Mg, P, K, Na, S

• Micro Co, Cu, F, Fe, I, Mn, Mo, Se, Zn

• Required Bone formation Construction of muscles, blood cells, internal organs

and enzymes Develop proper immunity to diseases

Weaning Yearling Gestation LactatingAVG

LactatingHigh Buck

Ca 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.4P 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2

00.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.9

1

%

Goat Calcium and Phosphorus Requirements

Vitamins • Small portion of the diet but essential for life • Required for Normal growth, production, reproduction, fight stress,

disease and maintain good health

Vitamin

Source

Vitamin A Animal conversion of β – Carotene from forage and corn

Vitamin B Developed by microorganisms of a fully functional rumen

Vitamin C Synthesized by animal tissues

Vitamin D Animal conversion of sunlight and sun cured hays

Vitamin E High quality legume hay

Vitamin K Green leafy fresh or dry feedstuffs and rumen microorganisms

Forage quality related to • Fiber • Protein Content

Factors that influence forage quality • Species • Maturity • Plant parts • Post – harvest handling • Storage

Nutritive values of different full bloom hays

Feed stuff NDF (%) TDN (%) CP (%)

Fescue K31 67 58 12.90

Timothy 64.20 56 8.10

Alfalfa 48.80 55 17.00

Red Clover 46.90 55 15.00

Beef Cattle NRC, 2000

Forage Crop Stage of maturity NDF% TDN% CP%

Alfalfa Early Vegetative 33 66 30

Early Bloom 39.30 60 25

Mid Bloom 47.10 58 22

Full Bloom 48.80 55 17

Late Bloom 53.00 53 17

Mature 58.00 50 14

Beef Cattle NRC, 2000

1st bite: leaves with low fiber

2nd bite

3rd bite: stems with high fiber

Body Condition Scoring Flushing Does Managing Goats and Cattle Fescue Toxicity Ration Balancing

Feel fat condition over the backbone, ribs, spine, and loin

Score from 1 to 5 • 1. Emaciated • 2. Thin • 3. Average • 4. Fat • 5. Obese

Does • Breeding 3 • Late Gestation 3 • Kidding 3 or better • Weaning 2

Bucks • Pre – breeding 3 – 4

Use to determine supplementing strategies

Feeding a high energy diet 30 – 40 days before breeding

Increase body weight, ovulation rate and litter size

Poor body condition does respond better • Make sure the does do not get too fat

Strategies • Move goats to high quality lush pasture or feed

½ pound of corn or whole cottonseed per day

Goat first then cattle Goats clean the mature plant growth and

brush away and leave the lush growing forage for cattle

Recommended stocking rate of 1 – 2 goats per beef cow without reducing forage availability

Improve productivity of pastures

Caused by endophyte that lives in the fescue plant • Concentrated in the seed head

Symptoms • poor conception rates, low pasture gains, low

milk production, heat stress, hoof and tail rot • Pregnant Does • Birthing issues Thickening placenta wall making it hard for the kid to

get out of the sack leading to death

Ways to reduce symptoms • Pasture Rotation • Interseed legumes • Supplement with other feed stuffs to dilute effect • Graze or cut fescue before it gets to the seed

head stage

Balance the ration to meet the nutrient requirements of the animal

Forage testing Animal Requirements

• Weanling, Yearling, gestation, average or high lactating doe, and buck

Formulate the ration to meet the energy and protein requirements

Minerals • Feed a free choice complete goat mineral that

fits your animals needs Macro – minerals likely to be deficient Salt (NaCl) Mg Ca and P (ratio 2:1)

Micro – minerals likely to be deficient Cu Zn Se

Vitamins • Usually don’t worry about vitamin B, C, and K • Look at Vitamins A, D, E. Supplement D if the goats are being housed inside

• Use a commercially available complete mix that fits the needs of the animal

Presentation of the Ration Balancing Software from Maryland University By Jeff Yearington • http://www.sheepandgoat.com/ RationMixer