Tag: goat nutrition

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Goat Flushing Meat Goats

Flushing meat goats

Some people advocate flushing of meat goats prior to breeding. Flushing refers to the practice of providing extra nutrition to does approximately two weeks prior to breeding and for a variable portion of the breeding period, for example one to two weeks, to increase the number of ovulations and have a greater proportion of twins and triplets. This practice is widely advocated with sheep producers and Angora goat producers. Producers have extrapolated the practice to meat goats. …

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Goat Feeding the Lactating Doe

Feeding the lactating doe

The lactating doe has very high nutrient requirements. Calculate the requirements for a 4-year-old, 110-pound Boer cross doe nursing twins in week four of lactation. When lactating is selected under question #2 on the Langston Interactive Nutrient Calculator (LINC), a form drops down. Select litter size (twins), week of lactation (4), and age at kidding (4). The program then predicts production of 4.5 pounds of milk per day with 3.6 percent fat and 3.3 …

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Goat Feeding Systems

Feeding Systems

There are many methods of feeding goats. Feeds should be offered in such a way to minimize mold growth or fecal contamination that reduces intake. Mineral mixes must remain dry and should be replenished at two-week intervals to avoid caking. Feed troughs should be designed to facilitate removal of feces and leftover feed. Troughs generally require a bar running above the length of the trough to keep goats from defecating in them.

Self feeders can be used for …

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Goat Kidding Season and Nutrient Requirements

Effect of Kidding Season on Nutrient

Requirements

Nutrient requirements of does change dramatically with stage of production. Requirements increase dramatically the last six weeks of gestation due to increasing fetal growth. They remain high in early lactation (kidding occurred on week 20 in chart). During the month prior to kidding and for the following three months, assuming weaning at 12 weeks of age, the doe will consume nearly as much nutrients as in the remaining eight months of the production …

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Goat Nutrition CD3

CD3 High Forage Experimental Diet

This is an 80 percent forage diet used in the same experiment that CD2 was used in. As expected, rate of live weight gain was lower for CD3 than for CD2. The diet was offered free-choice. Trace mineral and vitamin premixes are those used in CD2. The calculated composition of the diet on a dry matter basis is:

CP – 13.5%
TDN – 59.4%
Ca – 0.67%
P – 0.34%
Ingredient % (air dry basis)
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Goat Nutrition Calcium

Contents


Minerals

Macro

Micro

Calcium (Ca) 0.3 – 0.8%

calcium

The major biological function of calcium is for bones. Bones contain 99 percent of the calcium in body. Calcium is also necessary for muscle contraction, nerve conduction and blood clotting. The …

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Goat Feeding Bucks

Feeding bucks

Boer buck.

Mature bucks can obtain most of their nutrients from pasture. However, yearling and 2-year-old bucks have greater nutrient requirements since they are still growing. Bucks need to be in good body condition, with a body condition score (BCS) greater than 3, before the breeding season because feed intake may be relatively low during that time, resulting in weight loss. Thus, body condition should be evaluated three months before the breeding season. Decisions can then be made on the …

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Goat Creep Feeding

Creep feeding

Creep feeding is a method of providing feed for the kids only. It is accomplished by fencing around a feeder and using a creep gate that has holes about 5 inches wide by 1 foot high. These holes are small enough so that kids can enter the feeder, but adults are excluded because they are too big to go through. Creep feeding will provide extra growth for the kids and train them to eat feed, facilitating weaning. A …

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Goat Example Diets

Example Goat Diets

There is a wide variety of production systems in which goats are raised in the United States. Likewise, goats consume many different types of vegetation and are fed various diets and supplements mixed on a farm or purchased from local sources. The institute receives many questions about types of diets and supplements that can be used with goats. Listed below are some of the diets and supplements fed at the institute in the past few years. Many …

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Goat Feeding Different Classes

Feeding Different Classes of Goats

The feeding suggestions that follow are oriented to commercial goat producers. Purebred, show and companion animals are often fed more for larger frames and better body condition, but excessive body condition can be deleterious to the animal health.

Reference: …

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