Kerala, India
Feeding is an essential aspect of goat raising and may be the highest expense of any meat goat operation. Goats raised for meat need high quality feed in most situations and require an optimum balance of many different nutrients to achieve maximum profit potential.
Because of their unique physiology, meat goats do not fatten like cattle or sheep do, and rates of weight gain are smaller. Therefore, profitable meat goat production can only be achieved by optimizing the use of high quality forage and browse and the strategic use of expensive concentrate feeds. This can be achieved by developing a year-round forage program allowing for as much grazing as possible throughout the year.
Dispelling Common Myths
Many people still believe that goats eat and do well on anything from newspapers to tin cans. Attempting to manage and feed goats with such a belief will not lead to successful meat goat production. Goats are actually quite selective feeders that require quality nutrition for optimal performance.
Unique Digestive Characteristics
Rumen Function Differences
The goat is not able to digest the cell walls of plants as well as the cow because feed stays in their rumen for a shorter time period. This fundamental difference has important implications for feed selection and management.
Defining "Poor Quality Roughage"
A distinction as to what is meant by “poor quality roughage” is necessary in order to make decisions concerning which animal can best utilize a particular forage.
Browse (Trees and Shrubs):
- Represent poor quality roughage sources for cattle due to highly lignified stems and bitter taste
- May be adequate to high in quality for goats
- Goats avoid eating the stems and don’t mind the taste
- Goats benefit from the relatively high levels of protein and cell solubles in the leaves of these plants
Straw and Stemmy Forages:
- Poor quality due to high cell wall content and low protein
- Can be used by cattle for maintenance
- Will not provide even maintenance needs for goats
- Goats don’t utilize cell walls as efficiently as cattle
Feeding Requirements
Nutrient Concentration Needs
Goats must consume a more concentrated diet than cattle because their digestive tract size is smaller with regard to their maintenance energy needs. Relative to their body weight, the amount of feed needed by meat goats is approximately twice that of cattle.
This higher feed requirement per unit of body weight means that:
- Goats need more nutrient-dense feeds
- Feed quality is more critical than feed quantity
- Poor quality forages cannot support adequate performance
- Strategic supplementation is often necessary
Selective Feeding Behavior
When the density of high quality forage is low and the stocking rates are low, goats will still perform well because their grazing/browsing behavior allows them to select only the highest quality forage from that on offer. Thus, they are able to perform well in these situations, even though their nutrient requirements exceed those of most domesticated ruminant species.
This selective feeding behavior includes:
- Preference for browse: Leaves from trees and shrubs over grass
- Selection of plant parts: Choosing leaves over stems
- Forb consumption: Readily consuming broadleaf plants
- Height preference: Feeding at higher levels than sheep or cattle
- Variety seeking: Selecting diverse plant species throughout the day
Feeding Strategy Recommendations
Year-Round Forage Planning
Successful meat goat production requires:
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Diverse Pasture Systems:
- Mix of grasses, legumes, and browse species
- Multiple plant species to match goat preferences
- Rotational grazing to maintain forage quality
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Strategic Browse Management:
- Maintain shrubs and tree access where possible
- Recognize browse as a valuable feed resource
- Consider multi-species grazing systems
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Quality Over Quantity:
- Focus on high-quality forage production
- Avoid relying on low-quality crop residues
- Match stocking rates to quality forage availability
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Concentrate Supplementation:
- Use concentrates strategically, not routinely
- Target critical production phases (late pregnancy, early lactation)
- Balance cost against production response
Optimizing Feed Costs
To maximize profitability:
- Extend the grazing season as long as possible
- Develop year-round forage programs
- Use browse resources when available
- Reserve expensive concentrates for high-demand periods
- Monitor body condition and adjust feeding accordingly
Key Nutritional Considerations
Energy Requirements:
- Higher per unit body weight than cattle
- Critical for growth and reproduction
- Best met through high-quality forage and strategic supplementation
Protein Requirements:
- Higher than cattle due to smaller digestive tract
- Browse and legumes are excellent protein sources
- Supplementation may be needed with grass-only diets
Mineral and Vitamin Needs:
- Copper requirements higher than sheep
- Free-choice minerals formulated specifically for goats
- Avoid sheep minerals due to copper toxicity risk in sheep
Yembroos Animal Feeds India Private Limited specializes in developing nutrition programs for small ruminants including meat goats. Our research-based approach recognizes the unique digestive physiology and feeding behaviors of goats to optimize performance and profitability. We offer customized feeding strategies, quality concentrates, and mineral supplements specifically formulated for goat production. Contact our team of nutritionists to develop a feeding program tailored to your operation.