Pet goats are increasingly popular in the United States, and with this rise in popularity comes a crucial question for prospective and current owners: “What Do Goats Eat?” Proper nutrition is paramount to the health and well-being of your goat. Understanding their dietary needs is one of the most fundamental aspects of responsible goat ownership. This guide will delve into the intricacies of goat nutrition, ensuring your caprine companion thrives.
Daily Dietary Needs of Goats
Goats are renowned for their robust appetites, making them seemingly easy to feed. However, their nutritional needs are specific and require careful consideration. The cornerstone of any goat’s diet should be forage, which includes hay and pasture. Forage provides the essential fiber necessary for healthy digestion and rumen function. For goats with higher energy demands, such as pregnant or lactating does, or rapidly growing kids, supplementation with a quality concentrate or grain may be necessary to meet their increased nutritional requirements.
Typically, goats need to consume between 1% and 3% of their body weight in dry matter daily. For maintenance, adult goats require forage with a crude protein content of 7% to 9%. These protein requirements increase significantly during periods of heightened energy needs, such as pregnancy, lactation, and growth.
Beyond protein, a balanced goat diet must include essential trace minerals. These minerals are vital for various bodily functions, from enzyme activity to immune system support. Key trace minerals for goats include:
- Copper: Essential for enzyme function, iron absorption, and immune response.
- Magnesium: Crucial for nerve and muscle function, as well as bone health.
- Potassium: An electrolyte vital for maintaining fluid balance and nerve signals.
- Selenium: A powerful antioxidant and crucial for muscle health and reproductive function.
- Zinc: Important for immune function, wound healing, and hoof health.
- Iron: Necessary for oxygen transport in the blood.
These trace minerals can be provided through mineral-supplemented feeds or offered “free choice,” meaning they are available to the goat at all times, allowing them to self-regulate their intake based on their needs. It’s crucial to use a mineral formulation specifically designed for goats, as their mineral requirements differ from other livestock, particularly sheep.
While grazing, goats will consume grasses and various weedy plants. However, their natural browsing behavior leans towards shrubs, tree leaves, and woody vegetation. Remember that dietary needs can fluctuate based on a goat’s life stage, activity level, and geographical location, which can influence forage availability and quality. Regularly assessing your goat’s body condition score is a practical way to determine if they are maintaining a healthy weight and receiving adequate nutrition. And crucially, alongside a balanced diet, continuous access to fresh, clean water is non-negotiable for goat health.
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Hay Types for Goats: Legume vs. Grass
Hay is a critical component of a goat’s diet, especially when pasture is limited or during colder months. There are two primary categories of hay: legume and grass. Legume hays, such as alfalfa and clover, are generally richer in nutrients, particularly protein and calcium, compared to grass hays.
Always prioritize hay that is clean, fresh-smelling, and free from mold, dust, and weeds. Moldy hay can be extremely detrimental to goat health, potentially leading to respiratory issues and other health problems.
The quality of hay, in conjunction with a goat’s life stage, dictates the quantity and frequency of hay provision. For instance, does in late pregnancy or early lactation have elevated nutritional demands and benefit significantly from high-quality legume hay like alfalfa. Conversely, a pet goat at maintenance may thrive on moderate-quality grass hay. It’s essential to avoid the misconception that grains and concentrates can compensate for poor-quality hay. These energy-dense feeds should not be used as a substitute for good forage.
During winter, hay often becomes the primary, and sometimes sole, source of nutrients, especially in regions where forage growth is hindered by cold temperatures and snow cover. Ensuring a sufficient supply of quality hay during these periods is crucial for maintaining goat health and condition.
Commercial Goat Diets: Convenience and Balance
Commercially prepared goat diets offer a convenient and nutritionally balanced feeding option. These diets are often formulated to meet the specific nutrient requirements of goats at different life stages. Generally, commercially formulated feeds are preferable to home-mixed rations, as they are designed to ensure goats receive all the necessary vitamins and minerals in the correct proportions.
Many commercial goat feeds incorporate plant-based protein sources, such as soybean meal, along with other supplements to enhance nutritional value. However, it’s crucial to adhere to feeding guidelines and avoid overfeeding, particularly with concentrates and grains. Overfeeding starches and sugars, commonly found in concentrates and grains, is a prevalent cause of various diseases in goats, including digestive upset and metabolic disorders.
Treats can be given to pet goats, but only in moderation. Excessive treats can lead to weight gain and nutritional imbalances. When selecting commercial feeds, treats, and supplements, opt for reputable brands that formulate specifically for goats and clearly list ingredients and nutritional analysis.
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What Goats Must Not Eat: Toxic Foods and Plants
While goats are known for their indiscriminate eating habits, there are numerous foods and plants that are toxic and must be strictly avoided. Foods goats should never consume include:
- Meat: Goats are herbivores and their digestive systems are not designed to process meat.
- Tomatoes: Contain solanine, which is toxic to goats.
- Eggplant: Also contains solanine and should be avoided.
- Citrus fruits: Can cause digestive upset and are not well-tolerated.
- Garlic and Onions: Can cause Heinz body anemia in goats, leading to red blood cell damage.
- Fruits containing pits (e.g., peaches, cherries, apricots): Pits contain cyanide, which is highly toxic.
- Chocolate: Contains theobromine, toxic to goats and other animals.
Furthermore, several plants are highly poisonous to goats. Ensure your goat’s environment is free from the following toxic plants:
- Milkweed: Contains cardiac glycosides, highly toxic and can cause heart problems.
- Rhododendron and Azaleas: Contain grayanotoxins, affecting the cardiovascular and nervous systems.
- Mountain laurel: Contains andromedotoxins, similar to rhododendrons in toxicity.
- Hemlock: Extremely poisonous, affecting the nervous system and causing respiratory failure.
- Elderberry: Leaves, stems, and roots contain cyanogenic glycosides.
- Lantana: Contains pentacyclic triterpenoids, causing liver damage and photosensitization.
- Lilies: Highly toxic, especially to cats, but also harmful to goats.
- Sago palm: Contains cycasin and other toxins, causing liver failure and neurological issues.
- Oaks (acorns and leaves, especially young growth): Contain tannins, causing kidney damage and digestive upset.
If you observe signs that your goat may have ingested a toxic substance, such as the inability to stand, excessive drooling, tremors, or seizures, contact your veterinarian immediately. Plant poisoning can be rapidly fatal in goats, so prompt veterinary intervention is crucial.
What Goats Like to Eat (and the Dangers of Indiscriminate Eating)
Goats have a reputation for eating “everything,” and while they are curious and will sample a wide range of items, this indiscriminate eating can be hazardous. Goats may attempt to consume non-food items such as:
- Plastic: Can cause intestinal blockages and toxicity.
- Rope: Can lead to impaction in the digestive tract.
- Fabric: Similar risks to rope and plastic ingestion.
- Trash: May contain toxic substances or indigestible materials.
Ingestion of inappropriate items can lead to serious complications, including bloat, a life-threatening condition characterized by a buildup of gas in the rumen. It’s essential to diligently monitor your goat’s environment and ensure they cannot access potentially harmful materials.
Contact your veterinarian immediately if your goat exhibits any of the following symptoms, which could indicate ingestion of a foreign object or digestive distress:
- Not eating or reduced appetite.
- Showing signs of pain (restlessness, vocalization, hunched posture).
- Teeth grinding (a sign of abdominal pain).
- Excessive drooling.
- Increased vocalization.
- Frequent urination or straining to urinate.
- Abnormal gait or weakness.
Furthermore, overconsumption of carbohydrates, found in grains like corn, oats, and wheat, as well as fruits like apples and grapes, potatoes, and cereal grains, can lead to serious digestive problems. Grain overload can result in:
- Urinary calculi (stones) and difficulty urinating.
- Inability to stand.
- Bloat.
- Acidosis.
If you suspect grain overload or any digestive issues, immediate veterinary attention is critical. Correct nutrition is fundamental to maintaining goat health, and nutritional imbalances can predispose goats to a range of diseases, including:
- Pregnancy toxemia (ketosis): Occurs in late pregnancy due to energy imbalances.
- Hypocalcemia (milk fever): Low blood calcium, common around kidding.
- Lactic acidosis: Acid buildup in the rumen, often from grain overload.
- Clostridium perfringens type C and D infections (overeating disease): Bacterial infections associated with high-grain diets.
- Urolithiasis (urinary stones): Caused by mineral imbalances and diet.
- Polioencephalomalacia (PEM): Thiamine deficiency, often linked to dietary issues.
- White muscle disease (selenium deficiency): Muscle weakness and degeneration.
Feeding Baby Goats (Kids): From Milk to Solid Food
Newborn goats, called kids, rely on their mother’s milk or milk replacer for their initial nutrition. Colostrum, the first milk produced after birth, is vital for providing antibodies and immune support.
By a few days of age, kids can be introduced to hay, offering small amounts of high-quality, soft hay to nibble on. Generally, kids are ready to be weaned from milk, whether from a bottle or their mother, around 6 weeks of age.
After weaning, growing kids require a high-quality diet specifically formulated to support their rapid growth and development. Commercial kid feeds are available and are designed to meet these specific nutritional needs. Kids can typically be separated from their mothers around 3-4 months of age, depending on management practices and individual kid development.
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Practical Tips for Feeding Goats Effectively
When determining the appropriate amount of feed for your goat daily, always consult the feeding instructions provided on the feed bag. Keep in mind that some feeds are formulated for multiple species, so adjust quantities accordingly for goats. Consider your goat’s life stage, activity level, and overall nutritional requirements when calculating feed amounts.
Elevated feeders are highly recommended. Feeding goats in troughs or off the ground offers several advantages: it minimizes feed waste and reduces the risk of parasite exposure and contamination.
Fresh, clean hay and water should be constantly available. Utilize hayracks to keep hay off the ground, which helps maintain hay quality and reduces waste. However, avoid using hay nets, as goats can become entangled in them and may ingest the net material, posing a risk of intestinal blockage.
Adequate feeding space is crucial, especially if you have multiple goats. Ensure each goat has sufficient space to eat comfortably at the same time, minimizing competition and ensuring all goats have access to feed. Careful attention to feeding practices and nutritional needs will contribute significantly to the health, longevity, and well-being of your goats.
References
- Van Saun R, Mongini A. VetFolio. www.vetfolio.com. 2017.
- Balch S. Nutrition of Goats — Management and Nutrition. Merck Veterinary Manual. 2022.
- Pugh D. Nutritional Requirements of Goats. Merck Veterinary Manual. 2022.
- Freking B, McDaniel J. Oklahoma Basic Meat Goat Manual, Chapter 5 Goat Nutrition. Oklahoma State University Press.
- Bebout E. Plant Toxicity Concerns for Goats. Pet Poison Helpline. 2020.
- Oklahoma State University. Grain Overload in Goats. 2020.
WRITTEN BY
Angelina Childree, LVT
Veterinarian Technician
