The amount of grain a goat needs depends primarily on its body weight and stage of life, but generally, mature goats eat around 2% of their body weight in dry matter daily. This doesn't mean only grain, but rather the total dry food intake.
However, it's important to understand that grain isn't the sole or necessarily the best food for goats. Goats are ruminants and primarily thrive on forage like pasture, hay, and browse (leaves, twigs). Grain should be used as a supplement, not a primary food source, especially for mature goats.
Here's a breakdown of considerations:
- Body Weight: A 50 lb goat would need approximately 1 lb of dry matter food per day.
- Life Stage:
- Kids (young goats): Require more concentrated nutrition to support growth. Grain can be a larger part of their diet.
- Pregnant or Lactating Does (female goats): Also require more energy and protein and may benefit from supplemental grain.
- Bucks (male goats) during breeding season: Need extra energy.
- Mature Goats (not pregnant, lactating, or breeding): Typically, mature goats can maintain their weight and health on good quality forage alone and require little to no grain.
- Forage Quality: If the forage (pasture, hay) is of poor quality, supplemental grain might be necessary.
- Activity Level: Goats used for packing or other strenuous activities will require more energy and potentially need supplemental grain.
How to Determine Grain Needs:
- Assess Forage Quality: Is your pasture lush and green, or sparse and dry? Is the hay leafy and green, or coarse and stemmy?
- Observe Body Condition: Check your goat's body condition score. You should be able to feel ribs easily, but not see them prominently.
- Adjust Accordingly: Start with a small amount of grain and gradually increase it if the goat is losing weight or condition. Conversely, reduce the amount of grain if the goat is gaining too much weight.
- Calculate Dry Matter Intake: Remember, the 2% rule is for total dry matter intake. So, factor in the amount of forage your goat is consuming.
Example:
Let's say you have a 100 lb goat. Ideally, it will eat about 2 lbs of dry matter per day. If it's eating high-quality pasture, it might only need a small amount of grain, such as 0.25 to 0.5 lbs, to supplement its diet. If the pasture is poor, it might need closer to 1 lb of grain.
Important Note: Always introduce grain slowly to avoid digestive upset (bloat or acidosis). Divide the daily ration into multiple smaller feedings. Provide plenty of fresh, clean water at all times.
