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This information is provided by Tennessee State University. This research is a part of their small ruminent program.

Figures are based on both meat and dairy goats - amount of feed should be adjusted for dwarf breeds, such as pygmies, but the percentages and ppm in the feed makeup are still the same. This is a baseline for goats, not a strict min. or max.

Feed Amounts

* providing an average gain rate of .44lb/day

Feed Breakdown

Medications in feeds

Decoxx 13.6g/ton - for cocci prevention
Monensin 20 g/ton - for cocci prevention (this is 2nd best, decoxx is 1st) (Also called Rumensin)
Rumatel .44 g/100lbs body weight – for worm prevention

Having Manganese, Zinc, Copper and Iodine added in the diet (via feed) will aid in control of hoof problems

Ammonium Chloride that is given via feed (mixed in by the feed producer) should NEVER be less than 1%, if it is, it is useless as an additive.

Goats cannot digest poor quality hay as well as cattle due to the fact that “travel time” through the digestive system is much less. A poor quality of hay will not provide the needed nutrients. Poor quality is defined as field grasses, weedy hay or non-leafy hay.

Goats can sort grains due to the cleft lip, therefore, it is important to feed pelleted feed or a coarsely textured grain with molasses to minimize the picking through the grain and loss of feed (thus saving money in the long run).

Goats that are allowed to graze will graze for an average of 6 hrs a day, vs. cattle at 8 and horses at 10-18 hrs/day. Goats require more “quite time” to ruminate.

If you have your soil tested and the PH levels are below 6.1, chances are that your soil is Selenium deficient.