Dietary Needs By Category

Feeding the Newborn (Birth to 8 weeks)

The chart below is designed to make feeding kids easy for new producers. There is enough milk for larger kids, and smaller kids will simply eat less out of the bottle. Kids should be fed 3-4 times a day when they are infants, as their stomach capacity is small. But when kids are two weeks old or more, you can feed 2, 3 or 4 times a day, depending on what fits your family's schedule, by taking the total amount needed per kid per day, and dividing it by the number of feedings you can do. For example, a total of 36 oz. for 3 week old kids can be fed twice a day in 18 oz. feedings, three times a day in 12 oz. feedings, or four times a day in 9 oz. feedings.. There is some evidence that feeding three times a day instead of twice during the first 4-6 weeks of life, increases the growth rate. (Langston, Training, Nutrition section p. 26)

Week	What, how much and when to feed	Producer Tips
Week 1 Day 1	Heat- treated colostrum 1 cup at each of three feedings, eight hours apart., starting within an hour of birth, for a total of 24 ounces per day. (3), (4) Alternatively you can use Goat colostrum replacer. (Not colostrum supplement.) Follow directions on bag.	For the purposes of this table, always measure milk replacer *after* it has been reconstituted, according to package directions. Feed with an empty 20 oz. Sam's Club water bottle with a Pritchard nipple, or use a bucket feeder fitted with Pritchard nipples. If the colostrum is very thick, add 1 oz of milk to it so it passes through the nipple better. If the kid doesn't suck, tube feed them. Directions for heat-treating colostrum and pasteurizing milk can be found here. Forms for figuring milk and colostrum needs for the herd each day are here, After you figure them, they are put on this sheet for the person who makes the milk each day.
Week 1 Day 2- 7	Pasteurized goat milk or milk replacer 1 cup at each of three feedings, eight hours apart for a total of 24 oz./day (3 cups)
Week 2	Pasteurized goat milk or milk replacer 1 ½ cups (12 oz.) at each of three feedings, eight hours apart, for a total of 36 oz./day (4 ½ cups).	If you've been feeding bottles, try putting the milk into sheep buckets or caprine buckets, and work with the kids to help them learn to drink from them. Feed one pen at a time and watch for kids who are not doing well.. You may need to feed a little bottled milk for a while until they get used to the bucket. Watch for bullies who drink too much, as they can bloat. Ask your vet about putting Deccox-M in the milk from week 2-6 to prevent coccidiosis. (Langston, Training, Nutrition) or see directions for using Sulmet (below). (Dr. Haskell DVM, Herd Health Program)
Week 3	Pasteurized goat milk or milk replacer 2 cups (16 oz) at each of three feedings for a total of 48 oz./day (6 cups).	Start working with kids to help them eat grain. Offer it in a small feeder set at kid height, or in grain bottles. Introducing grain before hay, creates more papillae on the surface of the rumen. This will aid digestion for the rest of the animal’s life. (*1)
	Water Free-choice
	18%-20% calf starter grain (*2) with a coccidostat such as Rumensin or Deccox M) (Free choice)
Week 4	Pasteurized goat milk or milk replacer 2 cups (16 oz,) at each of three feedings for a total of 48 oz./day (6 cups).	Keep the grain and hay feeders full all the time. Continue working with the kids to get them eating grain and hay. Make sure there is plenty of fresh water available all the time. Do not allow the pails to freeze.
	Water (Free-choice)
	18%-20% calf starter grain (*3) with a coccidostat such as Rumensin or Deccox M) Free choice
	Hay (Free choice)
Week 5	Pasteurized goat milk or milk replacer 1 ½ cups (12 oz,) milk and ½ cup (4 oz.) water, at each of three feedings.	This week we start the weaning process. Each week the milk will decrease by ½ cup, and the water will increase by ½ cup, until they are only drinking water at 8 weeks. Remember to reconstitute the milk replacer before you measure it for the "milk" portion. Then add the extra amount of water called for in the directions.
	Water (Free-choice)
	18%-20% calf starter grain (*3) with a coccidostat such as Rumensin or Deccox M) (Free choice)
	Hay (Free choice)
Week 6	Pasteurized goat milk or milk replacer 1 cup (8 oz,) milk and 1 cup (8 oz.) water, at each of three feedings.
	Water (Free-choice)
	18%-20% calf starter grain (*3) with a coccidostat such as Rumensin or Deccox M) (Free choice)
	Hay (Free choice)
Week 7	Pasteurized goat milk or milk replacer ½ cup (4 oz,) milk and 1 ½ (12 oz.) cups water, at each of three feedings.	Make sure that each goat is consuming at least 2 oz. of calf starter grain per day and weighs 2 ½ times their birth weight before weaning next week. (Langston Training, Nutrition) If they were the average weight of 7 lb. at birth, they should now weigh about 17 ½ lbs. This is a heartgirth measurement of about 17". If any of your goats weigh significantly less than 2 1/2 times birth weight, keep feeding them a little milk until they meet the goal weight. Then wean.
	Water (Free-choice)
	18%-20% calf starter grain (*3) with a coccidostat such as Rumensin or Deccox M) (Free choice)
	Hay (Free choice)
Week 8	No milk. All water. This batch of kids are weaned.

This table is a compilation of many resources including Considine, Harris and Springer, Van Saun, Belanger and Langston, as well conferences with experienced producers. The amounts of milk and colostrum recommended by experts, varies widely. Because of the wide variation, It was very difficult to decide what to enter here. The amounts on this table have been tested on one commercial dairy farm for over 3 years, and were found to be effective for that farm. You may want to use this as a flexible guideline, and adjust amounts as needed for your herd. You also can use the Langston calculator at http://www.luresext.edu/goats/research/nutritionmodule1.htm if you wish. You will need to know the breed, birth date, weight or heartgirth of the animal to use the calculator...

Table footnotes:

(*1) The latest research shows that for maximum papillae formation in the rumen, you should feed milk, then grain and then hay. Do not feed hay until the rumen has had time to develop papillae. If you feed hay and grain at the same time, you will get some papillae formation, but no where near as much as when you feed grain first, and then hay after the rumen has had time to develop. If you feed hay alone before grain, the animal will never be able to process grain as well, and may be sickly. The following site, http://www.milkproduction.com/Applications/slide_shows/exterior_interior_of_calf_rumens/default.htm has a slide show of pictures where you can see for yourself what happens in each scenario.. Although the pictures are of calf rumens, Dr. Van Saun, small ruminant expert from the University of Pennsylvania, says that you will very likely see exactly the same thing in the goat. (Van Saun, Feeding For Two, 2006) Be very careful when reading older articles and books, as many of them will tell you to feed hay before grain, as that was the recommendation for many years. Research shows that a weaned kid eating hay and grain and no milk at 2 months of age, has a reticulo-rumenal capacity that is 5 times greater than a kid of the same age who has been fed a full milk diet. (Dawson) This is very good insurance for a long and healthy life.

(*2) Grain should be cut back if the kid is getting fat. (If you can't feel the kid’s ribs he is too fat.) Watch Body Condition Score. Aim for 3 on a 1-5 scale. Grain should be increased if hay is poor quality. (See the section on Hay Quality to see what ”poor quality” hay means.) (Langston, Training, Nutrition section.)

(*3) Langston University recommends 1 oz. of natural colostrum / lb. of body weight. The average birth weight for an average dairy kid is 7 lb, so you would feed 7 oz, three times in the 1^st 24 hrs (every 8 hours) for a total of 21 oz. in 24 hours (Langston, Training, Nutrition p. 26.) The amount has been increased here to 8 oz. (1 cup) to make it easier to fill bottles. It is much easier to fill a one cup measuring cup to the top, than to painstakingly measure out 7 oz. when you are filling hundreds of bottles. .

(*4) Sometimes the kids have more trouble feeding if they aren't fed soon after birth. Many experts recommend feeding them colostrum within 12-24 hours of birth, but experienced producers will tell you that it is best to feed it as soon as possible. (Personal Interview, Marisa Flores 2-20-07) New producers obviously can't do this on the first kid they birth, because it takes time to heat-treat the colostrum from the first goat. Although colostrum from your own herd is preferable because it transfers antibodies specific for your area, a new producer can buy a couple bottles from an experienced producer in the same area, who they trust to have properly heat-treat it, or they can buy a packet of goat colostrum replacer from either Hoegger or Caprine Supply to use on the first set of kids. After the first birth, they can collect and treat their own colostrum.

Feeding The Newborn

If you are bottle feeding to prevent the newborns from getting CAE from their mothers, tape the mother’s teat ends closed before the expected birthing date so the baby doesn't suckle after birthing. Remove kids from the birthing area immediately upon finding them. Hand feed colostrum for 1-2 days, then feed milk replacer or pasteurized goat milk. (Smith, 79)

Kids may lose their swallow reflex when their body temperature is too low in the winter. Hang heat lamps over the pen and keep them warm and tube feed those that can’t swallow. (See Tube feeding in the Medical section of this website.) Dr. Neil Anderson from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs recommends buying used electric pad heaters which are made for farrowing rooms for sows. The heaters come in various dimensions and use very little energy. Some are better than others are because they provide an even heat rather than having hot spots, so check with a pig raiser to find out what is best..

(Anderson, E-mail 12-21-06)

The mother can be milked into a mini-milker at milking time in order to remove the colostrum from her body each day until the milk clears. Colostrum will come for 2-3 days. You will know when the colostrum is ending because the milk will start foaming. Any milk/colostrum from that point on should not be fed to a baby as colostrum, because it won't have enough antibodies in it, but it can be fed as heat-treated milk.   Do not put colostrum in the bulk tank. (Judy Remo)

Pasteurization

Milk must be pasteurized in order to kill pathogens. There are 5 methods:

1) heating milk to at least 145 degrees F. (62.8 degrees C) and holding it at that temperature for at least 30 minutes (holding method)

2) Heating milk to at least 161 degrees F (71.7 degrees C) for 15 seconds (HTST)

3) Heating milk to at least 191 degrees F (88.3 degrees C) for 1 second

4) Heating milk to 203.9 degrees F (95.5 degrees C) for 0.05 of a second

5) Heating milk to 212 degrees F ( 100 degrees C) for 0.01 of a second (ultrapasteurization).

Colostrum cannot be heated to these high temperatures, as it curdles above 135 degrees. It must be heat-treated by slowly bringing it's temperature to 135 degrees, holding it there for 10 minutes, then loading it into hot vacuum containers, where it is held for one hour. it can be bottled and frozen. When you are ready to use it, put it in a bucket of hot water for about 20 minutes to thaw.

See step-by-step directions for Heat treating Colostrum and Pasteurizing Milk

You can buy a dual-use pasteurizer that can pasteurize milk as well as heat-treating colostrum.  (See Hoegger Supply or Caprine Supply in the Reference section under "Equipment Suppliers.")

Making milk and colostrum for large numbers of kids

First figure the amount of milk needed for each group using the chart at Figuring milk and colostrum amounts for each day, then transfer those totals to the Milk preparation chart .

Directions for mixing milk replacer or colostrum replacer gives new producers a supply list and directions for the easiest way to handle milk preparation.

Selecting milk replacer

If you are going to use milk replacer, here are the opinions of some experts:



Do not use soy formula. (Belanger)

Use a reduced lactose milk replacer. There should be no whey in the formula. This will prevent bloating. (Langston Training, Nutrition section p. 26)

Dr. Lionel Dawson, BVSc, associate professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oklahoma State University) recommends that you use lamb milk replacer made for goat kids. It is 22-24% protein and 28-30% fat .

New producer note: It is a very good idea to have one person who washes and fills the buckets, bottles and nipples, and makes the milk and colostrum each day, while other people do the birthing and feeding. In a hundred and fifty goat milking herd in February or March, making all of the milk for 24 hours at one time, it can take up to 3 hours a day total, when you count the time you wash bottles and buckets, as well as mixing, pasteurizing goat milk, or mixing milk replacer. On days when you have to heat-treat colostrum in addition to making milk, you can easily spend 4-5 hours. Generally, it is very difficult for one person to birth and feed babies, and make the milk too. Some experienced producers do not use bottles for this reason, but instead try to put the babies on the white caprine buckets or the gray lamb buckets from day one. The black caprine bucket nipples are stiff and are sometimes difficult for newborns to use. The tan latex nipples (see picture below) work well, and can be screwed onto a lamb bucket for newborns. Be sure not to use them for older kids, as they will chew them right up.

Feeding Options

1) Kids can suckle proven CAE-free, Johnes-free mothers

Only mothers who have had two consecutive negative CAE blood tests, six months apart should be allowed to suckle their babies. All other kids should be housed separately from their mothers and should not be allowed to nurse.

2) Bottle feeding

Pritchard nipple

Bottle feeding ensures that each kid gets the colostrum it must have to be healthy, and is the best way to ensure that each kid gets the amount of milk he or she is supposed to get.. Producers can identify infants that can't suckle, and can tube feed in order to save the kid. It also allows the producer and kid to bond, making later treatments and milking easier. The downside is the time it takes to fill and wash bottles and nipples. .

3) Caprine bucket      or lamb bucket

                 Photos:        (Caprine Supply)              (Hoegger Supply)                                            (Sydell)

Buckets save a producer a lot of labor, but there is an initial period where the producer must train and observe the animals to make sure everyone is eating. The downside of buckets is the inability to determine whether each kid is getting his or her share of the milk. Some producers put small jars in the buckets, with the correct amount of milk for each kid and then run the tubes into the jars. This is ok as long as each kid stays on only one teat. Unfortunately, kids often change nipples, so you still don't know whether one kid is getting more than another. Observe carefully for bloat. and scours.  You will still need a few bottles with Pritchard nipples to feed colostrum and in case a kid can't suck on the bucket nipples at first.

There are several types of nipples that can be used on bucket feeders.



Gray rubber       Red Rubber   Latex for newborns

Photos: (Caprine Supply)   ( Hoegger Supply)     (Premier Supply)

The latex nipples are best for newborns, and the red and gray rubber can be used after a week or so. (The older kids chew up the latex.)

Directions for Making bucket feeders .

Bucket feeding instructions: http://www.premier1supplies.com/img/instruction/8.pdf.

Premier 1 Supplies will drill nipple holes in their white feeder buckets to your specifications for $3.00. See their catalog at http://www.premier1supplies.com/goats/species.php

.

Also, see how to make bucket feeders.

4) Self-feeders (lamb- bars or nipple-boards with tubing placed in buckets

Self feeders reduce producer labor. The key to this type of system is maintenance of low temperature milk (40 degrees F). This will prevent bloat by limiting intake. Again, these feeders require an initial training and observation period, and some goats may drink too much or too little. One advantage to on-demand feeding is that small frequent feedings decrease digestive upsets and increase digestibility of the milk.

(Dawson)

5) Free-Access Feeding With Acidified Milk

Free-access feeding of young kids mimics natural feeding, and prevents the bloating that comes from hand or bucket feeding large amounts at one time. Neil Anderson of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture is studying this Finnish technique, and has published his findings. Read his latest report here. You can order Formic Acid from Univar company. (See the Reference section under "Equipment Suppliers.")

Limiting consumption of milk

Be sure to restrict feeding to what is specified in the feeding guidelines if bottle or bucket feeding, or control intake with cool milk temperatures is using a self-feeder. Consuming large quantities at one feeding, allows milk to enter into the reticulo-rumen and cause bloat, or pass rapidly through the abomasum and into the intestine, causing scours. (Dawson).

When you limit daily consumption of milk to recommended amounts, you leave room for consumption of dry feed. Dry fees is important in developing body capacity, which increases feed intake (more room for storage) and increased digestion.   (Dawson)

Preventing scours (coccidiosis) in bottle-fed and bucket-fed kids

Your first defense against scours is cleanliness. Keep all feeding equipment spotless.

Keep pens clean and fill with fresh straw daily, so babies don't eat droppings.

Your second line of defense is preventive treatment with either Deccox M or Sulmet.

According to an ADGA article "Herd Health Program," , Dr. Scott Haskell, DVM recommends that you "Add Sulmet to milk to prevent diarrhea. Each feeding-3 cc per 12 oz." (Haskell, Herd Health Program). (Editor's note: this seems high. Please check with your vet and have them call FARAD to check this dosage.)

Steve Hart of Langston University goat research program recommends using Deccox M to prevent coccidiosis. See your vet for details.

Your third line of defense is control of an outbreak through quarantine. At the first sign of scours, remove the kid and put it a separate pen that is used exclusively for sick babies. If you leave a sick kid in the pen with other kids, scours will spread like wildfire. If you bring new goats to your farm, quarantine them for thirty days. (Haskell)

See the disease database for treatment of scours.

Average Daily Gain

In the first weeks of life, dairy kids can be expected to gain 1/2 lb. ( 250 g) /day. (Dawson)

Weaning methods

The following method is used for milk replacer mixed full strength according to package directions, or for pasteurized, goat milk from the mothers (same as table above):

Age

Mix the milk to full strength, then dilute as follows for each kid you feed:

Total /day

/kid

4 weeks (full strength)

Mix 2 cups full strength (16 oz,) at each of three feedings

6 c.

5 weeks (3/4 strength)

Mix 1 ½ cups (12 oz,) full strength milk and ½ cup (4 oz.) water, at each of three feedings.

6 c.

6 weeks (1/2 strength)

Mix 1 cup (8 oz,) full strength milk and 1 cup