GoatDairyLibrary.org          A database of materials for the commercial goat milk producer
Table of contents 

Bibliography

Building/Planning  A-L

Building/Planning M

Building/Planning N-Z

Conformation  

Conversions

Definitions

Diseases A-B

Diseases C-E

Diseases F-K

Diseases L-O

Diseases P-Q

Diseases R-Z

Diseases Misc.

Forms

Grazing

Medical A-D

Medical E-M

Medical N-R

Medical S-Z

Milk Production  

Nutrition Categories

Nutrition General

Nutrition Grouping

Nutrition Links

Nutrition Rations

Plans

Producers Tips  

Reference

Reproduction 

Seminar Notes

Settng Up

Value Added.

Nutrition-Grouping Goats To Simplify Feeding

Grouping animals by age, stage of lactation and reproduction, makes sense, as the nutritional needs for each group are different.  Having animals with the same nutritional needs in the same pen, saves time for the producer.   Some individuals may need special attention, and those can be identified through routine body condition scoring.  Here are some standard goat dairy groupings based on nutritional needs.

Group

Age

Nutritional goals

Pens

Bottle-fed kids  

Day 1

Feed colostrum to transfer antibodies on day 1.

Very small pens with heat lamps and/or or heat mats.

Day 2-7  

Feed milk for maintenance and growth 

Bucket-fed kids  

2nd-8th weeks

Feed for maintenance and growth.

Larger pens with heat lamps. Group together in numbers that correspond to your bucket feeders.  If using  a caprine bucket with ten nipples, put ten babies in the pen.     

If using lamb buckets with three nipples, put in groups of 9 and hang three buckets.

Bucklings retained for breeding

8th week - 7 mo. (breeding age)

Feed for maintenance and growth

House according to the pens you have available. See stocking rates in the Building and Planning section of the website. 

House males and females separately after 4 months to prevent unwanted pregnancies.  

 House doelings separate from adult does, and bucklings separate from adult bucks to avoid injury, and to make sure they get enough to eat.          

7 mo.-1 yr

Need extra during breeding season for stamina.  

Bucklings retained for meat sales

week 8-selling age depending on market

Feed for maintenance and growth

Doelings

week 8 to 7 mo. (breeding age)

 

Feed for maintenance and growth.  

7 mo-1 yr.

Breed when they reach at least 70 lbs.  Feed for maintenance, growth, and to support advancing pregnancy,  especially in last month.

First birthing at one year (or more)  

Feed for maintenance, growth and lactation.

Lactating Does 

not pregnant

1) Does who have birthed, but who have not been bred back 2)Does not being bred back at all (future cull does)        3)Does  who are being allowed to “milk through.”  

Feed for maintenance and lactation.    

Lactating Does

Pregnant through the third month

Adult 

Feed for maintenance, lactation and to support fetal growth

Dry Does

Pregnant through the 4th month

 Adult

Feed for maintenance and to support fetal growth

Dry Does

Pregnant through the 5th month

 

Feed for maintenance and to support fetal growth.

Bucks

 Adult

Feed for maintenance.  Extra for stamina during breeding season.

Quarantine Pen(s)

1) Does new to farm,

2) Sick does

3)Does with mastitis, who must be milked last

Feed according to the needs of individual animals


Nutrition Management Goal: To maximize health, milk and kid production, while controlling costs.
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