Boer goat nutrition and feeding requirements

Welcome dear reader to this column where we explore all things farming.

Last week I focused on how to care for the boer goat kids and does after birth. This week focus turns to nutrition and feeding requirements for boer goats.

If they saying that livestock production is the process of converting forage into cash via an animal is anything to go by, it follows that forage is arguably the most critical component in a breeding programme.

Goats are primarily browsers; they eat leaves off trees and bushes but they are also grazers. They are ruminants that means they have a four-chambered stomach which allow them to regurgitate feed and ruminate or chew the cud. When goats eat leaves and grass, these are stored in the first chamber of the stomach, the rumen, where it softens. This material is later regurgitated and chew again, to further break down its cellulose content. The chewed cud goes directly to the other chambers of the stomach, namely the reticulum, omasum, and abomasum, where it is further digested with the aid of various essential microorganisms that live in the stomach.

One of the most important aspect of feeding and nutrition in goats is how to determine the feed requirements. This is critical because the farmer needs to develop a year-round forage programme so that the herd has adequate feed throughout the year. Of equal importance is maintenance requirement, that is, the minimum feed required by a goat that is not growing, not pregnant or lactating, for it to keep warm and to maintain its body weight. Goats in this category which only have maintenance requirements include mature, dry does that are neither pregnant nor feeding kids and mature castrates.

Farmers should know that all other physiological functions in goats, such as growth, pregnancy, lactation and hair production, increase the feed requirements beyond maintenance requirement. For instance, does that are feeding twins or triplets have greater nutritional requirements than those with singles. Other factors that impact on feed requirements include weight of the animal and the weather conditions.

So what are the nutrient components that boer goats require in their feed? Goats require protein, energy, a range of vitamins and minerals and of course water.

Protein is required for maintenance, growth, reproduction, lactation, and hair production. It also forms a major component of blood, anti-bodies, muscle and milk. Deficiency of protein in boer goats diet can result in retarded growth in young animals, weight loss, impaired reproduction and even death. Sources of protein for goats include acacia pods, beans, cowpeas, lucerne, soybean meal, green pastures and high protein concentrates.

Another vital component of good feed requirements is water. Access to water is essential for healthy, productive goats. Depending on stage of lactation and environmental temperatures, one goat drinks between 3 and 20 litres per day. Does that are feeding kids have much higher water requirements. In the same way, all goats have higher water requirements during hot weather. It is also important that the water is clean, especially for kids, as dirty water can breed diseases.

Goats also need sufficient energy in their diet to allow them to grow, reproduce and produce milk. Body condition scoring is typically used to see whether the goats are getting enough energy. Energy rich feeds include maize grain, sorghum, molasses and energy blocks.

Goats also require supplementary minerals if they are deficient in their diet. There are nine essential goat supplements and minerals which they require to maintain health, namely selenium, zinc, copper, calcium, phosphorous, iodine, ion, manganese and sodium.  The major minerals likely to be deficient in the diet are salt (sodium chloride), calcium, phosphorous and magnesium. Minerals can be given in blocks or as loose licks. It is essential to note that the requirements of goats vary according to age and whether it is pregnant or feeding a kid.

Nutrient

As explained earlier, supplements are available in various forms, namely powder form, often called licks, meals and blocks. Supplements provide the nutrients that are deficient from the farmer’s the veld. When feeding supplements, always make sure that the goats have sufficient grass, browse and hay. Otherwise the supplement will be ineffective or may even be harmful to goats. One way to limit excessive intake of supplements is by putting out small amounts daily or by increasing the salt content.

Farmers should always protect supplements from rain, especially the ones that contain urea. If urea dissolves in water, not only can it get lost, it can also be poisonous to goat if they drink the water. It is therefore, important to always take precautions and read information on the labels of feed bags.

In summer, goats that feed from the veld typically have phosphate deficiency, while in winter, the quality of veld in most areas declines, making it necessary to provide protein and energy rich mineral supplements. Remember energy is required to supply the rumen microbes with sufficient energy to utilise non-protein nitrogen sources and to digest poor quality feed.

In order to reduce the cost of buying feed, farmers must grow both annual and perennial forages to provide high quality healthy feed to keep goats healthy and maximise performance.

Paswera badza hapanyepi!

Till next week.

 Sheuneni Kurasha is the Managing Director of Chivara Farm which specialises in stud breeding in boran cattle, Boer goats, Kalahari red goats and damara sheep, as well as dairy farming. For feedback, kindly get in touch on email: [email protected], WhatsApp: +263 772 874 523 or Facebook: Chivara Farm.