Angora Goats Nutritional Needs

The feeding of angora goats coincides with that of sheep and cattle with one salient difference. Their resistance to cold wet weather when they are without shelter is low.

Their need for glucose under these conditions is high. It is therefore essential that a highly digestible source of food be fed. This need led to the development of "chocolate maize". The grain is coated with molasses or concentrated molasses solubles, which acts as a carrier for buffers which counter the threat of acidosis.

The NRC standards(1981) for the nutritional needs of Angora goats is as follows:-

Maintenance - Feedlot Conditions - Requirements per animal per day
Body Weight Kg	Protein g/day	Calcium g/day	Phosphorus g/day	TDN g/day
10	22	1	0.7	159
20	38	1	0.7	267
30	51	2	1.4	362
40	63	2	1.4	448
50	75	3	2.1	530
60	86	3	2.1	608
70	96	4	2.8	682

To these figures must be added the requirements for activity:

Low activity (intensive pastures) add 25% to the figures.

Medium activity (hilly pastures) add 50% to the figures.

High activity (mountainous) add 75% to the figures.

In addition extra is required for late pregnancy:

Protein g/day	Calcium g/day	Phosphorus g/day	TDN g/day
82	2	1.4	397

For growth the following is also required:

Weight gain	Protein	Calcium	Phosphorous	TDN
50 g/day	14	1	0.7	100
100 g/day	28	1	0.7	200
150 g/day	42	2	1.4	300

For every litre of 4% butterfat milk produced by the lactating ewe she needs an extra:

Protein	Calcium	Phosphorous	TDN
72 g	3 g	2.1 g	346 g

Normally 2 litres of milk are produced for the kid per day.

The primary reason for farming with Angora goats is to produce mohair. On an annualised basis the primary needs for this production are as follows:-

Mohair kg/annum	Crude Protein g	TDN g
2	9	16
4	17	34
6	26	50
8	34	66