Meat Goats Nutritional Needs

The feeding of meat producing goats such as the Boer goat coincides with that of sheep and cattle. Unlike Angora goats their resistance to cold wet weather when they are without shelter is good.

The NRC standards(1981) for the nutritional needs of 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.

Supplementation/feeding of goats can be done with rations that adhere to the following specifications:

	Rams	Ewe & Lambs	Fattening
Protein g/kg	120	130	130
Calcium g/kg	10-15	8-10	8-10
Phosphorus g/kg	2	3	3
Crude Fibre g/kg	150 minimum	150 minimum	120 minimum
ME mj/kg	9	9.6	10.2

It is advisable to add Ammonium Chloride to rations for rams or wethers to aid in the prevention of stones.