Feeding Management in Goats-Review
Dr. Aparna Hebbar H, Chief Veterinary Officer, Livestock Breeding & Training Centre, Koila, D.K. Karnataka, 574241 Email id: appehebbar@gmail.com. Mobile no: +918722027776
Goat farming is turning towards entrepreneurship version; many farmers are switched over semi intensive and intensive types of rearing from open grazing. So in this changing scenario, farmers are needed to advice for proper nutrition for optimum growth, good milk yield and proper health. There are three types of rearing methods.
- Extensive method: In this method animals are allowed in grassland for grazing. It is better to divide the grazing land temporarily by fencing into four five parts. Animals are allowed to graze in one part, later they will be shifted to another part. By the time animals finish all the parts by grazing; first part will be ready with new grasses. First kids to be allowed to browse, later does will be allowed to eat leftovers. 250-300 goats can be reared by this type of free range grazing method.
Advantages:
Very low infrastructure required
Management is easy
Disadvantages:
More chances of parasitic infestation
Animal observation is difficult
Poor plane of nutrition
- Semi intensive method: In this method animals are allowed to graze for 8-10 hrs, later they will be tied in the shed in the night time. Concentrates are fed in the shed. 250-300 animals can be reared by this method.
Advantages:
Medium level of infrastructure required
Management is easy
Better level of nutrition
Disadvantages:
Labor input is more than extensive method
- Intensive method: In this method animals are confined to shed and feed is offered in the shed itself. This type of zero grazing system is catching the attention in sub urban areas in order to meet the growing demand of meat. By installing fully automated feeding and watering systems, labor charge can be reduced.
Advantages:
Animal observation is easy
Optimum production can be expected.
Less space requirement
Disadvantages
Initial investment is more
Nutrition:
Feed is essential for the maintenance, production of the milk, meat and fiber. Grouping of the goats as per their nutritional requirement viz., weanlings, pregnant does, breeding bucks and lactating does will help in providing the proper nutrition. For example pregnant doe should be fed with more quantity of good quality forage than non pregnant doe. Similarly, doe having twins need to give more concentrate as their much energy spent in feeding the kids.
Components
Energy: Carbohydrates like sugar, starch and fiber are main energy sources. Cereals like maize, wheat, barley and oat, molasses and agricultural byproducts are the energy sources in the feed.
Protein: The nitrogen content in the protein is required for rumen bacterial protein synthesis. Amino acids are required for various metabolic activities. Ground nut cake, cotton seed, soyabean, mustard cake, linseed and sesame are the protein sources.
Vitamins: Vitamin B –complexes and vitamin K are synthesized by the rumen microbes. Vitamin A can be synthesized by the carotenes present in the fodder. Vitamin D deficiency might be seen in the animals which are completely reared in shade. Vitamin C can be synthesized by the animal in the tissues. Vitamin E and selenium are easily convertible into another so supplementing either of one will serve the purpose.
Minerals: Dicalcium phosphate is required for the animals. Calcium phosphate ratio should be 2:1. Calcium, magnesium and phosphorous are required for the growth of the animals. Calcium is present in grasses and legumes. Poor forages are deficient in phosphorous. Rest trace minerals like selenium, cobalt are required for the metabolic processes.
Common salt:
Lumps of salts should be hung in some places or they may be kept in manger. The salt licks help to secrete good amount of sodium and chloride ions in the milk. Salt can be added 2 percent with the daily grain ration.
Antibiotics:
Feeding of aureomycin or terramycin increase the growth rate of the young kids, reduces the incidence of scours and infectious diseases.
Colostrum feeding the kids:
Kids should be fed with colostrum within one hour of their birth. Colostrum is rich in vitamins A, immunoglobulins etc. Immunoglobulins are required for immunity development, so feeding colostrum helps to build up immunity till the development of proper immune system. Kids should be allowed to suck its dam for initial three to four days so that they can get good amount of colostrum. Later they can be separated and milk can be given 4-5 times in a day. Kids are given milk one tenth of their body weight. They should be trained to eat green roughages by two weeks. In the end of the first month creep feed can be given. After three months they are weaned. If early weaning is done, they should be given protein rich creeper feed or additional supplementation of fish meal or soya meal.
Creep feeding:
In the end of the first month, 50-100g of the creep feed can be given. Creep feeding helps speedy growth of the kids. It should contain 22% of protein. Antibiotics like oxytetracycline or chlortetracycline may be mixed at the rate of 15 to 25mg/kg of feed.
Feeding from three months to one year:
They are allowed for grazing for 8 hours. 100-150g of the concentrates should be given. During night time dry fodder can be offered.
Feeding of breeding does:
Prior to 3-4 weeks of the mating or introducing buck into the flock, flushing can be done for the does. If good quality green fodder is available, no need of concentrate supplementation. If not, 300-400g of feed with CP 18% should be given. This helps for the proper ovulation, improvement in the fertility rate and implantation of the embryo. Non breeding bucks and dry does can be fed with forage with low protein content.
Feeding of pregnant does (earlier pregnancy)
Initial four months, important for the foetus development. During this period, 5 kg green fodder to be given. They are allowed to graze for 4-5 hours per day.
Feeding of pregnant does (Late pregnancy)
During last month of the pregnancy, much care is required. Doe should be separated or observed daily for its health. They are allowed to graze for 4-5 hours. 7 kg of the green fodder is needed for the pregnant doe along with 250-300g of concentrates.
Lactating does
The following ration plans can be used based on the availability
6-8 hours of grazing + 10 kg good quality green fodder or
6-8 hours of grazing + 400g concentrate or
6-8 hours of grazing +800g leguminous hay
Feeding non breeding does and buck
Non pregnant does can be reared by green forages. But if the good quality pasture land is not available then they should be supplemented with 100-150g concentrate. Non breeding bucks and dry does can be fed with forage with low protein content.
Feeding of breeding bucks:
Bucks are allowed to graze with does. Buck to be fed with 300-400g of concentrates separately. It should be observed at regular intervals for its healthy condition.
Feeding pattern
Goats are fastidious animals. They do not relish old straw or silage. They like fresh green legumes much. They are reluctant to eat stale, fallen feed from the feeders. Therefore, feed to be given in divided doses 3-4 times in a day to them. Green forages are also given 2-3 times in a day in stall feeding. Goats like common green forages like lucerne, berseem, napier grass and cowpea etc. Tree fodder like subabul, tamrind, glyceridia and peepal can be given to the goats. 2/3rd of the forages containing tree fodder are preferred.
Feeding racks and water troughs can be used in order to prevent wastage of the feed. Fodder can be given by chopping it into pieces. It can be cut into the length of two to three inches either by chaff cutter or sickle. It will enhance feed intake as well as digestibility.
Dry fodder enrichment
Goats suck green leaves and eat soft stem of the fodder. To increase the palatability of the left over, add salt and molasses to it. Under the supervision of veterinary doctor, spray 2 % urea on the dry fodder. Dissolving 1.5 to 2 kg urea in 30 to 40 liter of water urea solution can be prepared. It should be applied over one quintal dry fodder. Later it is to be filled into air tight container or bags. It is preferable to use after one month. Kids below 3 months of age should not be fed.
Silage preparation
Excess green fodder is available in the rainy season. This can be stored and preserved for the summer. Fodder maize and sorghum are suitable for the preparation of the silage. Around 70% moisture should be in the plants while harvesting. Cut those to small pieces of two inch. Silo pit or plastic bags are to be filled with this fodder. Make it air tight. Molasses can be poured over it if required. By closing it with plastic sheet air won’t enter into it and proper anaerobic fermentation takes place. Soil can be spread over it if required. It can be opened after one month. By anaerobic fermentation, golden yellow colour silage will be ready. They may not relish it in the beginning later they may like it.
Compound feed preparation
By using local available material feed can be prepared. It will reduce the cost of the feed. The choice of the grains, oil cake and other supplements depend on the availability particular region and cost. But this should not be compromised with the nutrient requirements. If one farmer prepares feed using cheaper grains, animal will not show optimum production. The use of grains, oil cakes depend on the availability of that material, its nutritive value and cost benefit ratio.
Feed components (For 100 kg)
Broken grains – 30-40%
Rice bran- – 30-40%
Oil cakes – 20-30%
Crop residue – 7%
Mineral mixure- 2%
Salt – 1-2%
Creep Feed
Maize-40%
Groundnut cake -30%
Wheat bran-10%
Deoiled rice bran- 13%
Molasses-5%
Mineral mixure-2%
Salt-1%
General instructions:
If the kids are early weaned or dam death occurred, kids should be given extra care. Crackled grains can be fed till six weeks. Leguminous fodder would be better option. If good legumes are not available, grains can be given along with supplementation of protein and vitamin mix.
Kids for replacement stock should not be weaned early. They have to be with their mother with free access of milk. After weaning they should be offered with good quality forage till they attain maturity age.
Goats are sturdy animal can be reared with little attention to nutrition. They got cleft upper lip helps to eat grass, weeds and thorny bushes. So grazing land and pasture is best suited for their growth. As they got the habit of nibbling, provide the feed, fodder and grasses in divided doses at regular intervals. Fresh and clean water to be given for all age group goats as and when required (adlibitum)
https://www.pashudhanpraharee.com/economic-goat-rearingnutritional-strategies/
References
- Goat farming for improving livelihood security of farm women By Sahoo et al, 2019 Technical bulletin 33, Central institute for women in agriculture
- KVAFSU farmers literature Scientific rearing of goats and sheep in kannada
- Expert system of sheep and goat feeing management
- TNAU agritech portal farm enterprises: Animal husbandry
- https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/livestock/sheep-and-goat-farming/feeding-management
