Feeding dairy goats

Abstract

The modern commercial dairy goat is a high-performance ruminant. At peak yields and in late pregnancy diets with a high nutrient density are required. These must be carefully formulated and presented to maximise feed intakes and minimise ruminal disorders. Feeding standards have been specified for goats in several countries (e.g. UK, 1998, USA, 2007) and goat specific ration formulation software should always be used. Excessive energy intakes are a problem in late lactation when yields are low (below 2 litre/day) due to poor genetics or long lactations. Body fat reserves can be assessed using body condition scoring concentrating on the sternal and lumbar areas. Over-conditioned goats in late lactation are a common risk factor for fat-type pregnancy toxaemia. Treatment of clinical cases is often unrewarding, and efforts should be focused on prevention with diagnosis and treatment based on blood testing before cases become clinical.