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Common Sense Common Sense Meat GoatMeat Goat--NutritionNutrition

Brian FrekingBrian Freking

OSU OSU LeFloreLeFlore Co. Extension Co. Extension

NutritionNutrition

�� Feeding goats is the single largest expense Feeding goats is the single largest expense behind the purchase cost of the animals.behind the purchase cost of the animals.

�� Can be as high as 60% of the total expenses for Can be as high as 60% of the total expenses for the yearthe year

�� Contrary to popular belief goats will not just eat Contrary to popular belief goats will not just eat anythinganything

�� Animals receiving an inadequate diet will Animals receiving an inadequate diet will notnotperform to their genetic potentialperform to their genetic potential

Nutrient Requirements Nutrient Requirements for Goatsfor Goats

�� WaterWater

�� EnergyEnergy

�� ProteinProtein

�� FatsFats

�� MineralsMinerals

�� VitaminsVitamins

WaterWater

�� Though the cheapest of the nutrients it is Though the cheapest of the nutrients it is commonly the most overlooked.commonly the most overlooked.–– Intake (need) varies by . . . Intake (need) varies by . . .

�� Moisture in feedMoisture in feed

�� Goats should be given free choice to clean Goats should be given free choice to clean fresh water at all times.fresh water at all times.

�� A mature goat will consume between ¾ to A mature goat will consume between ¾ to 1 ½ gallons per day.1 ½ gallons per day.

�� As temperatures increase over 70 degrees As temperatures increase over 70 degrees water intake will climb substantially water intake will climb substantially

�� If water intake is decreased feed intake will If water intake is decreased feed intake will also be decreased. also be decreased.

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Factors Affecting Factors Affecting RequirementsRequirements

�� The most common factors affecting The most common factors affecting nutritional requirements are:nutritional requirements are:

�� 1) Maintenance1) Maintenance

�� 2)Growth2)Growth

�� 3)Pregnancy Status3)Pregnancy Status

�� 4)Lactation4)Lactation--MilkingMilking

�� 5)Level of Activity5)Level of Activity

�� 6)Environmental Conditions6)Environmental Conditions

TDN

53

41

6.8

5.3

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Sources of proteinSources of protein

HighestHighest–– Protein meals (46Protein meals (46--52%) 52%)

Plant Plant -- soybean meal, cottonseed meal, soybean meal, cottonseed meal, peanut mealpeanut meal

–– Fish meal (66%)Fish meal (66%)

–– Urea (NPN) (288%)Urea (NPN) (288%)

ModerateModerate–– Alfalfa and other legume Alfalfa and other legume

hays (13hays (13--21%)21%)

LowLow–– Grass hay (10Grass hay (10--12%)12%)

–– Cereal grains (8Cereal grains (8--14%)14%)

LowestLowest–– Poor quality hay (<10%)Poor quality hay (<10%)–– Straw (3Straw (3--5%) 5%)

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ProteinProtein

�� Most expensive of the nutrients to supplyMost expensive of the nutrients to supply

�� Protein assists in building muscleProtein assists in building muscle

�� Composed of amino acids.Composed of amino acids.

�� Bypass or escape protein Bypass or escape protein increases protein efficiency.increases protein efficiency.

�� Quantity more important than Quantity more important than quality.quality.

�� Excess protein is not stored in Excess protein is not stored in the body. It will be used the body. It will be used inefficiently as energy.inefficiently as energy.

�� Excess N is an environmental Excess N is an environmental concern.concern.

EnergyEnergy

�� Needed in the most amount.Needed in the most amount.�� Usually the most limiting Usually the most limiting

nutrient.nutrient.�� Excess is stored as fat.Excess is stored as fat.�� Expressed as . . . Expressed as . . .

�� TDN TDN –– total digestible nutrients total digestible nutrients (%)(%)

–– ME ME –– metabolizablemetabolizableenergy (energy (mcalmcal))

–– NE for maintenance, growth, NE for maintenance, growth, lactation, and fiber production lactation, and fiber production ((mcalmcal))

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Sources of EnergySources of Energy------FatsFats

�� A byproduct of packing plants, and poultry A byproduct of packing plants, and poultry processing plants.processing plants.

�� Commercial feed mixes will contain 1Commercial feed mixes will contain 1--7% 7% animal fat.animal fat.

�� Animal fat in the feed reduces the dustiness Animal fat in the feed reduces the dustiness of the feed.of the feed.

�� Often treated with antioxidants to prevent Often treated with antioxidants to prevent the feed from becoming rancid in storage.the feed from becoming rancid in storage.

�� Beef and dairy rations can contain up to 5% Beef and dairy rations can contain up to 5% while swine rations may have up to 20%.while swine rations may have up to 20%.

MineralsMineralsMacro Mineral RequirementsMacro Mineral Requirements

Mineral % of Diet

Calcium 0.20 - 0.80

Phosphorus 0.20 - 0.40

Potassium 0.50 – 0.80

Magnesium 0.12 – 0.18

Sodium 0.09 – 0.18

Sulfur 0.14 -0.26

NRC, 2007

MineralsMineralsMicro mineral RequirementsMicro mineral Requirements

Mineral PPM

Copper 10 – 20

Zinc 20 – 33

Iron 30 – 50

Manganese 20 – 40

Iodine 0.10 – 0.80

Molybdenum 0.50 – 1.0

Cobalt & Selenium 0.10 – 0.20

VitaminsVitamins

�� Usually not a problem on green Usually not a problem on green pasturepasture

�� Vitamins A and E should be Vitamins A and E should be supplemented with haysupplemented with hay

�� Most mineral mixes have A, D and E Most mineral mixes have A, D and E added at sufficient levelsadded at sufficient levels

�� Don’t buy more than a threeDon’t buy more than a three--month month supply of minerals because vitamins supply of minerals because vitamins will degradewill degrade

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RoughageRoughage

�� Should be primary source Should be primary source of feed intake.of feed intake.

�� Maintains healthy rumen Maintains healthy rumen function.function.

�� Less problems when Less problems when sheep and goats are sheep and goats are forageforage--fed.fed.

�� Minimum amount of Minimum amount of roughage is ½ lb. per roughage is ½ lb. per 100 lbs. of body weight.100 lbs. of body weight.

Practical feeding recommendations for Practical feeding recommendations for pregnant and lactating femalespregnant and lactating females

�� Goal: feed proper Goal: feed proper amount and balance amount and balance of nutrients.of nutrients.

�� Quantity (lbs) more Quantity (lbs) more important that quality important that quality (%).(%).

�� Make forage the main Make forage the main part of the diet.part of the diet.

Practical feeding recommendations Practical feeding recommendations for pregnant and lactating femalesfor pregnant and lactating females

�� Balance ration (proper way)Balance ration (proper way)–– By hand (math)By hand (math)

�� Simultaneous equations (Algebra)Simultaneous equations (Algebra)

�� Pearson SquarePearson Square

–– Use computer programUse computer programhttp://www.sheepandgoat.com/software.html#rationhttp://www.sheepandgoat.com/software.html#ration

–– Use spreadsheetUse spreadsheethttp://www.sheepandgoat.com/spreadsheets/RationEvaluator2004.xlshttp://www.sheepandgoat.com/spreadsheets/RationEvaluator2004.xls

–– WebWeb--based ration balancingbased ration balancinghttp://www.luresext.edu/goats/research/nutr_calc.htmhttp://www.luresext.edu/goats/research/nutr_calc.htm

�� Feed by “rule of thumb”Feed by “rule of thumb”

Pearson SquarePearson SquareMale Adult Buck (DMI = 3.5%)

14

44

8

6

30

36

6/36 = 16.7 % SBM

30/36 = 83.3 % Hay

Feeding according to “rules of thumb”Feeding according to “rules of thumb”

ForageForage–– Feed 3 to 4 lbs. of grass hay Feed 3 to 4 lbs. of grass hay

(or pasture) during early and (or pasture) during early and mid gestation.mid gestation.

–– Feed 4 to 5 lbs. of average Feed 4 to 5 lbs. of average quality hay (or pasture) quality hay (or pasture) during late gestation.during late gestation.

–– During late gestation, you During late gestation, you may need to supplement Ca may need to supplement Ca if feeding a grass hay (don’t if feeding a grass hay (don’t depend on free choice depend on free choice minerals).minerals).

–– Save alfalfa hay for lactation Save alfalfa hay for lactation when the female’s nutritional when the female’s nutritional needs are the highest.needs are the highest.

–– Feed poor quality hay prior to Feed poor quality hay prior to and after weaning.and after weaning.

Bigger amounts for big females and smaller amounts for smaller females.

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Feeding according to “rules of thumb”Feeding according to “rules of thumb”

Concentrate/grainConcentrate/grain–– No grain during early No grain during early

and mid pregnancy.and mid pregnancy.–– Feed ½ to 1 lb. of grain Feed ½ to 1 lb. of grain

per day to females per day to females during late gestation.during late gestation.

–– Start with a ¼ lb. of Start with a ¼ lb. of grain and gradually grain and gradually increase amount of increase amount of grain in diet. grain in diet.

–– May need to feed more May need to feed more if you expect a birthing if you expect a birthing percentage greater than percentage greater than 200%.200%.

–– Grain can substitute for Grain can substitute for some of the hay in the some of the hay in the ration, but be CAREFUL.ration, but be CAREFUL.

Bigger amounts for big females and smaller amounts for smaller females.

Feeding according to “rules of thumb”Feeding according to “rules of thumb”

After parturitionAfter parturition

�� Plenty of water. Warm Plenty of water. Warm water in winter.water in winter.

�� Forage for the first few Forage for the first few days.days.

�� Take about a week to Take about a week to get the doe on full get the doe on full feed.feed.

Health risks related to kiddingHealth risks related to kidding

Influenced by nutrition and Influenced by nutrition and feeding:feeding:

�� Pregnancy toxemiaPregnancy toxemia

�� Milk feverMilk fever

�� Vaginal prolapseVaginal prolapse

�� AbortionAbortion

�� White muscle diseaseWhite muscle disease

Pregnancy toxemia Pregnancy toxemia Low blood glucose, ketosis, twin lamb disease, lambing paralysis, Low blood glucose, ketosis, twin lamb disease, lambing paralysis, sleeping ewe sicknesssleeping ewe sickness

Risk factorsRisk factors–– Inadequate nutritionInadequate nutrition

insufficient energy densityinsufficient energy density

–– Multiple fetusesMultiple fetuses

high energy demand by fetuseshigh energy demand by fetuses

–– ObesityObesityfat mobilization fat mobilization �� toxic ketone toxic ketone

bodiesbodies

–– Poor body conditionPoor body condition

–– Lack of exerciseLack of exercise

–– StressStress

–– EnvironmentEnvironmentSevere weather conditionsSevere weather conditions

Milk feverMilk feverlow blood calcium, hypocalcemia, parturient low blood calcium, hypocalcemia, parturient paresisparesis

Risk factorsRisk factors

–– Fetal demands for Fetal demands for calciumcalcium

–– Demands for Demands for colostrum production.colostrum production.

��Calcium deficiencyCalcium deficiency

–– Overfeeding calciumOverfeeding calcium

–– Stress, especially Stress, especially nutritionalnutritional

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White muscle diseaseWhite muscle diseasenutritional muscular dystrophy, stiff lamb disease, muscular nutritional muscular dystrophy, stiff lamb disease, muscular

hypertrophyhypertrophy

Deficiency of selenium and/or vitamin EDeficiency of selenium and/or vitamin E–– New born lambs, kidsNew born lambs, kids

–– Sudden exercise may trigger conditionSudden exercise may trigger condition

SymptomsSymptoms�� Skeletal Skeletal –– treat with treat with vitvit E/Se shotE/Se shot

–– Mild stiffness to obvious pain upon walking Mild stiffness to obvious pain upon walking to inability to standto inability to stand

–– Stiff gaitStiff gait

–– HunchedHunched--up appearanceup appearance

�� CardiacCardiac–– PneumoniaPneumonia

–– Difficulty breathingDifficulty breathing–– Frothy nasal dischargeFrothy nasal discharge–– FeverFever

–– Irregular and elevated heart and respiratory Irregular and elevated heart and respiratory rates.rates.

Body Condition Scoring (BCS)Body Condition Scoring (BCS)

Additional tips for feedingAdditional tips for feeding

�� Weigh feed.Weigh feed.�� Don’t rely on free choice minerals.Don’t rely on free choice minerals.

�� Include Bovatec®, Rumensin® or Include Bovatec®, Rumensin® or Deccox® in ration to prevent Deccox® in ration to prevent coccidiosis. **They are toxic to coccidiosis. **They are toxic to equines**equines**

�� Feed whole grains. Feed whole grains. �� Split feedings if you’re feeding a lot Split feedings if you’re feeding a lot

of grain.of grain.�� Separate animals into groups Separate animals into groups

according to their nutritional according to their nutritional needs.needs.

�� Feed and manage ewe Feed and manage ewe lambs/doelings separate from lambs/doelings separate from mature females.mature females.

�� Aim for moderate body condition Aim for moderate body condition scores.scores.

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Questions?Questions?