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Pygmy Goat Feeding Guide

I cannot think of any aspect of pygmy goat care that involves as much mystery and diversity as what to feed them. If you ask longtime goat breeders what they are feeding their herd, you either will get a mysterious look with a quick change of the subject, or a different opinion with each person you ask. I readily admit to changing my goats' diet numerous times over the years as I encountered new ideas, (much to the chagrin of my herd, I'm sure). In this article, I will seek to look at a feeding program logically based on the research and articles that I have read and allow you to draw your own conclusions.

Let's Start at the Very Beginning...
On the surface, what to feed your pygmy goat should be very simple. Just as humans have the four food groups (or is it the five food group pyramid...?), goats have basic parts to their diet. The general areas of a goat's basic diet are hay, grain, fresh water, salt and minerals. In order to allow a goat to develop to its full genetic potential they must have a good diet. Both undernourished and obese goats may have health problems. So let's look at the basic parts.

Hay
It is important to select good quality hay to maximize its nutritional content. Hay should have a nice green color and be cut before the plants bloom. Hay should be fed free choice in feeders that keep it off the ground. The following is a chart listing the digestible protein, calcium, and phosphorus contents of various types of hay (1):

Hay

Digestible Protein %

Calcium %

Phosphorus %

Alfalfa

10.5

1.47

0.24

Clover (red)

7.1

1.35

0.19

Oat

4.9

0.21

0.19

Timothy

2.9

0.23

0.20

The "cheapest" hay is not necessarily the lowest cost per ton. You must factor in the nutritional content of what you are buying. Legume hay (alfalfa, clover, etc.) has a higher protein, calcium, and phosphorus content, which are necessary for developing muscle and bone. I feed my goats a measured amount of Eastern Washington alfalfa (3rd or 4th cutting for leafier, finer-stemmed hay) and good quality grass hay. Last year I was even able to find organic hay.

Grain
Grain or grain mixes supply added protein, vitamins, and minerals. There are a variety of grain mixes formulated specifically for goats such as Land o' Lakes Dairy Goat Feed, Purina Goat Chow, etc. These mixes contain 16% protein and a variety of added vitamins and minerals. NOTE: Recently Land O' Lakes switched their dairy goat feed to include 'meat meal'. Not only should goats not eat meat, but 'meat meal' does not indicate which animal it came from--dead dogs and cats from shelters? sheep heads infected with scrapie? Check the label and do not feed any ration that includes animal origins. I switched to a local company's (TopNotch of Hillsboro, Oregon) dairy goat ration and am quite pleased with the results. Dry COB is corn, oats, and barley without molasses. It contains about 9% protein and no added vitamins and minerals.

Grain may or may not be necessary as part of your goat's diet, depending on whether you are feeding a buck, wether, or doe. Bucks and wethers are susceptible to urinary problems and a low protein grain ration is recommended. Bucks, however, need an adequate amount of grain to maintain sperm production and to keep in good weight. Wethers do fine on no grain at all if fed good quality alfalfa or grass hay (it is their owners who seem to need to give them that daily grain ration!).

A doe's needs vary depending on whether she is dry, pregnant, or lactating. Common sense rules here. Does need adequate protein and nutrients for fetal development and milk production, but too much of a good thing may cause obesity which can lead to kidding problems and/or a variety of health problems. DO NOT OVERFEED YOUR DOES! Here is where you need to observe your herd and whether they are gaining or losing weight with the ration you are giving them. At this moment in time, my does are getting 1 cup of dairy goat feed per day, which is their normal ration. When they are lactating, I feed them 4 times as much divided into two feedings per day. My bucks are given 2 1/2 cups of dairy goat feed per day. Their greater activity level means they require more feed to keep them in good weight, especially during breeding season.

Salt and Minerals
Salt and minerals are a vital part of your goat's diet and found in a variety of sources including hay, pasture, grain, soil, and supplements. Bones are composed of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P), therefore, Ca and P must be in a goat's diet in adequate amounts for it to have good bone and muscle development. Even a mature animal must have adequate Ca and P to maintain bone structure. The ratio of Ca and P is quite important-it should be 2:1 in a goat's diet. This ratio is not only important for bone development, but also aids in urinary tract health in male goats.

Salt and minerals are available in block form through the feed store and should be available at all times. I also give an additional supplement called Capri Min #2 (1/2 Tb) to my goats daily sprinkled on their feed. It is formulated especially for goats and my goats absolutely love it. (A word of warning: be very careful with feeding supplements to goats that have been developed for horses and cattle. They generally contain much higher levels of copper than goats can metabolize and toxic levels can build up in a goat's body, resulting in poisoning.)

We live in an area that is selenium (Se) deficient, thus selenium must be added to a goat's intake to prevent white muscle disease and possibly increase fertility. Usually Se is given by an injection of vitamin E and Se (BoSe) at birth and twice a year after that. It is also present in dairy goat feed, trace mineral blocks, and most mineral supplements. Rather than the BoSe shots, I give a Vitamin E/Selenium suppliment daily to my goats.

Water
Enough cannot be said about the importance of having fresh clean water available at all times. It is needed for proper rumen function and urinary health in bucks and wethers. A 50 pound goat drinks about a half a gallon of water a day, depending on the weather. During cold weather, goats appreciate warm water to help maintain their body temperature (this is the true test of how much you spoil your goats!). Note: If you have goat kids present, make sure your water is in shallow containers-kids can drown easily in 5 gallon water buckets.

Beyond the basics...
While lactating and after weaning, I also give my does a supplement called ShowBloom. It is a vitamin/protein supplement containing 30% protein (so don't go overboard in feeding it-I give 1 Tb/day), vitamins A, D, E, C, and the B vitamins, and I really notice a difference in their coats and overall appearance. In addition to the ShowBloom and Capri Min #2 supplement that I mentioned above, you can give sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) as a free choice supplement. Soda helps the rumen maintain its ph balance. It also helps bucks and wethers keep their urine more alkaline and thus helps avoid urinary tract problems.

Bibliography
1. Colby, Brian, et. al. Dairy goats-breeding/feeding/management. American Goat Society. 1972.
2. Kinne, Maxine. Pygmy goat care and management. 1987.
3. National Pygmy Goat Association. Best of Memo I. 1982.
4. National Pygmy Goat Association. Best of Memo II. 1989.

Sources
Caprine Supply (Capri Min #2)
P.O. Box Y
33001 West 83rd St.
DeSoto KS 66018
(913)585-1191

Nasco (ShowBloom)
P.O. Box 3837
Modesto CA 95352-3837
1-800-558-9595

 

Pioneer Meadows Pygmy Goats
18383 S Grasle Rd
Oregon City OR 97045
(503)631-2855
hmdahlin@mac.com