Goat Feed: Concentrate and Forage for Healthy Small Ruminants

Goat Feed: Concentrate and Forage for Small Ruminants

Goats eat differently from cattle or horses. They are browsers, not grazers, they pick out the best parts and they need plenty of structure in the rumen. Here you will find pellets, muesli and cereals for sheep and goats, plus supplementary feeds for metabolism and digestion. Bag sizes run from 20 kg to 30 kg.

Forage stays the basis

Good hay or fresh grazing makes up the largest part of the ration. It supplies the crude fibre that keeps the rumen working and keeps the animals chewing the cud. Lucerne pellets in 20 kg and 25 kg top the ration up when forage is short or lacks structure. Concentrate comes after that, matched to yield and condition. Dairy does and pregnant animals need more, dry goats considerably less. Take care that goats never get copper rich cattle or horse feed, and that includes mineral licks made for those species. That is why our range is labelled for sheep and goats together. Alongside the basic ration you will also find supplementary products, from a digestive oil for cattle, sheep and goats to a paste for the metabolism around kidding.

Changing over, amounts and storage

Every change of feed needs time. Mix the new feed into the familiar one over one to two weeks at a rising share, then the rumen flora stays stable. Split larger amounts of concentrate into two feeds a day to guard against acidosis. Feed into a trough rather than onto the floor, so it stays clean and nothing is trodden in. Store the bags cool, dry and rodent proof on a pallet, not tight against the wall. Fresh water always belongs with it, because intake drops straight away when water is short.

Frequently asked questions

How much concentrate does a goat need?
That depends on weight, pregnancy and milk yield. Forage covers the basic requirement, concentrate tops it up in small portions spread across the day.

Can goats eat sheep feed?
Yes. Feed for sheep and goats is deliberately kept low in copper and suits both species, which is why both are named on the bag.

Pellets or muesli, which is better?
Pellets are uniform and easy to measure out. Muesli is readily eaten and keeps its structure visible. Both work well alongside forage.