Basic care
Irvine Mesa Charros 4-H Club
Irvine, California
Basic care
Like any other animal, a goat can survive without food for several days, but not without
water. We provide automatic waterers in goat pens, and also leave a
bucket of water. In some areas, of the country, its important to make sure the
water doesn't freeze, but we don't have that problem.
Although many goat owners feel that a twice daily feeding is best, others feed only once a
day and still have perfectly healthy goats. You will have to decide what is practical for
your animal and your schedule. Try to keep both food and water where they cannot be
soiled by the goat.
The basic food we feed is alfalfa hay. An adult dairy goat doe eats about 1/2 flake a day
(about 5 pounds). This is supplemented with a grain mixture that contains 14-16% protein
depending on the additional needs of the goat:
- Dairy doe in milk: 2-3 pounds
- Pygmy doe in milk: 1-2 pounds
- Dry doe: 0-1 pounds
- Pregnant doe: (last 1-2 months) 1-2 pounds
- Wethers: Usually given no grain.
We also provide either a loose mineral mix or a mineral brick. Since
alfalfa hay is high in calcium, we make sure the mineral mix is high
in phosphorous and low in calcium to maintain the proper
calcium-to-phosphorous ratio.
Although this diet works for us, we suggest you consult with a local
goat breeder or veterinarian who is more familiar with the nutritional
needs of your goats and the nutritional value of the feed in your
area.
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