Feed Summary
- Breeding and Kidding Stage: High-quality forage and Kawmix Healthy Goat 16% or Premier Goat 17% for pregnant does; milk for kids.
- Kid Stage (0-3 Months): Mother’s milk or milk replacer, supplemented with Kawmix Healthy Goat 16% or Premier Goat 17%.
- Weaning Stage (3-6 Months): High-quality forage and Kawmix Body Builder Goat 18%.
- Growing Stage (6-12 Months):
- Meat Goats: Forage and Kawmix Body Builder Goat 18% or Premier Goat 17%.
- Dairy Goats: Forage and Premier Goat 17% or Healthy Goat 16%.
- Adult Stage (1 Year and Beyond):
- Dairy Goats: High-quality forage and Premier Goat 17% or Healthy Goat 16%.
- Meat Goats: High-quality forage and Kawmix Body Builder Goat 18% or Premier Goat 17%.
- Maintenance: Kawvel 13% or Sweet Grain 10.
- Bucks and Wethers: High-quality forage and feeds fortified with ammonium chloride (Kawmix Healthy Goat 16%, Kawmix Body Builder Goat 18%, Premier Goat 17%) to prevent urinary calculi.
Goat husbandry, the art of caring for and managing goats, revolves around feeding, breeding, housing, and health maintenance. Key practices such as providing proper nutrition, managing breeding schedules, and ensuring health through disease prevention and regular veterinary care are essential. Adequate goat husbandry not only optimizes milk, meat, and fiber production but also provides the well-being of the goats and plays a significant role in promoting sustainable farming practices.
Breeding & KIDDING
The lifecycle of a goat begins with breeding and kidding. (female goats, aka nanny goats) are typically bred in the fall, with a gestation period of about 150 days. During pregnancy, women have a balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and sufficient energy to support fetal development. This often includes high-quality forage and Kawmix Healthy Goat 16%, which meets the nutritional needs of pregnant women. Shortly before kidding, the does are freshened (produce milk, aka “in the milk”) for their kids.
Larger goat breeds typically have from 1 to 3 kids. More miniature or dwarf breeds usually have more kids, generally from 2 to 4.
KID: 0-3 MoS
During the kid stage, the young goats rely primarily on their mother’s milk or milk replacer for nutrition. By about 2-3 weeks, they begin to nibble on solid food. They are provided with Kawmix Healthy Goat 16% to support their rapid growth and development. Clean water is always available, and the kids are gradually introduced to grazing on pasture.
Weaning: 3-6 MoS
Around three months, the kids are weaned from their mother and transition to the weaning stage. During this time, their diet consists of high-quality forage and Kawmix Body Builder Goat 18%, which provides high energy for weight gain and development. This feed supports continued growth and development with its higher protein content. The environment is managed to reduce stress during weaning and promote healthy socialization with other young goats.
Growing: 6-12 MoS
The goats’ diet shifts to include more forage and a balanced grower feed.
- Meat Goats: Meat goats are fed Kawmix Body Builder Goat 18% to support muscle growth and weight gain.
- Dairy Goats: Dairy goats may benefit from Premier Goat’s 17% textured feed tailored for show and dairy purposes. Regular exercise and socialization are essential to develop strong muscles and bones during this period.
Adult: 1YR +
Once the goats reach adulthood, their nutritional needs stabilize and differ based on their purpose:
- Dairy Goats: Dairy goats are fed high-quality forage, and Premier Goat 17% textured feed to support milk production. This feed provides protein and nutrients to maintain high milk yield and overall health.
- Meat Goats: Meat goats have high-quality forage and Kawmix Body Builder Goat 18% to maximize muscle growth and weight gain. This feed offers the high energy and protein content needed for meat production.
- Bucks and Wethers: Bucks (male goats) and wethers (castrated male goats) have a higher risk of urinary calculi. To prevent this condition, they are fed feeds fortified with ammonium chloride, such as Kawmix Healthy Goat 16%, Kawmix Body Builder Goat 18%, and Premier Goat 17%. This helps to maintain urinary health and prevent the formation of stones.
For maintenance or less active goats, Kawvel 13% or Sweet Grain 10 (10% protein) can meet their nutritional needs without excessive weight gain. Regular health check-ups, hoof trimming, and vaccinations are essential to maintain overall health.
Importance of Minerals & Salt
It’s crucial to provide goats with loose minerals and salt at all stages of their lives to ensure proper growth, development, and overall health. Goats need more copper than other animals, and deficiency can lead to health issues. To keep goats healthy, it’s essential to provide them with food containing sufficient copper or add copper supplements to their diet. All Kawmix feeds include added vitamins and minerals to ensure balanced nutrition.
