NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF GOATS
1: What are the unique nutritional needs of goats?
2: What should I feed my kids?
3: What are urinary calculi and how does it affect my goat?
5: What is Thiamine deficiency?
9: Why does my goat get diarrhea?
10: What can I do about internal parasites?
Q:
What are the unique nutritional needs of goats?
A:
Like the cow, goats have a four-compartment stomach: rumen (which is 80% of the
total stomach area), reticulum, omasum and abomasum. However goats have unique
dietary needs that require specially formulated diets. Feeding diets designed
for other species can create nutritional imbalances that can lead to poor health
or even be deadly to your goats.
DIGESTIVE
TRACT
The goat’s rumen is smaller in proportion to their body size than the rumen of
other ruminants such as cattle and sheep which causes feed to pass through their
digestive tract more quickly. As a result goats must eat more
nutrient dense diets, more often than cattle or sheep.
Goats are intermediate feeders that browse like deer and graze like cattle,
sheep and horses. Goats prefer to browse over grazing and select the leafy
portion of plants and brush it most prefers.
Goats are able to sort feed because of their narrower mouths and unique mouth
parts. When fed a coarse grain mix, they may sort through and eat the parts they
prefer. This can cause a reduction in nutrients and subsequent loss in
production and performance.
When given a choice between a pelleted feed and coarse grain ration, goats
usually prefer the grain. However when a pelleted ration is the only source of
feed available, it is readily eaten.
Pelleted feeds provide several advantages. Goats get all the nutrition they need
in every bite because they are no longer able to sort out ingredients they
prefer to eat. As a result, less feed is wasted, which makes pellets an
economical choice. Pelleted rations are available as complete diets that contain
roughage and as supplemental feeds that require additional roughage sources.
Both types give you confidence and peace of mind, knowing your goats are getting
optimum nutrition during every stage of growth and production.
SPECIAL
DIETARY NEEDS
Urea:
Urea is an economical non-protein form of nitrogen found in many beef
cattle and dairy cow diets. It is converted to protein by microbes in the
rumen. However this process also produces ammonia which is not as easy for goats
to excrete as other species. Too much urea in the diet can cause ammonia to
build to toxic levels that result in death. PURINA goat diets DO NOT contain
urea as a source of protein.
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Q:
What should I feed my kids?
A:
During the first three days of life, newborn kids must receive colostrum...the
first milk produced by the doe after birth. It is very rich in nutrients and
protective antibodies. After this critical time of colostrum feeding, kids
can be fed kid goat milk replacer, however milk replacer is NOT a replacement
for colostrum.
KID
MILK REPLACER contains all of the necessary milk proteins balanced with
vegetable oils, sugar, vitamins and minerals to produce optimum growth and
healthy kids.
Bottle
Feeding? To bottle feed you’ll need milk replacer, water, bottles and nipples.
Package directions should be strictly followed when preparing milk replacer to
avoid diarrhea or malnourishment. Feed milk replacer at room temperature. Be
sure to properly clean and disinfect bottles and nipples to prevent bacterial
growth from milk residue which can lead to diarrhea.
Kids
usually take to the bottle just like the babies they are. If your kid is
lethargic, sickly or not sucking, pry its mouth open and work the nipple in. You
may need to practice a little before your kid gets the hang of it. Hold your
kid’s head higher than its shoulders during feeding so that milk flows
directly into its stomach and not its lungs. Milk consumption should gradually
be reduced at weaning to prevent digestive disturbances.
GOAT
CHOW rations are formulated specifically for the unique nutritional needs of
goats at all life stages and contain the proper nutrients to help your kids grow
up strong and healthy. Goat feeds are available as supplemental feeds designed
to be fed in combination with a forage diet, or as complete feeds that supply
total nutrition in each bite.
GOAT
CHOW can be fed as a creep feed by allowing the nursing kid access to Goat Chow.
As the kid matures they will consume small quantities of Purina Goat Chow, which
will help develop a properly functioning rumen. This will help the weaning
process.
Q:
What are urinary calculi and how does it affect my goat?
A:
Urolithiasis, commonly referred to as urinary calculi or "water belly"
occurs when stones form in the urinary tract and block the urethra, preventing
urination. Formation of urinary calculi is more prominent in male goats because
of the anatomy of the male urinary tract, making it susceptible to blockage.
Certain individual goats, wethers, immature bucks and some smaller breeds are at
a higher risk of blockage. Genetics, diseases and nutritional imbalances may be
contributing factors. Poor water intake can also result in concentrated urine
which can increase the risk of urinary calculi, especially in winter months and
hot weather.
SYMPTOMS
Restlessness,
frequent attempts to urinate with no success, a decrease in feed intake and
kicking at the abdomen are all signs of urinary calculi. The abdomen may swell
if the bladder ruptures and goats may appear to temporarily improve...however
urine flowing into nearby tissue usually results in death. If these symptoms
occur, contact your veterinarian immediately. Death could occur if left
untreated.
DIET
MANAGEMENT
The
best cure for urinary calculi is prevention. Feeding a balanced diet with the
correct calcium to phosphorus ratio, plenty of clean, fresh water to keep urine
diluted and regular exercise should keep your goats healthy and happy.
Increase water intake by offering free choice salt to help dilute the urine.
Urinary acidifiers such as ammonium chloride can be added to goat diets to help
reduce urinary calculi formation.
Nutritionally complete feeds, including PURINA SHOW GOAT RATION and all PURINA
MEAT GOAT feeds contain urinary acidifiers and properly balanced calcium to
phosphorus ratios.
Q:
What is Thiamine deficiency?
Goats with a properly functioning rumen do not require a dietary thiamine
supplement.
CAUSES
Frequently seen in goats kept under more intensive management conditions, it
most often occurs in 2 to 3-year-olds. Because immature kids do not have a
functioning rumen, they are susceptible if they are not fed a thiamine enriched
product such as Purina Kid Milk Replacer. Other possible causes include deworming
with anthelmintics, eating some types of ferns, and overdoses of some
anticoccidial medications.
SYMPTOMS
First signs include depression, anorexia and/or diarrhea which may appear
suddenly or over a period of several days. Other signs include head elevation
while standing, excitability, drowsiness, circling, muscular tremors and
apparent loss of vision which causes goats to walk in circles. If symptoms
occur, contact your veterinarian immediately. Rigidity and convulsions occur in
later stages of the disease.
TREATMENT
/ PREVENTION
Adding thiamine to the diet is not a treatment for this condition. Because
thiamine is destroyed in the rumen, it is not available to the goat. Therefore,
if your goat shows any signs of thiamine deficiency, call your veterinarian
immediately. Left untreated, goats will die within 24-72 ours of disease onset.
Treatment may consist of thiamine therapy in combination with a lower energy
diet and more good quality forage. Animals severely affected by the disease for
more than 24 hours usually don’t respond to treatment.
As usual, the best cure for thiamine deficiency is prevention. Always feed your
goats sufficient fiber, proper fiber to starch ratio -- especially with
concentrated feeds intended to stimulate rapid growth and increased production.
Changes in diet should be made slowly, usually over 7-10 days, to give the rumen
microbes time to adjust.
Q:
What is bloat?
CAUSES
Bloat
can be caused by an obstruction in the esophagus by a solid object that prevents
the release of gas produced in the rumen during normal fermentation. More
commonly though, bloat occurs when the gas produced by fermentation is greater
than the gas expelled through the mouth. This often happens when goats eat
different plants in different pastures; graze in damp, lush, legume pastures
with forage like alfalfa; eat a large quantity of feed at once; or eat too
quickly.
SYMPTOMS
The most obvious sign is swelling on the left side of the animal. Goats will
quit eating, become restless and sometimes salivate excessively. Goats in pain
will gnash their teeth and kick their legs out. Breathing may become difficult
since the rumen presses on the lungs and eventual respiratory failure can
follow.
TREATMENT
/ PREVENTION
Bloat
caused by an obstruction in the esophagus can sometimes be corrected by
massaging the foreign object towards the stomach. For other, more complex
factors, a defoaming treatment can be given by drenching with vegetable or
mineral oil. Contact your veterinarian for proper treatment.
Bloat
can be controlled with good management practices. Care should be given to
prevent goats from eating too much lush, green pasture, especially legume
pasture such as clover and alfalfa, in a short time.
Although
alfalfa is a highly palatable roughage and an excellent source of protein and
calcium, a little goes a long way. Goats should not have unlimited access to a
very palatable feed when hungry. Any change in diet should be made gradually
over 7-10 days.
Purina Mills research has shown the potential risk of bloat can be reduced by
feeding smaller amounts of feed more frequently during the day. The risk for
bloat increases significantly when goats are hungry and are allowed to eat large
amounts of good quality feed at one time.
In the event goats are extremely hungry, Purina Mills’ researchers suggest
first feeding a poor quality grass hay to reduce appetite before providing small
amounts of good quality feed or pasture.
Q:
What is ketosis?
CAUSES
High
producing milk goats that cannot eat enough feed to meet the high energy
requirements for production. This often happens immediately after birth when
there is a rapid rise in milk production.
SYMPTOMS
Goats
may decrease feed intake and milk production. They may become lethargic with
dull, rough coats. A sweet odor can be detected on their breath, in the urine
and in the milk that indicates ketones are being released. If left untreated,
this condition can be fatal.
TREATMENT
/ PREVENTION
If you suspect ketosis, call your vet immediately. Treatment is usually
successful. To meet the energy demands of milk production after birth, be sure
your does are fed a high quality diet. Slowly increasing the daily amount of
feed before kidding helps insure your does have sufficient energy levels to meet
lactation demands when the kids are born. Energy demands will continue to be
high as long as does are producing milk. Always feed lactating goats according
to production for the duration of lactation.
Research has shown low quality diets tend to increase the incidence of ketosis
because the energy levels in the diet are not sufficient to meet the energy
needs of the lactating doe.
A:
Pregnancy toxemia is a form of ketosis that occurs late in pregnancy when your
goat is deficient in energy due to a higher energy demand over what is being
consumed. Body fat is broken down for use as energy and toxic ketones are
released.
CAUSES
Pregnancy
toxemia is caused by the increased nutritional stress of developing kid(s)
during late pregnancy. Overfed does and those carrying twins or triplets are
more susceptible to this very serious condition, which can be fatal. In
addition, the rapidly expanding uterus of a goat in late pregnancy takes up more
space which limits feed intake.
SYMPTOMS
Pay particular attention and quickly identify does that are listless, have
reduced feed intake, apparent blindness or appear to be in a coma.
TREATMENT/PREVENTION
Unfortunately
by the time symptoms of pregnancy toxemia are detected it is often too late to
save the animal. Prevention is the best course of action and is easily achieved
through proper feed management. Since overweight goats are more prone to
developing this problem, limit feed in early pregnancy to prevent your does from
becoming fat. Increase feed during late pregnancy to insure sufficient energy is
available for the developing fetuses.
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A:
Milk fever is a noninfectious disease that occurs at or soon after kidding. It
is brought on by lactation after birth.
CAUSES
The
sudden increase in calcium necessary for milk production after birth can
drastically decrease calcium levels in a doe. The goat may fail to mobilize
stored calcium reserves in her bones during pregnancy, especially if a diet high
in calcium is fed prior to birth.
SYMPTOMS
During the onset of the disease, your goat may appear unsteady and weak as she
walks. As milk fever progresses, she may lie down, which can advance to a coma
and death.
TREATMENT
/ PREVENTION
If
you notice any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Treatment involves administration of calcium. However you CAN take preventative
measures to lower the incidence of milk fever.
Avoid
diets high in calcium during late pregnancy and avoid the use of alfalfa as the
only forage source during the dry period. Does usually have a good supply of
calcium stored in their bones that can be used when needed. However when a diet
high in calcium is fed, the doe may fail to use the stored calcium since it is
already abundant in her diet. Then, when milk production begins, her calcium
requirement dramatically increases. Since her body has not used the calcium
stores from her bones, her blood calcium level plunges below normal, resulting
in milk proper mineral
balance such as Goat Chow helps reduce milk fever.
Q:
Why does my goat get diarrhea?
A:
Diarrhea can be a symptom of several underlying problems including stress,
disease, internal parasites and diet mismanagement.
CAUSES
Believe it or not, goats are very sensitive to sudden changes in diet. Rations
containing a high level of grain and/or insufficient levels of fiber can also
cause diarrhea, along with feed that has become spoiled or moldy. In addition,
supplemental feeding too much corn or oats without the proper balance of fiber
can lead to diarrhea. In some cases diarrhea can be a sign of disease. For
example, diarrhea is a primary symptom of thiamine deficiency. Internal parasite
infestation can also lead to diarrhea and result in weight loss.
SYMPTOMS
You
know it when you see it -- unusually soft or watery, foul smelling feces.
TREATMENT
/ PREVENTION
Any changes in diet should take place gradually over 7-10 days to give the
population of microbes in the rumen time to adjust to the new feed without
causing digestive problems. Water should always be available since persistent
diarrhea can lead to dehydration. Persistent diarrhea in young kids may lead to
death if left untreated. If symptoms do not improve, consult with your
veterinarian.
If
internal parasites are suspected, a fecal sample can be examined by your vet who
can properly treat the infestation. If diarrhea is tinged with blood or if your
goat has a fever, contact your vet immediately.
Basic good feeding management will help prevent diarrhea. Purina Mills’
scientists recommend a good quality, balanced ration such as Purina Goat Chow.
Q:
What can I do about internal parasites?
A:
Parasitism is one of the primary causes of death in goats, especially in young
animals under six months of age. Treatment depends on the type of infestation.
CAUSES
A common protozoan disease called coccidiosis infects the intestinal tract
causing severe weakness, decreased feed intake and diarrhea which is frequently
blood tinged. Typically a problem in young kids, it is potentially fatal.
The
eggs of internal parasites are passed in the feces of infected goats and develop
into infectious larvae which are ingested by other goats where they mature and
reproduce. The cycle then repeats. Undernourished goats are particularly
susceptible.
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms
of internal parasites can include weight loss, dull or rough coat, anemia,
decreased milk production, diarrhea, lethargy, and poor feed intake.
TREATMENT /
PREVENTION
A veterinarian can diagnose the presence of internal parasites by examining
feces. If internal parasites are present, goats are usually dewormed and then
put in safe, parasite-free pastures to avoid reinfection.
Treatment
and control of internal parasites cannot be achieved by drugs alone. Good
management practices, and proper sanitation and feed management can minimize
parasite ingestion. All food and water should be kept clean and away from feces.
Adults and kids should graze in different pastures and goats should be put on
routine worming schedules.
Kids
are usually wormed at 3-4 weeks and again at three months of age and should be
kept in well-lighted, clean dry pens since sunlight is known to be one of the
most effective coccidiostats. Goats should be dewormed at breeding and 2-3 weeks
prior to kidding. Any new goats should be dewormed and separated from other
goats for at least a week.
Treatment
of coccidiosis includes medicated feed or medicated drinking water -- which
is usually successful. Prevention requires the use of medicated feeds containing
a coccidiostat such as Decoquinateä .