The Best Diet For Goats
Goats are mammals destined mainly for the production of milk and its derivatives. Feeding the goats is the most important step to obtain quality products, adapted for human consumption.
Goat farming dates back centuries and is applied in various parts of the world. Today there are many dairy products derived from them, such as cheese, yogurts, lighter and healthier milks, among others.
In the face of society’s trend to create healthier and more organic products, goat’s milk has become very popular. The difference between cow’s milk and goat’s milk is that the latter is easier to digest ; in addition, it is tolerated by people allergic to cow’s milk.
Goat farming
Goats are animals belonging to the goat family, considered ruminants because they have four stomachs. In other words, their food goes through various fermentation processes before becoming waste. In their natural habitat, they tend to graze and eat cereal seeds such as corn, and their diet also includes fruits from trees or shrubs.
These animals usually live in mountainous areas, where part of their routine consists of long walks to graze. Furthermore, they are independent and lonely ; One of their main qualities is that they have a good memory when following the way back.
Goats are mammals with a fibrous texture, hence their meat is not as much in demand as that of other goats. However, they are one of the largest milk producers of their kind: they have the capacity to produce three times their weight in milk.
Food for goats
The best diet for goats is one that balances the nutrients necessary for their integral development. This implies the coverage of their main needs such as body, digestive and respiratory function; in the same way, they obtain solutions to the needs to reach the desired production levels.
The way of feeding for goats varies according to their breeding, that is, if they are animals for meat or dairy. In both cases, the food base is the same: grass, hay and fruits. However, dairy goats also need a dose of cereal.
Commercial feeds reinforce that dose of cereals that dairy goats need. They mostly contain grains and trace elements that stimulate milk production. Wheat, soy flour and oats are also complementary foods to benefit the growth of the animal.
Correct ways of eating
Although goats are used to grazing, when it comes to young it is important to watch the food they eat. There are cases of intoxication, due to the fact that they consume foods that are harmful to their organism; this is the case of poisonous shrubs, tomato leaves and ornamental plants.
The introduction of complementary foods to the diet of a goat should be gradual and measured. It must be remembered that an excess of cereals can cause digestive and growth problems; therefore, you have to control the amount they eat daily.
Water and hay should be the basis of diet for goats, especially in the case of pregnant goats, who also receive two to five cups of grain daily. Kids can eat one to two cups of grains daily, up to 14 months.
Recommendations for raising goats
Goat farming is one of the most common activities within livestock, since they do not require greater demands than space, care and food. It is always important to monitor their behavior, since in their eagerness to get food they can devastate the vegetation.
- Controlled space. It is important that your space is well defined and reinforced. Goats are capable of jumping great heights, as well as climbing and climbing.
- A warm environment. The goat bed should be ventilated and have enough straw to provide warmth and comfort; the degree of humidity must also be adequate.
- Be careful with the food. The food must be separated from the soil, to avoid the invasion of insects. In addition, it is important to have several containers of water in different parts of the establishment.
- Specialized care. Like other farm animals, the goat requires checkups, vaccinations, and deworming.
