Goat Feed Calculator — Hay, Grain & Minerals by Weight and Stage

Baseline: 3.5 % of body weight in hay per day for maintenance. A 100-lb dairy goat at maintenance eats about 3.5 lb hay. Lactating does increase to 4.5 % (4.5 lb hay) plus 1 lb grain. Growing kids eat 2–3 % body weight in total feed, heavily supplemented with creep feed. Bucks during breeding season: 3.5–4 % body weight. Always free-choice water + goat minerals.

No. Sheep are copper-sensitive (toxicosis at levels goats require), so sheep minerals are copper-deficient. Goats need 12–18 ppm copper in their diet vs. sheep's 8–10 ppm. Feeding sheep minerals to goats causes chronic copper deficiency: faded coat (red goats turn orange), anemia, infertility, weak kids, and unhealthy hair. Use goat-specific mineral (Sweetlix Meat Maker, Purina Goat Mineral, ADM Alliance) — free-choice, loose (not blocks).

Enterotoxemia (&ldquo;overeating disease&rdquo;) is caused by <em>Clostridium perfringens</em> types C and D. Sudden grain access, lush pasture access, or high-carb feed shifts allow the bacteria to proliferate and release fatal toxins. Prevention: (1) CDT vaccine annually + 4–6 weeks pre-kidding for does, (2) gradual grain introduction over 7–10 days, (3) never exceed 1 lb of grain per meal for adults, (4) provide free-choice baking soda for rumen pH buffering.

Maintenance does and wethers can thrive on quality hay + minerals alone. Grain supplementation is needed for: lactating does, late-pregnant does (last 6 weeks), growing kids, finishing market goats, bucks during breeding, and recovery from illness. Good-quality hay (green, leafy, 14–16 % protein) with free-choice mineral meets basic needs for adult non-producing goats. Test hay to know protein + energy values rather than guessing.

Dairy goats (Alpine, LaMancha, Nubian, Saanen, Nigerian Dwarf): feeding focused on milk production — lactating does get 4.5 % body weight in hay plus 1–2 lb grain/day based on milk yield. Meat goats (Boer, Kiko, Spanish): feeding focused on fast growth and muscle deposition — higher grain during finishing phase, creep feed for kids. Fiber goats (Angora, Cashmere): lower protein but consistent, targeted mineral supplementation for coat quality.

Many US goats benefit from copper oxide wire particle (COWP) boluses 2× yearly — especially in areas with known deficiency or high-molybdenum soils. Standard dose: 1 gram per 22 lb body weight (adult goats). Over-supplementation can cause toxicity in sheep (if farm has both). Always work with your vet — blood/liver copper testing confirms whether supplementation is needed. Free-choice goat mineral alone is sometimes insufficient in deficient regions.