It is so important for any creature who is a soon-to-be-momma to have proper nutrition. Why? Because it’s not just for their bodies, it’s for the bodies of their offspring as well. I cannot begin to explain how many occurrences visible at birth in goat kids can be attributed to poor nutrition of their dam during pregnancy. But feeding pregnant goats can be confusing, scary, and complicated for new goat owners (or those new to kidding)! While nutrition in general is a complicated topic, nutritional requirements of pregnant goats aren’t too daunting, or too different, from the general diet requirements of a goat. If you haven’t yet read my post please do so – as this is the baseline of a pregnant goat’s diet. I’ll sum it up below, nonetheless, so keep reading! If you also have not read my blog post I recommend checking that out as well, because minerals play a huge part in nutrition for pregnant goats!
So, what should ALL goats have? All goats need high quality hay, fresh water, and loose minerals 24/7. Often enough, this is plenty to keep goats happy and healthy. This is your baseline. Now let’s talk about what to do when you find out your goat is pregnant (we will be taking this discussion step-by-step on a timeline to keep things simple!)
Early Pregnancy
My first focus for a goat early on in pregnancy is problem resolution. If your goat is under her desired weight, early pregnancy is the safest time to increase weight. If your goat is over the desired weight, it is a good time to note that and safely resolve it as the pregnancy progresses. Weight aside, mineral deficiencies are usually the biggest problem. Due to how long it can take to resolve certain deficiencies, don’t put off supplementation until the last month of pregnancy like some recommend. That may be a good time to give a booster, but if your goat requires any selenium supplementation at 1 month prior to kidding, you can bet that your goat needed selenium supplementation far before that. Some goats will need supplementation of selenium monthly during pregnancy, some weekly (depending on products), and some won’t need it at all. Given that, I simply cannot tell you a one-size-fits-all answer for what your pregnant goat needs in terms of minerals during pregnancy. Again, start by consulting my blog post on goat minerals (and deficiency identification), and then consult me if you need more help.
For pregnant and lactating goats) to your pregnant goat’s diet: alfalfa. Alfalfa is a high calcium, moderate protein, high vitamin legume forage product. I want you to take a special focus to the mention of high calcium. Calcium is an essential macro-mineral for pregnant and lactating goats (it is essential for all, but extra important for them). Many pregnancy and kidding problems can occur from a diet too low in calcium. Alfalfa is non-negotiable for pregnant and lactating goats.
Mid-Pregnancy
If you have balanced the diet (having mineral levels and quantity of alfalfa all working well with your goats’ body) the long waiting game of pregnancy isn’t too complicated from here until late pregnancy. In fact, I recommend taking this time to get EXTREMELY excited about the bouncy, adorable baby goats soon to hit your farm (and steal your heart)! Keep your momma goat happy and healthy with proper management, and support her in any ways necessary for overall health.
Late Pregnancy
Approximately 1 month before kidding, things begin to change for your doe’s diet. While this is somewhat of a personal choice, you should ponder what feed options you would like to provide for your goat throughout lactation. You do not need to provide grain, your goat may do well on alternative feedstuffs (many owners prefer to be grain-free and rely on legume forages, seeds, and more). For purposes of keeping this post fairly simple, I won’t discuss EVERY option of what to feed, because that’s what my natural goat is for (to find out what is best for you and your individual goats).
2 Parts Whole Oats
1 Part Rolled Barley
1 Part Mixed Field peas
Top with 1-2TBSP Black Oil Sunflower Seeds or 1-2 tsp Flax Seed/Meal
Mix this half and half with alfalfa pellets.
Now, these feeds are intended for lactation, not for pregnancy. Feeding grain during pregnancy isn’t actually the best thing for your goat—it can result in metabolic issues if fed improperly, and affect kid size. Grain should be introduced in small amounts 1 month prior to kidding. Ideally only a cup or so just to get the rumen familiarized with grain again.
1 WEEK PRIOR TO KIDDING:
I include this section because at 1 week prior to kidding, I find it extremely important to increase to acute dosing (at least 2x per day for 7 days) in preparation for kidding. Red raspberry leaves are also a very good herb to add at this time (between 1/2-2tsp dried depending on size of the goat).
Post-Kidding
Once a goat kids, you must work to swiftly but thoughtfully increase the amount of grain and alfalfa fed. I almost always recommend feeding your grain in a 50/50 ratio with alfalfa pellets as a baseline, though sometimes even more alfalfa is needed. Increasing too quickly can result in stomach issues, so make sure to do it over the course of a few days. Some like to follow the rule of 1lb of grain for every 3lb milk produced, or you could follow a general idea of 2 cups alfalfa, 2 cups grain twice daily for dwarf goats (total 1 quart alfalfa and 1 quart grain per day), and twice that for standard goats.
Throughout Lactation
Throughout lactation, the diet should be what was discussed just above—adjustment as needed, sticking with the same diet idea. You should not need to add anything else or remove anything, unless, of course, your goat specifically needs extra weight and you start on a weight-gain program.
Always ensure your baseline diet remains: free choice hay, water, and minerals. Don’t be afraid to adjust and “edit” based on each goat’s needs.
To increase milk production, there is a recipe available in my DIY Herbal Remedies for Goats eBook. “More Milk” is a helpful formula that you can make in your own kitchen using herbs that you grow or source to help support lactation.
Drying Up
Drying up is an important part of feeding, it’s just the absolute opposite thought process of lactation! More feed = more milk… therefore, less feed = less milk! To begin the drying up process (at a time deemed reasonable by your own intuition and the goat’s natural way of lactation) you should begin to reduce grain. Now, if your goat is hypothetically already underweight, this can be difficult and counterintuitive to do. That is why it is so important to keep a goat in good weight during pregnancy and throughout lactation.
A note on metabolic disorders in pregnant or lactating does:
If a goat is fed an improperly balanced diet throughout pregnancy and lactation, metabolic disorders can occur. You may have heard of the illnesses Pregnancy Toxemia, Ketosis, Hypocalcemia, or Milk Fever. There are many names used to describe these issues that can often confuse goat owners, so here is a simplified guide to them! Pregnancy Toxemia & Ketosis are the same problem, the difference is that one occurs during pregnancy (Pregnancy Toxemia) and one occurs after a goat has kidded (Ketosis). Similarly, Hypocalcemia and Milk Fever are the same issue, but usually the term Milk Fever is used if it occurs after a goat has kidded during lactation. Symptoms of either Pregnancy Toxemia/Ketosis or Hypocalcemia/Milk Fever include:
The doe going off feed, becoming lethargic, wobbly, staggering, twitching, going down/inability to stand, and more. Often when dealing with Hypocalcemia, the doe’s temperature will go to a sub-temp, lower than normal. There may also be swelling/edema present in legs or ankles. Legs, especially the back legs, and the udder, may feel cool to the touch. With Ketosis, the doe may have a strong sweet smell on her breath, and ketone strips will alert you to the presence of ketones in the urine. Ketosis/Toxemia is essentially a low glucose-caused illness.
Hypocalcemia/Milk Fever is caused by a lack of calcium, and this is common in very late stages of pregnancy and early lactation. In pregnancy, the doe’s calcium will be used to go to her growing kids. This can result in low calcium for her own body. In lactation, her calcium will go to her milk supply. Preventing this is best done by feeding large quantities of alfalfa for calcium—the amounts of alfalfa listed in this post for feeding should be completely suitable.
Treating both issues if only one occurs can also be a good idea to fully protect your goat metabolically.
As always, please feel free to contact me via email, Facebook Messenger, or Instagram for any emergency assistance or questions. My can also provide you with a complete nutritional analysis for any pregnant or lactating goats and assistance forming short-term and long-term regimens.
Nutrition Throughout Pregnancy for Meat Goat Does
Feeding the meat goat herd is a critical aspect of meat goat production and management. Good nutrition influences the overall health status of the entire herd, as well as the growth performance of kids.
Nutrition is particularly important throughout the breeding season and pregnancy. Goat must eat a balanced diet in order to be healthy and productive.
Proper nutrition starts with the six classes of nutrients. These six classes of nutrients include water, carbohydrates, lipids (fats), protein, vitamins, and minerals. The proper balance of these nutrients can be achieved with a wide range of feed ingredients. A well-balanced diet during pregnancy will help ensure embryo survival and can also lead to healthy and vigorous kids at birth.
Frequently asked Questions……..
Q1: What should I feed pregnant goats?
A balanced diet of high-quality hay, grains, minerals, and clean water. In late pregnancy, increase energy and protein.
Q2: Do pregnant goats need supplements?
Yes. Calcium, phosphorus, selenium, and vitamins A, D, and E are essential.
Q3: How much should a lactating goat eat?
Lactating goats need about 2 to 3 times more energy than non-lactating ones. Offer high-quality forage, grains, and plenty of water.
Q4: Can I feed grain to lactating goats?
Yes, grains provide needed energy. Introduce gradually and balance with roughage to avoid digestive issues.
Q5: Is clean water important?
Absolutely. Lactating goats drink a lot—always provide fresh, clean water.
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