Dairy goat farming is a branch of animal husbandry that is gaining importance in the world and in Türkiye. Goat milk is especially valuable for those with cow milk allergies and in cheese production. For high milk yield, the special nutritional needs of goats must be met.
1. Dairy Goat Characteristics
1.1 Milk Yield
| race | Lactation Duration | Milk Yield (L/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Saanen | 270-305 days | 800-1200 |
| alpine | 260-290 days | 700-1000 |
| hair goat | 150-180 days | 150-250 |
| Malta | 200-240 days | 400-600 |
1.2 Feeding Behavior of Goats
- Selective eating behavior (browser)
- Prefers shrubs, leaves and bark
- High protein need
- Copper tolerance is low
- Sensitive to feed changes
2. Lactation Periods
2.1 Early Lactation (0-8 Weeks)
- Peak milk yield: 4-8. week
- highest nutritional needs
- Risk of negative energy balance
- Risk of ketosis
2.2 Mid Lactation (8-20 Weeks)
- Milk yield is stable or slightly decreasing
- Feed consumption maximum
- Body condition recovers
2.3 Late Lactation (20+ Weeks)
- Milk yield decreases
- Pregnancy may begin
- condition storage
3. Nutrient Requirements
3.1 Energy
| Milk Yield (L/day) | ME (Mcal/day) |
|---|---|
| dry period | 2.0-2.5 |
| 2 liters | 3.5-4.0 |
| 4 liters | 5.0-5.5 |
| 6 liters | 6.5-7.0 |
3.2 Protein
- Dry period: 10-12% HP
- Early lactation: 16-18% HP
- Mid-late lactation: 14-16% HP
- Metabolizable protein is important
3.3 Dry Matter Intake
- 3-5% of live weight
- 60 kg goat → 1.8-3.0 kg DM/day
- Increases according to milk yield
4. Ration Preparation
4.1 Roughage
- 40-60% of the ration
- Quality hay (mixed legume)
- corn silage
- Bush and leaves (if possible)
4.2 Concentrated Feed
| Milk Yield | Concentrate (kg/day) |
|---|---|
| 2L/day | 0.5-0.7 |
| 4L/day | 1.0-1.3 |
| 6L/day | 1.5-1.8 |
4.3 Concentrated Feed Composition
| raw material | Rate (%) |
|---|---|
| barley | 35-40 |
| Egypt | 20-25 |
| soybean meal | 15-20 |
| sunflower meal | 10-15 |
| dandruff | 10-15 |
| mineral-vitamin | 2-3 |
5. Minerals and Vitamins
5.1 Critical Minerals
| mineral | need | Attention |
|---|---|---|
| calcium | %0.6-0.8 | critical for milk |
| phosphorus | %0.35-0.45 | Ca:P ratio 1.5-2:1 |
| magnesium | %0.25-0.30 | Tetany prevention |
| selenium | 0.2-0.3ppm | immunity |
| copper | 10-15 ppm | Different from sheep! |
⚠️ Copper Warning: Goats need more copper than sheep. Sheep mineral may cause copper deficiency in goats. Use mineral formulated for goats!
5.2 Vitamins
- Vitamin A: 8,000-10,000 IU/day
- Vitamin D: 1,500-2,000 IU/day
- Vitamin E: 100-200 IU/day
6. Water Management
6.1 Water Need
- Dry period: 4-6 L/day
- Lactation: 8-15 L/day (depending on milk yield)
- 1.5-2 L additional water for every 1 L of milk
6.2 Water Quality
- Clean, fresh water
- Unlimited access
- non-freezing in winter
7. Special Situations
7.1 Ketosis
- Risk in early lactation
- High in goats with twin/triplet kids
- Symptoms: Loss of appetite, acetone odor
- Prevention: Adequate energy, propylene glycol
7.2 Milk Fever
- Postpartum hypocalcemia
- Risk in high-yielding goats
- Prevention: Calcium management during the dry period
7.3 Acidosis
- Avoid overly concentrated feed
- Gradual ration change
- Sufficient roughage
8. Pasture Management
8.1 Pasture Advantages
- low cost
- natural behavior
- Vitamin D synthesis
- exercise
8.2 Pasture Disadvantages
- Variable nutritional content
- Risk of interference
- Poisonous plant risk
- May not be sufficient for high efficiency
8.3 Supplementary Feeding
- Concentrated supplement if pasture is inadequate
- Highly productive goats must have
- Returning to the barn in the evening
9. Milk Quality and Nutrition
9.1 Factors Affecting Milk Composition
- Fat: Roughage ratio, fiber quality
- Protein: Diet protein level
- Lactose: energy intake
9.2 Increasing Milk Fat
- Adequate roughage (40%+)
- effective fiber
- tampon use
10. Practical Suggestions
✅ Dairy Goat Feeding Checklist
- ☐ Quality roughage provided
- ☐ Concentrate adjusted according to milk yield
- ☐ Goat mineral is used (not sheep!)
- ☐ Unlimited access to clean water
- ☐ Body condition is monitored
- ☐ Milk yield is recorded
Conclusion
Success in dairy goat farming depends on meeting the special nutritional needs of goats.
Basic principles:
- Adjust energy and protein according to milk yield
- Provide quality forage
- Use mineral formulated for goats
- Provide plenty of clean water
- Watch out for metabolic diseases
- Track body condition
Bibliography
NRC. (2007). Nutrient Requirements of Small Ruminants. National Academies Press.
Morand-Fehr, P., & Sauvant, D. (1980). Composition and yield of goat milk as affected by nutritional manipulation. Journal of Dairy Science, 63(10), 1671-1680.