Complete goat feed & nutrition guide covering feed types, green fodder, dry fodder, age-wise feeding chart, mineral supplements, and low-cost goat feed formula to maximize profit in goat farming.
Goat farming fails or succeeds on one core lever: feed management. Genetics matter. Housing matters. Health care matters. But feed and nutrition decide profitability.
Most goat farmers don’t lose money because goats are unproductive. They lose money because of poor feed planning, wrong feed ratios, and unnecessary feed costs.
This guide cuts through theory and delivers field-tested feeding logic. Whether you are running a backyard unit or a commercial goat farm, this is your profit driver playbook.
Why Goat Feed & Nutrition Is the Real Profit Engine
Feed accounts for 60–70% of total goat farming cost. Every small mistake in feeding multiplies into losses over time.
Smart feeding achieves three outcomes:
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Faster weight gain
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Better reproduction and kidding rate
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Lower mortality and disease incidence
Bad feeding does the opposite.
The objective is simple:
Maximum growth at minimum cost without compromising health.
Goat Feed Types Explained
Goats are natural browsers. They are not cows. Treating goats like cattle is the first mistake new farmers make.
Goat feed can be divided into three core categories:
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Green fodder
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Dry fodder
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Concentrate feed
Each category has a defined role in digestion, growth, and cost control.
Green Fodder for Goats
Green fodder is the foundation of economical goat feeding. It provides bulk, fiber, moisture, vitamins, and keeps the rumen healthy.
Benefits of Green Fodder
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Improves digestion and rumen activity
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Reduces concentrate dependency
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Lowers total feed cost
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Improves milk yield and body condition
Best Green Fodder Crops for Goats
Leguminous Fodder (High Protein)
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Lucerne (alfalfa)
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Berseem
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Cowpea
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Stylo
Non-Leguminous Fodder (Energy + Bulk)
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Napier grass
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Guinea grass
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Maize fodder
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Sorghum (jowar)
Tree Leaves and Browsing Material
Goats thrive on leaves more than grass.
Highly preferred leaves:
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Subabul
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Neem (limited quantity)
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Peepal
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Banyan
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Drumstick (Moringa)
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Gliricidia
Tree leaves increase protein intake without raising feed costs.
Quantity Recommendation
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Adult goat: 3–5 kg green fodder/day
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Pregnant and lactating goats: 4–6 kg/day
Fresh, chopped fodder improves intake and reduces wastage.
Dry Fodder & Concentrate Feed
Green fodder alone is not enough, especially for growth, pregnancy, and fattening.
This is where dry fodder and concentrates come in.
Dry Fodder for Goats
Dry fodder provides roughage and maintains rumen health when green fodder is limited.
Common dry fodders:
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Dry jowar straw
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Wheat straw
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Paddy straw (treated preferred)
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Groundnut haulms
Dry fodder should never be moldy or dusty.
Quantity
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Adult goat: 0.5–1 kg/day
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Kids: small quantities after 2 months
Dry fodder is not for nutrition. It is for digestion balance.
Concentrate Feed for Goats
Concentrates are growth accelerators. They are expensive, so misuse destroys profit.
Why Concentrates Are Needed
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Faster weight gain
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Better conception rate
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Higher milk production
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Stronger immunity
Common Concentrate Ingredients
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Maize or broken maize
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Barley
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Wheat bran
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Rice bran
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Oil cakes (groundnut, mustard, soybean)
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Pulse chuni
Protein Requirement
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Kids (3–6 months): 16–18% CP
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Growers: 14–16% CP
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Pregnant does: 16% CP
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Lactating does: 18% CP
Quantity
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Adult goat: 200–400 g/day
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Lactating goat: up to 500 g/day
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Fattening goat: 400–600 g/day
Overfeeding concentrates causes acidosis, bloating, and abortions.
Goat Feeding Chart (Age-Wise)
Age-wise feeding is non-negotiable. One feed plan does not fit all.
Newborn Kids (0–3 Days)
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Colostrum only
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3–4 feeds/day
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No water, no solid feed
Kids (4 Days – 2 Months)
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Mother’s milk or milk replacer
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Start creep feed after 15 days
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Soft green leaves in small quantity
Growing Kids (2–6 Months)
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Green fodder: 1–2 kg/day
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Concentrate: 100–200 g/day
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Dry fodder: limited
Growers (6–12 Months)
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Green fodder: 2–3 kg/day
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Concentrate: 200–300 g/day
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Mineral mixture mandatory
Pregnant Does
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Early pregnancy: normal ration
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Last 6 weeks: +30–40% nutrition
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Avoid sudden diet change
Lactating Does
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Green fodder: 4–6 kg/day
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Concentrate: 400–500 g/day
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Extra minerals and clean water
Breeding Bucks
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High-quality green fodder
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300–400 g concentrate/day
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Avoid obesity
Mineral Mixture & Supplements
Mineral deficiency is the silent killer of profits.
Symptoms farmers ignore:
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Delayed heat
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Weak kids
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Low milk yield
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Poor weight gain
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Repeated abortions
Essential Minerals for Goats
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Calcium
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Phosphorus
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Copper
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Zinc
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Cobalt
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Selenium
Mineral Mixture Dosage
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Adult goat: 10–15 g/day
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Pregnant/lactating: 20 g/day
Always use species-specific goat mineral mixture.
Salt and Water: The Forgotten Inputs
Salt stimulates appetite and digestion.
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Provide salt lick or 5–10 g/day
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Clean water must be available 24×7
Water intake directly affects feed intake and milk yield.
Low-Cost Goat Feed Formula (Farmer-Friendly)
Commercial feed eats margin. Smart farmers formulate their own feed.
Sample Low-Cost Concentrate Formula (16% CP)
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Maize or broken rice: 35%
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Wheat bran: 30%
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Groundnut cake: 20%
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Pulse chuni: 10%
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Mineral mixture: 2%
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Salt: 1%
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Limestone powder: 2%
This formula balances cost, protein, and digestibility.
Cost Advantage
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20–30% cheaper than branded feed
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Full control over ingredients
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Better adaptability to local resources
Feeding Management Best Practices
Profit is not only about what you feed, but how you feed.
Key practices:
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Fixed feeding time daily
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Chopped fodder reduces wastage
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Separate feeding for kids, does, and bucks
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Gradual diet transition
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Remove leftover feed daily
Common Feeding Mistakes That Kill Profit
Avoid these at all costs:
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Excess concentrate feeding
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Ignoring minerals
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Sudden feed changes
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Feeding moldy fodder
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No age-wise segregation
One wrong feeding decision can wipe out months of gains.
Final Take: Feed Smart, Earn More
Goat farming is not luck-based. It is nutrition-driven economics.
Farmers who master feed planning:
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Reduce feed cost per kg weight gain
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Improve kidding rate
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Scale faster with predictable output
If you want consistent profit, stop guessing and start feeding with intent.
Feed is not an expense.
Feed is an investment with measurable returns.
