Guidelines to Feeding Dairy Goats
High quality forage can supply the goat with a large portion, if not all, of her energy requirements, even at peak production. Theoretically, it is possible to feed top quality alfalfa hay, plus paasture, and, at high intake levels, need very little supplementation with concentrates.
For most people, however, such hay and/or pasture is not readily available or very expensive at best. With lesser quality hay, such as late-cut grass hay, concentrates will be a necessary part of her diet, and often, depending on how poor the forage quality is, an 18-20% dairy ration needs to be fed, using a high energy formula if available. In this case, more frequent feedings of smaller amounts will lessen the chance of problems, as will allowing goats free access to baking soda.
The amount of grain to be fed depends on production level, with the following rule of thumb: 1 pound for maintenance, plus 1 pound for every two to three pounds of milk (approx. 1/2 kg concentrate feed per liter). Add another pound for growth on yearling milkers. Feeding the coarser hays during late lactation and the dry period will help to maintain rumen tone to prepare her for yet another productive lactation.