Goat nutrition

Goats are a growing livestock segment. The meat goat industry in Colorado continues to grow as demand for goat meat, primarily for various ethnic markets, continues to outpace domestic production. Goat meat, also known as chevon, has to be imported to meet the growing demand, providing an opportunity for domestic producers to raise a profitable product on limited acreage.
Some products are specifically geared for goats, including:

  • Kid milk replacer – Doe’s Match milk replacer, by Purina Mills’ Land O’ Lakes line, is a 25% protein, 28% fat powder designed to supplement those twins or triplets, or an orphan kids. It is available in an 8# bucket.
  • Goat Power – This ADM Alliance Nutrition commercial ration comes in either meat goat or dairy goat formulas. We carry both formulas in pellet form. The 16% protein rations are available in 50# bags.
  • CCA – WW Feed & Supply makes a corn-cottonseed meal-alfalfa pellet mix that makes a good goat feed. It is 15.5% protein available in 50# bags, ton tote bags or in bulk.
  • Goat mineral – This Purina Mills mineral is geared specifically for goats. It includes copper (which sheep don’t tolerate, but goats need) and zinc for supple skin coat, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin D for strong bone and hoof development, potassium, sodium, sulfur, iron, cobalt, iodine and manganese for overall health, vitamin E and selenium for healthy immune systems and vitamin A for reproductive efficiency. It is available in 25# bags.
  • All-Stock – This Purina Mills sweet feed is labeled for horses, beef cattle, goats and sheep. It is a fortified 12% protein pellet available in 50# bags.

The above products will supplement a goat’s forage efforts. Goats do a good job of cleaning up weeds and brush that other species of livestock rarely utilize, but a balanced diet is needed for optimum health.

Other goat feeds are available by special order. Like all our species lines, WW Feed & Supply has an array of other Purina Mills or ADM Alliance Nutrition feeds available with some advance notice. Just ask!