06/04/2026
What you feed your goats is a person decision and at the end of the day, you’ll find what works for your routine and your goats. For us, through trial and error, we learned that this combination of feed makes our goats absolutely THRIVE. It’s not dependent on grain, so their rumens stay healthy and balanced. It’s full of fiber and forage and is a safer way to give them calories without loading them up in grain. Not every goat can maintain a healthy weight on pasture or hay alone, especially if they are pregnant or in milk. This is also great for bucks, because bucks need to be well conditioned as well! Sometimes when they go into rut, they stop eating, and being conditioned well before hand ensures they stay at a good weight during those stressful seasons. This is what we do and what works for us!
For the question “HOW MUCH DO I GIVE?”
I don’t like giving one exact amount per goat because it depends so much on their size, age, body condition, pregnancy/lactation status, milk production, parasite load, and how much hay or pasture they’re actually eating. Always offer plenty of high quality hay or pasture first.
A good starting point is roughly a 3:1 to 4:1 ratio of hay pellets to dry beet pulp. For example, 3 scoops alfalfa or Timothy pellets to 1 scoop dry beet pulp, then soak it well (you don’t HAVE to soak it, but goats can and do choke, so I always soak it. I also do it for the added hydration benefits).
For an average adult goat, that might look like about ½–1 lb of hay pellets plus ¼–⅓ lb dry beet pulp per day for maintenance, more for thin goats, late pregnancy, or milkers. Grain is separate and I add that based on need. Growing kids, does in milk, late pregnancy, bucks who are in rut, or goats that need more calories. Start low, make changes slowly, and adjust based on body condition and need. Always make any diet changes with goats slowly and gradually as to not upset or throw off their rumen!
Standlee
