How Much to Feed a Goat: Complete Feeding Guide

Last updated: March 2026 · 5 min read

One of the most common questions new goat owners ask is simply "how much do I feed?" The answer depends on the goat's size, production stage, and what type of forage you have available. This guide provides specific amounts by category so you can build a feeding program that keeps your goats healthy without overfeeding or underfeeding.

The Foundation: Forage First

Goats are ruminants — their digestive system is designed for forage (hay, browse, pasture), not grain. Forage should always be the majority of the diet. Grain is a supplement for does and kids that need extra energy, not a primary feed source.

General rule: A goat needs to eat 3 to 4% of its body weight in dry matter daily. For a 150-lb dairy doe, that is 4.5 to 6 lbs of total feed per day. For a 60-lb Nigerian Dwarf, it is 1.8 to 2.4 lbs per day.

Hay Amounts

Goat Type	Hay per Day	Hay Type
Nigerian Dwarf (dry)	2 to 3 lbs	Grass or grass-alfalfa mix
Nigerian Dwarf (lactating)	3 to 4 lbs	Alfalfa or alfalfa-grass mix
Standard dairy doe (dry)	4 to 6 lbs	Grass or grass-alfalfa mix
Standard dairy doe (lactating)	5 to 7 lbs	Alfalfa or alfalfa-grass mix
Meat goat adult	3 to 5 lbs	Grass hay (alfalfa usually not needed)
Growing kid (weaned)	2 to 3 lbs	Alfalfa-grass mix for protein
Buck (maintenance)	4 to 6 lbs	Grass hay

Most goat farmers offer hay free-choice (always available) and let the goats self-regulate. Goats waste less hay with feeders that prevent them from pulling hay onto the ground and soiling it.

Grain Amounts

Goat Type	Grain per Day	Notes
Dry doe (good BCS)	0 to 0.25 lbs	Little to no grain needed if hay quality is good and BCS is 3.0+
Late pregnancy (last 6 weeks)	0.5 to 1.5 lbs	Increase gradually. More for does carrying multiples.
Lactating doe (standard)	1 lb per 3 lbs milk produced	A doe milking 6 lbs/day gets about 2 lbs grain. Adjust by body condition.
Lactating doe (Nigerian Dwarf)	0.5 to 1 lb	Less total volume due to smaller size. Same ratio principle.
Growing kid	0.5 to 1 lb	Creep feed available from 2 to 3 weeks. Increases at weaning.
Meat goat adult (on pasture)	0 to 0.5 lbs	Good pasture and browse may eliminate grain need entirely.
Buck (maintenance)	0 to 0.5 lbs	Light grain during breeding season when appetite drops. Avoid high grain (urinary calculi risk).

Grain overfeeding is more dangerous than underfeeding. Too much grain causes rumen acidosis, bloat, enterotoxemia (overeating disease), and urinary calculi in males. When in doubt, feed more hay and less grain. A goat in good body condition on quality hay may need no grain at all.

Minerals and Water

Loose goat minerals: Free-choice at all times. Goats self-regulate mineral intake. Use goat-specific minerals (never sheep minerals — they lack copper).
Baking soda: Many farmers offer free-choice to help buffer rumen pH. Optional but cheap insurance.
Water: Fresh, clean water always available. A dry doe drinks 1 to 2 gallons per day. A lactating doe drinks 2 to 4 gallons. In summer, water consumption doubles.
Salt: If your mineral mix does not include salt, offer plain white salt free-choice separately.

Feeding by Season

Spring/Summer (on pasture): Good pasture can replace most or all hay. Transition to pasture gradually over 7 to 10 days to prevent bloat. Lactating does may still need grain supplementation.
Fall: Pasture quality declines. Start supplementing with hay. Flush breeding does with extra grain 2 to 3 weeks before breeding season.
Winter: Hay is the primary feed. Increase amounts by 10 to 20% in cold weather — goats burn more calories staying warm. Ensure water is not frozen.

How to Tell If You Are Feeding Enough

Body condition scoring: Feel the ribs, spine, and loin. BCS 2.5 to 3.5 is ideal for most goats. Below 2.5 means underfed; above 4.0 means overfed.
Hay left over: If goats clean up all hay within hours and stand around with nothing to eat, you are underfeeding hay. Some hay waste is normal and acceptable — it means they have enough.
Consistent weight: Monthly weighing reveals trends before they become visible. A doe slowly losing weight needs more feed even if she looks fine to your eye.
Coat condition: Shiny, smooth coat indicates good nutrition. Rough, dull coat may indicate underfeeding or mineral deficiency.

Test your hay. A hay analysis ($15 to $25 from your county extension office) tells you the exact protein, energy, and mineral content of your hay. This removes guesswork. Hay testing under 8% crude protein needs supplementation. Hay at 12 to 14% protein (good grass hay) or 16 to 20% (alfalfa) may reduce or eliminate your grain needs.

Track weights and body condition

Herd Manager's batch weight tool and body condition scoring help you monitor whether your feeding program is working. Track weight trends and BCS per goat to fine-tune nutrition.

Try Herd Manager Free →