How Much to Feed a Goat: Complete Feeding Guide
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.
Enter a goat’s weight for its daily dry-matter target — about 3 to 4% of body weight, mostly forage.
Total daily dry matter, forage first. Offer hay free-choice and add grain only for late pregnancy, lactation, or growth. Overfeeding grain is riskier than underfeeding.
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). |
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.
Feed to the scale, not the eye
Herd Manager tracks weight and body condition per goat, so you can see whether your feeding program is actually holding condition.
Track weights free →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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I feed a goat per day?
About 3 to 4% of body weight in dry matter daily, mostly forage. That's roughly 4.5 to 6 lb of feed for a 150-lb standard doe and 1.8 to 2.4 lb for a 60-lb Nigerian Dwarf. Most owners offer hay free-choice and let goats self-regulate.
How much grain should I feed my goat?
As little as the goat's stage allows: 0 to 0.25 lb for a dry doe in good condition, 0.5 to 1.5 lb in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy, about 1 lb per 3 lb of milk for lactating does, and 0 to 0.5 lb for pasture-fed meat goats and bucks. Grain is a supplement, not a primary feed.
Can you overfeed a goat grain?
Yes, and it's more dangerous than underfeeding. Too much grain causes rumen acidosis, bloat, enterotoxemia, and urinary calculi in males. When in doubt, feed more hay and less grain; a goat in good condition on quality hay may need no grain at all.
How much hay does a goat need?
Roughly 2 to 3 lb a day for a Nigerian Dwarf and 4 to 7 lb for a standard dairy doe, more when lactating, offered free-choice. Grass or grass-alfalfa hay suits dry does and meat goats; alfalfa or alfalfa mix suits lactating does and growing kids for the extra protein and calcium.
How do I know if I'm feeding my goat enough?
Body condition scoring is the best check — aim for BCS 2.5 to 3.5, feeling the ribs and spine rather than trusting your eye. Monthly weighing catches slow trends early, and a shiny coat signals good nutrition while a rough one can mean underfeeding or mineral deficiency.
See if your feeding is working
Herd Manager's batch weight tool and body condition scoring show whether your feeding program holds condition, so you can track weight trends and BCS per goat and fine-tune the ration.
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