Meat Goat — Feed Requirements Guide
Meat goats, including popular breeds like Boer, Kiko, and Spanish, are efficient browsers that convert brush and marginal forages into high-quality protein. A mature meat goat at 150 lbs consumes approximately 5.25 lbs of dry matter daily, deriving much of their nutrition from browse, weeds, and low-quality forages that cattle and horses would reject. Meat goat production has grown rapidly in the United States due to increasing demand from diverse ethnic markets. Nutritional management of meat goats requires attention to their unique mineral needs, particularly copper supplementation, and their susceptibility to internal parasites which affect nutrient absorption. Rotational grazing and strategic deworming are essential components of profitable meat goat production.
Meat Goat Nutritional Requirements by Life Stage
The table below shows how dry matter intake, protein requirements, and feed costs change across the 4 life stages of meat goat production. Life stage adjustments account for the dramatically different energy and protein demands of lactation, growth, gestation, and maintenance. Click any life stage for a dedicated page with detailed feeding recommendations and management tips.
| Life Stage | DMI Adj. | Daily DMI | Protein % | Daily Protein | Monthly Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | 1x | 5.3 lbs | 10% | 0.5 lbs | $13.42 |
| Lactating Doe | 1.4x | 7.4 lbs | 15% | 1.1 lbs | $18.79 |
| Growing Kid | 1.3x | 6.8 lbs | 16% | 1.1 lbs | $17.45 |
| Breeding Buck | 1.1x | 5.8 lbs | 12% | 0.7 lbs | $14.77 |
*Monthly cost estimated using grass hay at $150/ton. Actual costs vary by feed type and region.
Recommended Feeds for Meat Goat
The following feeds meet both the minimum crude protein and TDN requirements for meat goat at maintenance level (10% protein, 55% TDN) when fed as the sole feed source. In practice, most feeding programs combine multiple feed ingredients to optimize cost and nutritional balance.
| Feed | Protein | TDN | As-Fed/Day | Cost/Ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfalfa Hay | 18% | 58% | 5.8 lbs | $250 |
| Haylage (Baleage) | 14% | 60% | 11.7 lbs | $80 |
| Oats | 12% | 70% | 5.9 lbs | $210 |
| Barley | 13% | 84% | 6.0 lbs | $230 |
| Soybean Meal | 44% | 84% | 5.8 lbs | $450 |
| Cottonseed Meal | 41% | 75% | 5.8 lbs | $380 |
| Distillers Grains (Dried) | 27% | 86% | 5.8 lbs | $200 |
| Wheat Bran | 16% | 67% | 5.9 lbs | $180 |
| Rice Bran | 13% | 65% | 5.8 lbs | $200 |
| Pasture Grass (Fresh) | 12% | 62% | 21.0 lbs | $0 |
| Corn Gluten Feed | 21% | 80% | 6.0 lbs | $200 |
| Canola Meal | 36% | 74% | 5.8 lbs | $350 |
| Layer Pellets | 16% | 70% | 5.8 lbs | $400 |
| Broiler Starter | 22% | 78% | 5.8 lbs | $450 |
| Horse Sweet Feed | 12% | 72% | 6.0 lbs | $350 |
| Brewers Grains (Wet) | 26% | 66% | 21.9 lbs | $60 |
| Alfalfa Hay Cubes | 17% | 56% | 5.8 lbs | $300 |
Feeds Requiring Supplementation
These feeds meet either the protein or TDN requirement but not both, and would need to be combined with other feeds in a balanced ration. The table indicates which nutritional requirement is met and which needs supplementation.
| Feed | Protein | TDN | Protein OK? | TDN OK? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy Hay | 9% | 55% | No | Yes |
| Bermuda Grass Hay | 10% | 52% | Yes | No |
| Corn Silage | 8% | 70% | No | Yes |
| Whole Corn | 9% | 88% | No | Yes |
| Cracked Corn | 9% | 88% | No | Yes |
| Beet Pulp | 9% | 74% | No | Yes |
| Molasses | 5% | 72% | No | Yes |
| Fat Supplement (Bypass Fat) | 0% | 180% | No | Yes |
| Urea (Feed Grade) | 281% | 0% | Yes | No |
Feeding Meat Goat at Different Body Weights
Body weight directly determines dry matter intake. The table below shows how daily feed requirements change across a range of body weights for meat goat at maintenance level. Use the calculator for custom weights, life stages, and herd sizes.
| Body Weight | Daily DMI | Daily Protein | Monthly Feed | Annual Feed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 lbs | 3.2 lbs | 0.3 lbs | 95 lbs | 0.57 tons |
| 120 lbs | 4.2 lbs | 0.4 lbs | 126 lbs | 0.77 tons |
| 150 lbs | 5.3 lbs | 0.5 lbs | 158 lbs | 0.96 tons |
| 180 lbs | 6.3 lbs | 0.6 lbs | 189 lbs | 1.15 tons |
| 225 lbs | 7.9 lbs | 0.8 lbs | 236 lbs | 1.44 tons |
Herd Size Feed Budgets for Meat Goat
Planning feed purchases and storage requires estimating total feed needs for your herd over time. The table below shows monthly and annual feed requirements and costs for various herd sizes of meat goat at maintenance level using grass hay at $150/ton.
| Head Count | Daily DMI Total | Monthly Feed | Annual Feed | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 26.3 lbs | 0.39 tons | 4.79 tons | $816.58 |
| 10 | 52.5 lbs | 0.79 tons | 9.58 tons | $1,633.17 |
| 25 | 131.3 lbs | 1.97 tons | 23.95 tons | $4,082.92 |
| 50 | 262.5 lbs | 3.94 tons | 47.91 tons | $8,165.84 |
| 100 | 525.0 lbs | 7.88 tons | 95.81 tons | $16,331.68 |
| 200 | 1,050.0 lbs | 15.75 tons | 191.63 tons | $32,663.35 |
Other Animals
Browse feed requirement guides for other livestock species.