What to Feed Goats in Canada: A Complete Guide to Hay, Grain & Minerals

What should you feed goats to keep them in good condition throughout the year?

For Canadian goat owners, the answer isn't simply “hay and grain.” A good feeding program needs to consider forage, energy, protein, minerals, clean water and the goat's age and production stage.

A growing kid has different nutritional needs from an adult maintenance goat, and a lactating dairy doe can require a different feeding program again.

Seasonal changes and forage quality can also affect what a goat needs.

This guide explains the basics of feeding goats in Canada, including hay, grain, prepared goat feed and mineral supplementation.

What Do Goats Eat?

Goats are ruminants. Their digestive system is designed to make use of fibrous plant material through microbial fermentation in the rumen.

A practical goat-feeding program may include:

• Pasture or browse

• Good-quality hay or other suitable forage

• Prepared goat feed when required

• Grain as part of an appropriately balanced ration

• Goat-specific minerals or premix

• Salt where appropriate

• Continuous access to clean, fresh water

  
  

The exact combination depends on the goat.

Age, body weight, body condition, pregnancy, lactation, growth, forage quality and production goals can all change nutritional requirements.

There is therefore no single ration that is ideal for every goat.

Hay: The Foundation of a Goat Feeding Program

Good-quality forage is an important part of feeding goats.

When pasture or browse isn't available in sufficient quantity or quality, hay can provide the fibre required as part of the diet.

Canadian goat owners commonly encounter several types of hay.

Grass Hay

Good-quality grass hay can be useful for many maintenance feeding programs.

The nutritional value varies considerably depending on:

• Grass species

• Stage of maturity when harvested

• Growing conditions

• Harvest conditions

• Storage

• Moisture

• Leaf content

  
  

A green-looking bale isn't automatically nutritionally ideal, so forage testing can be valuable when feeding larger herds or animals with higher nutritional demands.

Alfalfa Hay

Alfalfa is a legume forage and can provide more protein and calcium than many mature grass hays.

That doesn't mean every goat needs unlimited alfalfa.

Whether alfalfa is appropriate, and how much should be included, depends on the rest of the ration and the goat's nutritional requirements.

Mixed Hay

Grass-legume mixtures can provide another useful forage option.

Again, quality matters more than simply the name of the hay.

Two bales both described as “mixed hay” can have significantly different nutritional value.

What Does Good Goat Hay Look Like?

Before feeding hay, inspect it carefully.

Good-quality hay should generally be:

• Clean

• Properly dried and stored

• Free from visible mould

• Free from excessive dust

• Free from obvious contamination

• Appropriate for the animals being fed

  
  

Avoid feeding hay that is mouldy, musty, excessively dusty, wet or spoiled.

Poor storage can turn originally good hay into unsuitable feed.

Keep hay protected from rain, ground moisture and contamination during storage.

Do Goats Need Grain?

Not every goat needs the same amount of concentrate or grain.

A mature goat with relatively low nutritional requirements and access to excellent forage may have very different needs from a lactating dairy doe producing significant quantities of milk.

Grain and prepared concentrates are generally used when forage alone does not appropriately meet the animal's requirements.

They can supply concentrated sources of:

• Energy

• Protein

• Vitamins

• Minerals

  
  

However, feeding more grain is not automatically better.

Goats are ruminants, and major concentrate changes or excessive grain intake can disrupt normal rumen function.

Changes to concentrate feeding should therefore be made carefully and gradually.

Grain vs Complete Goat Feed: What's the Difference?

This distinction is important.

General Grain

Corn, oats, barley and other grains primarily contribute energy and other nutrients, but an individual grain is not automatically a nutritionally balanced goat ration.

Prepared Goat Feed

A commercially prepared goat ration is formulated for a particular feeding purpose and contains a specified combination of nutrients.

For example, Chatham Farm Feed & Supplies carries Masterfeeds GoalMaker 16% Textured Goat Feed, formulated for milking does and designed to be fed alongside suitable forage.

It contains a minimum of 16% crude protein and includes flaked corn, molasses, vitamins and minerals.

The right option depends on your goats, forage and production goals.

Feeding Young Goats and Goat Kids

Young goats have different nutritional requirements from mature animals.

During the transition from milk toward solid feed, a purpose-designed goat kid starter can form part of a structured feeding program.

A starter feed is different from simply offering general grain.

Commercial starter feeds are formulated specifically with growing animals in mind.

Chatham Farm Feed & Supplies carries Jones Feed Mills Goat Kid Starter, intended for young goats during early development and their transition toward solid feed.

Always follow the current product label regarding feeding directions and intended age or production stage.

What Should You Feed a Lactating Dairy Goat?

Milk production substantially increases nutrient requirements.

A lactating doe may require more dietary energy and protein than a dry adult goat.

High-quality forage remains important, but an appropriately formulated concentrate may be incorporated to help meet production requirements.

One example is GoalMaker 16% Textured Goat Feed, which is formulated for milking does and designed to be fed alongside suitable forage.

The appropriate amount should not be guessed from a general online chart.

Milk production, body weight, forage analysis and body condition should all be considered.

Why Minerals Matter for Goats

Hay and grain alone may not provide every mineral in the correct amount or proportion.

Minerals involved in goat nutrition include:

• Calcium

• Phosphorus

• Sodium

• Magnesium

• Zinc

• Copper

• Selenium

• Other trace minerals

  
  

Requirements and safe levels matter.

More supplementation is not automatically better.

A properly formulated goat mineral product or premix should be used according to its directions and within an appropriate overall ration.

What Is Goat Premix?

A goat premix is a concentrated source of vitamins and minerals intended to be incorporated into a properly designed feeding program.

It is not the same thing as a complete goat feed.

For example, Jones Feed Mills Goat Premix sold by Chatham Farm Feed & Supplies provides calcium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, zinc, copper and vitamins A, D3 and E.

Because it is concentrated, it is intended to be mixed or top-dressed according to its label rather than offered as the animal's sole feed.

The current product information lists an approximate feeding rate of 20–30 grams per goat per day, but the current package directions should always take priority.

Important: Goat Minerals Are Not Automatically Safe for Sheep

This is particularly important on farms that keep both species.

Do not assume a goat mineral or premix can also be fed to sheep.

Some goat formulations contain copper at levels that make them unsuitable for sheep.

For example, the Jones Goat Premix sold by Chatham Farm Feed & Supplies specifically carries a warning that it should not be fed to sheep.

Keep species-specific feeds and supplements properly labelled and stored separately where necessary.

Do Goats Need Salt?

Sodium is an essential nutrient, and salt can be part of an appropriate livestock feeding program.

However, consider the entire ration.

Commercial feeds and mineral products may already supply sodium or salt.

Rather than adding multiple supplements without checking them, review feed labels and ensure the total feeding program is appropriate.

What About Summer Pasture?

Pasture and browse can provide valuable forage during the growing season.

However, pasture quality isn't constant.

It changes with:

• Plant maturity

• Rainfall

• Stocking density

• Species composition

• Grazing pressure

• Season

  
  

A pasture that provides excellent nutrition in spring may provide significantly different nutrition later in summer.

Continue monitoring goat body condition and pasture availability throughout the season.

Foods You Should Be Careful About Feeding Goats

The idea that “goats will eat anything” is misleading.

Goats may investigate or consume materials that aren't appropriate feed.

Avoid allowing access to:

• Mouldy or spoiled feed

• Contaminated grain

• Unknown plants

• Chemicals and pesticides

• Garbage

• Plastic and packaging

• Feed formulated for another species unless specifically confirmed as suitable

• Excessive quantities of grain

• Unverified supplements

  
  

If you're uncertain whether a plant, feed or household food is safe for goats, check with a veterinarian or qualified livestock professional before feeding it.

How to Change Goat Feed Safely

Sudden changes in diet can disturb the rumen.

When changing hay, concentrates or commercial feeds, introduce the new ration gradually when appropriate.

Monitor:

• Appetite

• Manure consistency

• Rumen activity

• Body condition

• Behaviour

• Milk production in dairy animals

  
  

Fresh water should remain available throughout the transition.

If a goat stops eating, develops severe diarrhea, becomes bloated or shows other signs of illness, seek veterinary advice promptly.

FAQ?

What is the best feed for goats in Canada?

There isn't one feed that is best for every goat. Suitable forage generally forms an important part of the diet, while commercial feed, concentrates and mineral supplementation should be selected according to age, body condition, production stage and forage quality.

What kind of hay is best for goats?

Good-quality grass, legume or mixed hay may be suitable depending on the goat and the overall ration. Nutritional quality and cleanliness are more important than choosing hay solely by name.

Do goats need grain every day?

Not necessarily. Grain or concentrate requirements vary considerably. Growing, pregnant or lactating goats may have different requirements from mature maintenance animals.

Do goats need minerals?

Goats require minerals as part of a balanced diet. Whether additional supplementation is required depends on the forage, commercial feed and total ration. Use goat-specific mineral products according to their directions.

Can goats eat sheep minerals?

Do not assume feeds or minerals are interchangeable between goats and sheep. Goat supplements may contain copper at levels unsuitable for sheep.

Can goats live on hay alone?

Whether forage alone meets requirements depends on its nutritional quality and the goat's age, condition and production stage. Growing, pregnant or lactating animals may require a more nutrient-dense feeding program.

How much grain should I feed my goat?

There is no safe universal scoop amount for every goat. Determine concentrate quantities from body weight, forage quality, production requirements and the directions for the specific feed.

Where can I buy goat feed in Ontario?

Chatham Farm Feed & Supplies in Blenheim, Ontario carries goat feeds, starter products, premix and other livestock-feeding supplies for goat owners in Chatham-Kent and surrounding areas.