Feeding & Nutrition
Feed is the single largest cost on a goat farm and the biggest driver of growth, milk yield and health. Balanced feeding — the right mix of green fodder, dry roughage and concentrate — keeps goats productive and profitable. These guides cover what to feed, how much, and how to feed it well.
What goats eat, in brief
Goats are browsers. Given the choice they prefer leaves, twigs and shrubs to grass, and they pick carefully through what is in front of them. A good ration works with that habit: plenty of roughage (green fodder, tree leaves and dry fodder) as the base, a measured amount of concentrate for animals that need more, and clean water and minerals at all times. Feeding well is as much about controlling cost and waste as about nutrition.
How much does a goat eat in a day?
Feed intake is measured as dry matter, which is the feed with its water taken out. An ICAR Indian Farming article (March 2026) puts the average intake of goats at 3–4% of body weight per day on a dry-matter basis. On that basis a 30 kg goat eats roughly 0.9 to 1.2 kg of dry matter a day.
Dry matter is not the same as the weight you carry to the feeder. The same article notes that fresh forages contain only 12–35% dry matter, while hays and concentrates contain 86–92%. That is why a goat needs several kilograms of fresh green fodder but only a few hundred grams of concentrate.
Intake also changes with the animal’s stage. Needs are lowest in dry, non-pregnant does, rise through pregnancy and peak in lactation. Growing kids need steadily more as they gain weight.
The three parts of a goat ration
Green fodder and tree leaves. Cultivated grasses, legume fodders and tree leaves are the cheapest source of protein and vitamins. Tree fodder matters most when greens are scarce: the Indian Farming article describes October to March as the lean period for green fodder, when farmers rely heavily on tree leaves. It lists subabul (Leucaena leucocephala), mulberry (Morus alba), siris (Albizia lebbeck), khejri (Prosopis cineraria) and babul (Acacia nilotica) among the fodder trees used in different parts of India. See fodders for goats.
Dry fodder. Straws, dry leaves, pod husks and hay provide bulk and fibre and keep the rumen working when greens run short.
Concentrate. Grains, oil cakes, brans and pulse chunni supply extra energy and protein. Concentrate tops up the ration for growing kids, pregnant and milking does and breeding bucks. It does not replace fodder.
Add to these clean water and a mineral mixture and salt. The ICAR article notes that goats drink more in hot weather and during pregnancy and lactation.
A simple daily feeding guide
The ICAR Indian Farming article gives this feeding schedule (its Table 2, after Nipane et al., 2023):
| Category of goat | Approximate body weight | Concentrate per day | Green fodder per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growing goats (6–12 months) | 15–20 kg | 300–400 g | 1–2 kg |
| Adult goats | 25–30 kg | 200–300 g | 2–3 kg |
| Breeding bucks | 30–40 kg | 400–500 g | 3–5 kg |
Treat this as a starting point. Large breeds, heavy milkers and does in late pregnancy need more; goats on good grazing need less. Dry fodder and grazing or browsing make up the rest of the appetite. For quantities by age, stage and season, go to the practical feeding guide.
Feeding decisions every farmer faces
- Graze, stall-feed or both? Grazing is cheapest but depends on land and season. Stall-feeding gives control but every kilogram must be grown or bought.
- Grow or buy fodder? A plot of perennial grass and a row of fodder trees on the boundary reduce what you have to buy in the lean months.
- How to waste less? Goats refuse feed that has been trodden on or soiled. Feeding in raised racks or troughs, chopping fodder and offering small amounts several times a day all reduce waste. See feeding habits of goats.
- Who gets the concentrate? Give priority to growing kids, does in late pregnancy, milking does and working bucks.
- What will it cost? Work out the monthly feed bill before you expand the herd, using the feed cost calculator.
Change any ration gradually. Sudden changes, or a goat getting into the grain store, can cause serious digestive illness such as bloat and acidosis. Poor growth, a rough coat or animals licking walls and soil can point to mineral shortage or worms, among other causes. This page does not give doses for mineral mixture, salt, supplements or medicines; consult a qualified veterinarian or animal nutritionist for the right product and quantity for your area and your animals.
Guides in this section
- Fodders for goats covers the green fodders, dry fodders and concentrates to grow and feed for the best cost-to-gain.
- Practical feeding gives a day-to-day feeding routine with quantities by age, stage and season.
- Feeding habits of goats explains how goats naturally browse and eat, and how to use that to reduce waste and cost.
- Nutrients goats require explains energy, protein, minerals and vitamins, and the signs of deficiency.
- Lactation parameters covers milk yield, lactation length and feeding the milking doe.
Frequently asked questions
How much feed does a goat need per day?
About 3–4% of its body weight as dry matter, according to an ICAR Indian Farming article. For a 30 kg goat that is roughly 0.9 to 1.2 kg of dry matter, which in practice means a few kilograms of green fodder, some dry fodder and a small amount of concentrate.
How much concentrate should I give a goat?
The ICAR article’s schedule gives 200–300 g a day for adult goats of 25–30 kg, 300–400 g for growing goats of 6–12 months and 400–500 g for breeding bucks. Adjust for breed, body condition, pregnancy and milk yield.
Can goats live on grazing alone?
Hardy local goats on good browse can maintain themselves in the green season. Growing kids, pregnant and milking does, and any goat during the lean season usually need extra fodder or concentrate to keep growing and producing.
Which tree leaves can goats eat?
Subabul, mulberry, siris, khejri and babul are among the fodder trees listed for Indian conditions in the ICAR article. Introduce any new leaf fodder gradually and feed a mixture rather than a single species.
Do goats need a mineral mixture?
Yes, goats need minerals and salt along with clean water. The right product and amount depend on your local soil and fodder, so ask a veterinarian or animal nutritionist.
Sources
- Jamwal A. et al., “Optimising forage resources for goats through silvipastoral systems”, Indian Farming 76(03): 27–30, March 2026, ICAR (dry-matter intake 3–4% of body weight; dry-matter content of forages and concentrates; Table 2 feeding schedule; October–March lean period; fodder tree species; water intake): https://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/IndFarm/article/download/165991/66505/532749
Last updated: 11 November 2026. General information only; for animal health decisions, consult a qualified veterinarian.