Fattening ration for growing Goat kids (3 to 6 months)

It necessary to bear in mind that you are keeping goats to earn money and for the same reason it is better to sale the meat kids as soon as possible. So you can get maximum profit out of it.

In intensive goat farming where 70% of the cost of production is contributed by feed alone it becomes essential to feed those animals which are having highest possible FCR.

Intensive goat farming is the future of the goat industry due to shrinking grazing lands and low productivity of grazing goats. However it is imperative to think that high genetic grade animals with high growth rates will be economical under intensive conditions.

Now a days new entrepreneurs and goat farmers does not bother about genetic potential and growth rates of animals they just purchase the heterogeneous and non descript stock from mandis and start stall feeding to grazing goats.

This type of system never works properly and it has inherent mistake. Experience says that bringing goats less than 6months of age to the farms is not suggested and disease outbreak is likely to occur soon in the farm because of weak immunity. Second, if farmer brought goats more than 6 months of age to the farm than it not wise to keep the stock for meat purpose because they have already spend their best time of growth (birth to 8 month) when growth hormone is at its peak.

Now these goats have to keep for breeding purpose according to their phenotypic worth.

Here I am giving the crux of fattening ration for those kids which are genetically sound and have the ADG of 100gm/day. Indian conditions Sirohi breed has marvelous performance and proper selection and regulated breeding can give better results.

Above diagram is made according to the data available ICAR animal husbandry handbook. Out of 20 breeds available in India Sirohi and Barbari breeds are good to start new farms. This graph clearly shows that maximum weight gain is seen during 3 to 6 month of age.

Starter concentrate ration should be given @ 12% DCP and 65% TDN

Add 25g/kg Vitamin mix. (This will keep rumen healthy and functional and improves efficiency)

Total cost approx. Rs 15/-

Feed @ 200g per day for 10 to 15kg kid, then 300g per day for 15 to 20kg kid

This concentrate is little deficient in DCP but this can be fulfilled by green fodder provided adlib (free choice)

To enhance growth and to get better carcass feed additives must be provided in the ration. These feed additives enhance feed efficiency and further increase growth rate.

Ionophore antibiotics are best for goats. One comparative slaughter data revealed a trend of higher protein in MONENSIN – fed goats compared with non monensin fed goats. It means monensin increases protein retention in the body and produce leaner carcass which is most desirable and fetch more market value. When protein content is high in ration, monensin works better.

One more survey shows that monensin supplementation @33mg/kg feed gives 5.2% average daily gains; 4.03% less consumption and 8.7% better FCR. If we add these figures approx 18% improvement in growth rates will be seen. So spending money on monensin is good decision and farmers should go for it. It does not have any side effects on animal’s body or meat.

Working of this magical antibiotic “Monensin” will be discussed in detail in some other article of GoatGyan.

Above discussion is concluded as follows:

1. High genetic potential animals should be kept for meat purpose (animals which have high growth rates).
2. Concentrate ration (12% DCP and 65% TDN) should be fed from 3 to 6m.
3. At 6m kid must have body weight 20kg and sell it.
4. Advantage of selling at 6m is that it have less fat and leaner carcass, it is also preferred for export purpose.
5. Use monensin in the concentrate.

*Farmers should start this ration at 3 month age