what to feed dairy goats in kenya

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How to start a goat farm in Kenya?

Starting Goat Farming in Kenya. 1 Farm Location. A suitable location is very necessary for starting a goat farm. Select a calm, quite and noise free land for your farm. Ensure some ... 2 Select Breeds. 3 Housing. 4 Feeding. 5 Breeding. More items

How do you feed dairy goats?

Feeding dairy goats properly is essential to keeping them healthy. There is no single magic "right way" to feed dairy goats. There are many options depending on where you live and what feed choices you have available. At Goat Milk Stuff, every goat always has access to the following:

What is the best supplement for goats?

Include energy supplements, molasses, milling by-products like pollard or bran, cereals etc. in their food. For protein supplements, include Calliandra leaves, cotton seed cake, Leucaena leaves, desmodium, fish-meal, dairy meal, sweet potato vines etc. in the food of goats.

How to increase the milk production of a goat?

Increase supplement by ½ kg per day during the last month of When in milk, allow ½ kg of supplement for every 3 litres of milk produced. Identify a good breeding male goat which has no deformities, with two well-developed testicles, strong feet and legs, good body condition and high libido.

What is the best feed for dairy goats?

If milk production is important, feed maximum amounts of high quality hay balanced with a grain ration containing enough protein, minerals and vitamins to support production and animal health (Table 2). Grass or legume hays are equally acceptable.

What can I feed my goat to increase milk production?

A Balanced Diet Increasing the feed ration ensures she is getting enough energy, protein, minerals and vitamins. Fry recommends feeding a higher protein feed, between 14- 16 percent, along with a good-quality grass/alfalfa mix hay during lactation.

What is the best food to feed a goat?

Hay is the main source of nutrients for goats apart from their range. 6 It's what they mostly eat in the winter when they don't have access to the range. Hay can be grass or a legume, like clover or alfalfa. If a good range isn't available, dry grass hay of a horse quality is acceptable.

What nutrients do dairy goats need?

During the far off dry period (4 to 5 weeks), goats can be fed a good quality hay (9 to 11% protein). During the last 3 to 4 weeks, both energy and protein need to be supplemented. Feed ½ to 1 kg of grain ration to adapt the rumen to the higher grain feeding during lactation and help avoid complications with ketosis.

What causes low milk production?

Various factors can cause a low milk supply during breast-feeding, such as waiting too long to start breast-feeding, not breast-feeding often enough, supplementing breastfeeding, an ineffective latch and use of certain medications. Sometimes previous breast surgery affects milk production.

How much grain should a goat eat per day?

Feed grain to your goats sparingly; adults will only need 1 ½ pound a day as an absolute maximum. Kids require significantly less - around ½ a cup will do the trick. Most goats gain the majority of nutrition from foraging, where adequate pasture is available.

What do you feed goats daily?

Each goat needs about two to four pounds of hay per day (3-4% of body weight in pounds), which can be fed free choice or twice a day. If good range isn't available, dry grass forage of a horse quality is acceptable. Goats require additional hay, which is roughage, for their rumen to function properly.

How do you feed goats cheaply?

Hay. Hay is another important source of goat nutrition, especially in winter seasons. Feed your goats mold free qualified grasses based hay. You can also feed your goats weedy hay because it is very cheap and contain a large amount of necessary nutrition.

How can I make my goat grow faster?

Proper Food & Housing: You must make sure to have enough clean, fresh grass for them so they don't go hungry. It is well known that goats are not carnivorous animal. They usually prefer to eat grasses, plants, shrubs, weeds and herbs. Goats also need energy, portion, vitamins, fiber and water for proper growth.

What grain is best for goats?

One cup of grain is sufficient for adult goats, while ½ cup of grain is ideal for kids (baby goats). However, pregnant goats and those kept for milking can eat up to 2 cups a day, as they need the extra protein and fat. The best type of grain to feed goats is wheat, barley, and oats.

What is the best mineral for goats?

In browsing or grain-fed goats, the addition of a calcium supplement (dicalcium phosphate, limestone, etc.) to the feed or to a salt or trace mineral-salt mixture usually meets calcium requirements. Legumes (e.g., clover, alfalfa, kudzu) are also good sources of calcium.

Which calcium is best for goat?

Calfarm - a powerful veterinary calcium supplement for goat and sheep. It removes all the calcium deficiencies from their body. It is composed of Calcium Gluconate, vitamin D3, Vitamin B12, protein etc.

What causes a goat to not produce milk?

Milk production by goats is majorly influenced by the food she receives. During the pregnancy days, the diet of the goat, cleaning of her quarters, treatment of any infections or parasites, and her care during the dry period are the major factors that impact the milk production after kidding.

Why is my goat not producing milk?

3:299:52My Goat Doesn't Have Milk After Kidding - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo there clearly should have been some colostrum in there. And she also didn't just wean a kidMoreSo there clearly should have been some colostrum in there. And she also didn't just wean a kid because she was pregnant. And now she has her babies. And i went ahead and did some research to try and

Is molasses good for goats?

Molasses is a potential energy supplement; extensively used to improve growth performance, milk and meat characteristics in goats at relatively low concentrations of 5–40% of the diet.

Is alfalfa pellets good for goats?

Can I Feed My Goats Alfalfa or Grass Hay Pellets? These are both great options for supplementing a goat's diet, but they cannot totally take the place of baled hay, pasture and browse. Goats need some long-stemmed hay, every day, to keep their rumen functioning at its best.

What is the best way to keep goats healthy?

Good housing keeps the goats healthy. It should have a raised floor to keep the goats dry and the roof not leaking. The feeding troughs should be easy to clean.

What is a good goat for breeding?

During breeding, identify a good breeding male goat which has no deformities, with two well-developed testicles, strong feet and legs, good body condition and high libido. Libido is observed by the ability of the male to vigorously detect and mate with females on heat. These qualities will ensure successful mating.

What is the most common disease in dairy goats?

Diseases:-. Pneumonia: - This is the most common disease in dairy goats. Pneumonia is characterized by sneezing, coughing, heavy breathing and the goat tends to isolate itself from others.

What is the best food for a goat?

free choice grass hay. free choice loose minerals. clean water. That is the basic nutrition needed to keep a goat alive and healthy. This would be the typical diet for an adult goat that is simply a pet. But for goats that are pregnant or milking, bucks that are in rut, or growing babies, this isn't quite enough.

What to feed goats to get rid of rumen?

Baking Soda. Baking soda can be helpful if your goat gets an upset rumen. I think it's great for people new to goats to put out. Because we feed our goats very simply, don't feed them molasses, and keep their diets stable, we don't regularly make baking soda available to them.

What breed of goats are in Kenya?

The common breeds of dairy goats in Kenya even though are foreign breeds are Toggenburg, Boer, Saanen, British Alpine, German Alpine, Anglo Nubian, Angora, Oberhauzen. These goats survive on different climatic conditions. It is best for one to contact the Local Livestock Production Experts on the most suitable breeds or cross-breeding program in your area.

What is the best way to keep goats healthy?

Good housing keeps the goats healthy. It should have a raised floor to keep the goats dry and the roof not leaking. The feeding troughs should be easy to clean.

Dairy Goat Farming – Goat Breeds

Dairy goat farming is becoming one of the promising venture in Kenya, following the animals’ instinct to adapt well in the tropics. Among many other products, this group of animals are known for their highly nutritious milk. The introduction of the exotic goat breeds in the country has been of great impact to the industry.

Goat Breeds

Indigenous / Local Goat Breeds – These are together with the common small East African goat and the Galla goat that are purposefully kept for meat

How to farm goats in Kenya?

For successful goat farming in Kenya, you have to make a suitable house for your goats. Make the house rain and damp proof, free from sharp objects or direct weed, free from pest and wild animals and make a proper ventilation system inside the house.

What breed of goats are good for farming in Kenya?

There are many goat breeds which are very suitable for farming according to the weather and climate of Kenya. Boer, German Alpine, Toggenburg, Saanen, Anglo Nubian and some other breeds are suitable for commercial and profitable goat farming in Kenya. After choosing the production, buy high quality fresh breeds for your farming business.

What is the best way to keep goats healthy?

Timely vaccination is a must for keeping your goats free from all types of diseases. It also helps to keep your goats free from highly contagious diseases like PPR, goat pneumonia, tetanus etc.

What are some good supplements for goats?

For protein supplements, include Calliandra leaves, cotton seed cake, Leucaena leaves, desmodium, fish-meal, dairy meal, sweet potato vines etc. in the food of goats. Along with good food, always serve them sufficient amount of clean and fresh water according to their daily demands.

What are the necessary facilities for goats?

The necessary facilities for goats includes sufficient supply of clean and fresh water, a market near the farm, necessary veterinary services available, good transportation facilities with the nearest town or market etc.

Can you make a goat feeding area with no roof?

You can make the feeding area with little or no roof but, it should fenced all around with a gate. The feeding area should have water trough, feed trough, slated floor, feed racks and a rain proof mineral block pack area. Ensure sufficient flow of fresh air and light in the sleeping and feeding places of goats.

Is goat farming good for Kenya?

Goat’s products like meat and milk has a great demand in the international and local market of Kenya. Goat farming is very pleasuring and enjoyable. You can easily meet up the nutritional demand of your family. Great income source for the women and children.