In order to be successful in dairy goat farming, it is necessary to address the basic requirements of location and space, nutrition, and choosing the right breed. In Iran however, the industrial and economically effective rearing of small cattle is increasingly getting popular which promises creation of new jobs for educated workforce as well as improvement of performance and efficiency for current workforce.
High amount of milk yield, long lactation period, short gestation period, and the ability to give birth to multiple kids per litter are among the success factors of goat farming industry. Paying attention to the said factors as well as managing them with adequate technical and scientific knowledge and necessary tools, ensures a successful business.
It is to be noted that, in traditional sheep and goat farming, the focus is on reducing the costs. However, is cost reduction the best and most advantageous approach?
Certainly, the most cost-effective method is not necessarily the best one; failure in appropriate investment and management and using the most recent methods that suit local requirements, results in serious long-term environmental damages and decreased efficiency.
Improvement of Goat Flocks
Available local solutions which may improve conditions of the flock and therefore the whole livestock population, are as follows:
- To use machine milking rather than hand milking;
- To avoid grazing on pastures with poor quality that do not even provide the cattle with energy required for staying alive and walking the distance to the pasture;
- To feed the goats with balanced rations, feed supplements and to address cattle’s needs;
- To raise high-yielding breeds that are suitable for the region;
- To use feeding solutions for improving reproduction and prolificacy as well as survival;
- To select the best goats in the flock and to take away the weak ones;
- To familiarize people with the special health benefits of goat milk.
Fulfilling Nutritional Requirements of Dairy Goats
Fulfilling nutritional requirements of dairy goats depends on the farming method and proper use of feed supplements. Feeding goats with balanced rations requires efficient management and appropriate resources.
In order to supply energy, protein, fiber and fat, available resources are usually mixed using specialized software. However, dairy goats’ need for micronutrients and vitamins has been neglected in Iran. Currently, dairy goats are fed with the supplements specially formulated for dairy cows. Since concentrate in dairy cows’ feed is 10 times greater than the amount the dairy goats require and due to the fact that nutrient density is specially adjusted for the needs of dairy cows, feeding the goats with such supplements will not guarantee fulfillment of their nutritional needs. Researches demonstrate that dairy cow supplements meet less than 50% of dairy goats’ nutritional requirements. Therefore, it is crucial to use vitamin and mineral supplements special for dairy goats to ensure the health and reproduction of the flock.
Nutrition Analysis of Goat 10% Concentrate
| Nutrient per kilogram | ||
| Raw protein | Percent | 20 |
| Vitamin A | international unit | 140000 |
| Vitamin D3 | international unit | 28000 |
| Vitamin E | international unit | 500 |
| Ca | g | 80 |
| p | g | 20 |
| Mg | g | 16 |
| Na | g | 32.5 |
| S | mg | 2000 |
| Fe | mg | 830 |
| Zn | mg | 1100 |
| Mn | mg | 875 |
| Cu | mg | 175 |
| I | mg | 20 |
| Co | mg | 6.5 |
| Se | mg | 3 |