Feeding your goat the right diet is essential to ensuring their long-term health, productivity, and wellbeing. Whether you’re caring for dairy goats, breeding stock, growing kids, or companion goats, a balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs will help them thrive. Goats are ruminants, meaning their digestive systems rely on a combination of forage and supplementary feed to function effectively. Understanding the components of a proper goat diet, and choosing the right products, can make all the difference to their health, condition, and behaviour.
Understanding a Goat’s Basic Nutritional Needs
A goat’s diet should be built around good-quality roughage, pasture or hay, which is essential for healthy rumen function. However, in many cases, pasture alone may not provide all the nutrients your goats need, especially during breeding, lactation, or growth periods. That’s where supplements and formulated feeds come in.
Goats require a balance of protein, energy, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Without the right supplementation, deficiencies can lead to poor weight gain, reduced milk production, fertility problems, or weakened immune function. Choosing feeds and mineral blocks designed specifically for goats ensures they get the targeted support they need to perform at their best.
Pelleted Feeds for Goats
Pelleted feeds are a convenient and effective way to provide a balanced source of nutrition. At Woonona Petfoods, we stock a variety of goat-appropriate pellets designed to suit different needs and life stages.
Barastoc Goat Pellet is a highly nutritious and balanced feed specifically developed for the supplementary feeding of goats. Suitable for a wide range of goat breeds, this pellet contains high-quality, palatable ingredients and is formulated to work alongside pasture or hay. It provides essential vitamins and minerals, and includes added ammonium sulphate to support urinary tract health, a key concern in goats on high-concentrate diets.
Vellas Goat Pellets are another excellent option, particularly useful for goats needing to gain or maintain weight after weaning. These pellets are formulated to be fed in conjunction with hay or pasture and are suitable for goats at all stages, growing, breeding, or mature. Highly nutritious and made in Australia, Vellas Goat Pellets support your goat’s overall condition and vitality.
For those with mixed-species farms or goats kept with other livestock, Vellas Livestock Pellets provide a versatile solution. These pellets are designed for general maintenance feeding and are suitable for a range of animals including goats, sheep, cattle, horses, alpacas, and llamas. As part of a broader feeding strategy, they offer a convenient way to ensure basic nutritional needs are being met across multiple stock types.
Essential Mineral Supplementation
Even the best pasture or hay often lacks key trace minerals that goats need for optimal health. That’s why mineral supplementation is so important, especially for breeding animals, lactating does, and growing kids.
The Olsson’s GOAT Block is a highly recommended mineral lick developed specifically for goats. Available in both 20kg blocks and 2kg bricks, this supplement is salt-based and highly palatable, encouraging regular intake. It helps correct common mineral deficiencies including cobalt, copper, iodine, selenium, manganese, and zinc. These trace elements are critical for reproductive health, immune function, growth, and overall condition.
In addition to its mineral profile, the GOAT Block is fortified with methionine and lysine, two essential amino acids that support muscle development and general wellbeing. It also promotes rumen health, ensuring better digestion and nutrient uptake, which translates to improved weight gain and feed efficiency.
Feeding for Success
Every goat is unique, and their diet may need to be adjusted depending on age, weight, breed, activity level, and purpose (e.g., meat, dairy, pet). However, a good baseline includes access to fresh water, quality roughage, a pelleted supplement appropriate to their needs, and a reliable mineral source.
At Woonona Petfoods, we’re here to help you make the best feeding decisions for your herd. We proudly stock premium goat nutrition products from trusted Australian brands like Barastoc and Vella Stock Feeds. Whether you’re raising a few backyard goats or managing a growing herd, our team can help you choose the right products for optimal health and performance.
Looking for advice on feeding schedules or product quantities? Visit us in-store and speak with our knowledgeable staff, we’re always happy to help you care for your animals with confidence.
