How to Feed Buck Goats

An old saying of farmers goes, "The male is half the herd." It's true, because no matter how good or bad your females are, your male is the father of all of their offspring. This applies to all kinds of livestock, even goats. Feeding a buck goat is a different matter than feeding his female consorts. Male goats have a "S"-shaped bend in their urinary tract that encourages problems such as urinary calculi (UC). In UC, male goats develop urinary stones that can become lodged in that bend and result in their deaths.

Things You'll Need

  • Grass hay
  • Clean water
  • Balanced mineral
  • Goat feed
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Instructions

    • 1

      Feed buck goats a diet based on roughage. Provide good quality grass hay and forage year-round on a free-choice basis. A diet high in roughage will help to prevent urinary calculi by encouraging the goat's body to recycle the phosphorus in his diet through the saliva and excrete it in his feces instead of diverting it to the urine.

    • 2

      Ensure your buck has constant access to clean water. Provide clean buckets, bowls, or watering troughs and keep them clean. Drain them first thing every morning and refill. Install an automatic waterer if you cannot commit to cleaning his waterer daily, but be sure to check the float and water level when you feed your buck. Providing lots of appealing water will help to keep excess minerals flushed from your buck's system and discourage stone formation.

    • 3

      Provide your buck with a free-choice mineral with a calcium to phosphorus ration of at least two to one. Seek higher calcium levels when possible, up to a four to one ratio. High levels of calcium also help to reduce phosphorus absorption.

    • 4

      Feed grain on a very limited basis. Ensure feed ratios of calcium to phosphorus are in line with the mineral you are giving your buck. Most bucks will do fine without grain outside of the breeding season, but even during the breeding season, limit him to no more than one pound per day.