How to Get a Goat to Put on Weight

Raising goats can be a hobby or an occupation, but either way it involves providing goats with the nutrition and general environment that they need. If you have goats that need to put on weight, feeding them the right combination of food and supplements, and ensuring correct activity levels will help your goats to gain that necessary weight.

Things You'll Need

  • Pastures
  • Grains
  • Troughs
  • Vitamins and minerals
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place your goats where they can graze. Goats benefit from the fiber and vitamins found in grass hay and green leaves.

    • 2

      Provide your goats with extra grain. Hay and oat bales can help to fatten your goats. Limit your goats to 1 1/2 pounds of grain each day. Alfalfa and shelled corn will help put weight on your goats as well, but goats can overeat these foods. Talk to your veterinarian about how much alfalfa and corn to give your goats.

    • 3

      Supplement your goats' diets with vitamins and minerals. You can buy these in various forms from your local veterinarian or farm supply company. One popular way to give minerals is through a salt block, which goats lick for nutrients.

    • 4

      Provide your goats with an abundant supply of clean water. Clean your troughs as often as needed to remove any dirt or algae.

    • 5

      Limit your goats' activity if they are having difficulty gaining weight. Goats burn a lot of calories when their physical activity is unlimited. Keeping your goats in a pen for a portion of the day will help them to expend less energy.