ANN 121: Applied Animal Nutrition-I (2+1)

Mineral and vitamins requirement of goats

MINERAL AND VITAMINS REQUIREMENTS OF GOATS

Mineral requirement of goats:

• Mineral deficiencies rarely occur in goats as the common feeds and fodders used in goats feed provides adequate quantities of the important minerals.
• However some major minerals like sodium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus and sulphur are met while feeding the goats.\
• Sodium chloride should be included in the concentrate mixture at the rate of 0.5%. Calcium requirement for maintenance is 4.7g/day while for milk production it is 1.3 g/kg of milk produced.
• Where as phosphorus requirement is 3.3g/day for a adult goat. Provision of mineral licks/bricks in the shed is recommended to avoid occurrence of any deficiency.

Vitamins requirement of goat

• The goats are generally allowed 5-6 hours grazing which takes care of their of vitamin A and vitamin D requirements.
• Therefore vitamin A and vitamin D deficiency rarely occurs in goats.
• However for stall fed goats these two vitamins should be necessarily supplied in their diet.
• The vitamin E and vitamin K requirements are satisfied from the browse, hence no additional care is needed in this regard.
• Vitamin B complex are not dietary essential as it is synthesized by ruminal micro-organisms.
• However this vitamin should be included in diets of very young kids nursing their dams and when diet is suddenly changed.
• In goats vitamin C is synthesized in body tissues in adequate quantities.