Feeding Plan for Growing Goats
Feed a growing goat about 3 to 4% of its body weight in dry matter each day — roughly 3 to 4 kg of fresh green fodder plus 200 to 400 g of concentrate for a 30 kg animal. Keep roughage as the base and use concentrate to fill the protein and energy gap.
बढ्दै गरेको बाख्रालाई दैनिक शरीरको तौलको ३–४% सुक्खा पदार्थ खुवाउनुपर्छ। ३० किलोको बाख्रालाई करिब ३–४ किलो हरियो घाँस र २००–४०० ग्राम दाना।
Updated
How much to feed, by body weight
| Body weight | Green fodder per day | Concentrate per day |
|---|---|---|
| 10 kg (kid) | 1–1.5 kg | 100–150 g |
| 20 kg | 2–3 kg | 150–250 g |
| 30 kg | 3–4 kg | 200–400 g |
| 40 kg | 4–5 kg | 300–500 g |
| Pregnant doe (last 6 weeks) | 4–5 kg | 300–500 g |
| Breeding buck | 4–5 kg | 300–400 g |
A concentrate mix from local ingredients
This is a general-purpose grower mix using ingredients available across Nepal. Adjust the proportions to what you can source locally and affordably — the aim is adequate protein and energy, not a fixed recipe.
| Ingredient | Share | Provides |
|---|---|---|
| Maize, crushed | 40% | Energy |
| Wheat bran (gahu ko chokar) | 25% | Fibre and energy |
| Mustard cake or soybean meal | 25% | Protein |
| Rice bran | 7% | Energy and bulk |
| Mineral mixture and salt | 3% | Minerals, calcium, salt |
Fodder trees goats actually prefer
Tree leaves are the cheapest protein source on most Nepali farms and goats browse them by preference. Planting a few of these along field boundaries pays for itself repeatedly.
- Ipil ipil (इपिल इपिल) — very high protein. Feed as part of the diet, not the whole of it.
- Kutmero (कुटमेरो) — a reliable, well-liked fodder tree across the hills.
- Dabdabe (दवदवै) — good dry-season leaf availability.
- Khanyu (खनिउ) — widely used and readily eaten.
- Tanki (टाँकी) — palatable and productive.
- Kimbu / mulberry (किम्बु) — high quality, fast regrowth.
- Moringa — excellent protein, grows quickly in the Terai.
Grasses worth planting
| Grass | Notes |
|---|---|
| Napier (CO-4, CO-5) | High yield, cut repeatedly. The backbone of most planted fodder. |
| Super Napier | Higher protein than standard Napier; good for growing stock. |
| Berseem | Winter legume, high protein when other fodder is scarce. |
| Oats | Useful winter cut in the hills. |
Planning for the dry months
Grass grows fastest during the monsoon and becomes scarce from roughly December to April. Goats that gained well in summer often lose that weight over winter, which wipes out months of progress. Preserving surplus monsoon growth is what prevents it.
Cut surplus fodder at its peak
Harvest maize or Napier when nutrition is highest rather than when it is over-mature.
Chop it short
A chaff cutter reducing material to 1–2 inches packs far more tightly.
Pack out the air
Compact it hard into bags or a pit. Trapped air spoils silage.
Seal and wait
Close it airtight and leave it at least three weeks before opening.
Introduce it over a week
Mix in gradually so the rumen adapts.
Minerals, salt and water
- Provide a mineral mixture or mineral block continuously — deficiencies cause poor growth and weak kids.
- Salt should always be available.
- Clean water at all times. Scrub troughs; goats drink less from dirty water and then eat less.
- Pregnant and lactating does need extra calcium — do not cut their mineral supply.
Common questions
How much should I feed a 30 kg goat per day?
What can I mix at home for goat concentrate?
Which fodder trees do goats like best in Nepal?
How do I feed goats in the dry season?
Read next
How to Grow Big, Healthy Goats
The five things that actually decide how big your goats get, in the order they matter, plus how to find the problem when growth stalls.
Boer GoatsBoer Goat Growth & Weight
Expected Boer goat weight by age, normal daily weight gain, and how to tell whether your goats are growing on target.
HealthCommon Goat Diseases and What to Do
The diseases that actually kill goats in Nepal — PPR, pneumonia, enterotoxemia, bloat, diarrhoea, foot rot and more — with signs, immediate action, treatment approach and prevention.
Questions about your own goats?
We farm Boer goats in Chitwan and are happy to talk through your situation — which breeding suits your district, what stock costs, or how to fix a problem on your farm.