One of the primary considerations in meat goat production is where feed will be stored until it is needed. The feed storage facility needs to be weather proof and rodent proof. Feed that has gotten damp and moldy will not be eaten and may lead to attendant health problems. Feed contaminated by rodent pellets is also unlikely to be consumed and may transfer pathogens. The type and size of feed troughs or feeders needed vary depending on size and type of goat operation.
Troughs
When choosing troughs, one of the most important aspects should be its design. The design should prevent (or at least discourage) goats from climbing, standing, or sleeping in feed troughs to prevent contamination by feces or urine. This contamination is not only unsanitary, it also wastes feed due through the necessity of removing and disposing of “dirty” feed. Feed discarded due to contamination is money out of your pocket and adds up quickly.
Freestanding troughs
There are many commercially designed stand-alone feed troughs available. A common aspect of the more successful designs is the presence of a center bar, approximately 8 – 12” above the edge of the trough, running horizontally down the length of the feed trough. This type of design may be incorporated into homemade feeders. The bar serves the purpose of preventing goats from standing in the trough and provides a convenient handle when moving the trough to another location. Feed trough portability is important because if one feeds in the same location for an extended period of time there will a pawed out wallow around the trough area. A depression will form that holds water, forcing goats to stand in mud while feeding. This unsanitary condition is a prime source of possible bacterial contamination. Regular movement of feed troughs within the enclosure is recommended when feasible.
Most commercial troughs available are made of steel with a “V” bottom design. Producers may construct feeder troughs from larger diameter PVC pipe in the 6 to 8” inner diameter range with a wooden support frame. These round bottom troughs are recommended over flat bottomed troughs due to more efficient draining accumulated moisture. Scrap material of this type is often available from your local municipality at an affordable price following water main construction or replacement. The presence of several small drain holes along the length of the trough, as well as each end is recommended for moisture drainage.
Trough lengths should allow for ease of pickup and movement by a single person. An adequate number of troughs should be available to provide sufficient feeding space per animal. A guideline is to provide at least 12” trough space per adult animal. Observation at feeding time will tell if the producer has provided enough trough space. One dominate animal can control one whole side of a trough.
It is not recommended using buckets or other containers at ground level for feeding. They are frequently used as bedding places for kids, and are susceptible to fecal contamination.
Hanging troughs
In addition to freestanding troughs, others are designed to hang on a gate or fence. These troughs are generally shorter and lighter. They can be easily moved and are useful for smaller herds. They do have a tendency to be knocked off the fence and are prone to wasting feed.
Large capacity feeders
Large capacity feeders, which operate on gravity feed principle, are another possible feeder type. This type of feeder is available in various sizes with bin capacities ranging from 150 to 3,000 pounds. These are normally used when larger numbers of goats are being fed. Feeders of this type specifically designed for goats should be used. Self-feeders on the market that are designed for cattle often have large enough troughs to allow the goats to enter and lie down in, again leading to feed contamination by goat feces and urine. If this type of self-feeder is to be placed in a fixed location for goats, a concrete skirt extending out a minimum of six feet in front of the trough area is recommended. This will prevent the creation of a wallow in front of the troughs as described earlier.
Hay feeders
Hay feeders that suspend the hay off the ground are recommended. Feeding hay on the ground leads to excessive waste due to contamination as well as the increased chance of picking up worm larvae and eggs. A suitable hay feeder can easily be constructed by using 4” × 4” welded wire panels attached to a fence and slanted out at a height appropriate to the size of goats. The panel should be wired solid against the fence across the bottom, with the top laying out further from the fence creating a “V” type of appearance when viewed from the side. The 4” × 4” mesh provides adequate size openings for a goats muzzle while at the same time being small enough to effectively hold loose hay with minimum waste. A set of bolt cutters to cut the panels to the desired length, and a set of pliers to tie the panel to an existing fence with baling wire are the only tools required.
This “V” type design has proven to be effective and is one that a producer can construct. It is economical in terms of material and labor requirements. Another option includes a “V”-type hay holder included as part of a feed trough with a horizontal crossbar running the length of the trough. For this option it would be necessary to cut the 4” × 4” mesh into two pieces the length of the feed trough and then wire the bottom of the cut panels tightly together below the horizontal bar, lay out the tops into the desired “V” shape, and then wire or brace the panels to the cross bar. In this situation all hay that fell out of the holder would remain in the trough and reduce waste.
When feeding large round bales it is also possible to use this same 4” × 4” material or a combination-type wire panel to construct a wraparound barrier/container surrounding the bale to help prevent waste. Holes can be cut strategically in the panel allowing goats to put their heads in to eat. As the goats eat the bale, the mesh can be pulled tighter and tighter to allow continued access to the bale. It is also possible to cut panels in half and wire the ends together to act as a hinge that can be pushed together by the goats as the bale is consumed. If access to the large bales is not restricted, considerable waste will occur that in some instances may reach 50%.
It is better to stand the bale on its end rather than side. This reduces hay bale surface area that is in contact with the ground and the subsequent loss due to moisture absorption and mold growth. Commercially manufactured hay rings of the type used in cattle operations may be used to help prevent waste.
The waste of feed, whether a pellet type of feed or hay, is one of the major obstacles to overcome when feeding goats. Proper trough design and construction of a simple hay feeder as described above can go a long way toward eliminating unnecessary waste and expense.
Mineral feeders
Most mineral supplement mixes available for livestock have 10 to 25% salt included as an intake limiter to prevent over consumption. Salt is corrosive to many materials. When considering suitable mineral feeders, the ability to resist corrosion is of utmost importance. Another important aspect in selecting a mineral supplement container is to recognize that for goats a loose mineral is generally preferred over a block type of mineral supplement. Therefore, a trough or container of some type will be needed. Some of the more useful materials used in mineral feeder construction are rubber, wood, plastic, and stainless steel. All of these materials exhibit excellent resistance to the corrosive effects of salt and are durable.
As with feed trough design, the holding capacity of a mineral feeder should be adequate for the number of animals in each group. The most common mineral feeders used by goat producers are those that can be hung on a wall or fence at an appropriate height. There are several companies that manufacture these out of plastic, so availability is of little concern. A producer may also manufacture mineral feeders out of PVC pipe material by splitting it lengthwise and putting wooden ends on it. Hooks can then be added to the side for hanging on a fence or wall at the correct height. PVC pipe at least 6” in diameter is recommended with larger sizes better if available. Some trial and error may be needed to determine the correct height when hanging feeders on a fence or gate. This design lends itself well to portability.
Another type of mineral feeder that can be constructed out of PVC is one that consists of an upright tube, a Y type or “clean out plug” PVC connection, and one plug and a cap for sealing the top and bottom of the feeder. Four-inch or greater diameter pipe is recommended for this type of mineral feeder to allow the goats enough room for their muzzle. The Y type of connection is plugged at the bottom with a screw type clean out plug with the Y facing up. An upright tube 3 – 4’ in length is glued into the straight run of the connection. This will leave the other opening of the Y jutting out at an angle. When the upright tube is filled with a granular or loose mineral supplement it will gravity feed down into the Y and the goats can access it through the opening. A cap placed over the top of the tube is recommended. Since loose mineral with salt is subject to moisture absorption, mineral feeders of a trough type design need to be covered when possible with a small overhang or roof. Most commercial mineral feeders available will provide adequate protection from the elements by merit of their design.
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