Proper nutrition is an integral part of herd health. Our Rafter O goats are essentially dry lotted, meaning they do not have access to lush pastures. Our property sits on solid limestone at about 1,000 feet above sea level. Our goat pens are very rocky and have Ashe juniper (cedar) and live oak trees with little ground vegetation. Lots of shade, but not much to graze on; therefore, we provide everything our goats need.

For feeding purposes, we classify our goats into the following categories: Kids, Dry Does, Milking Does, and Bucks. Pregnant does in the late stages of pregnancy are also fed a little differently.

Doe Feed Mix

Purina Dairy Goat Parlor 16

Purina Dairy Goat Parlor is a premium pelleted feed specially formulated to support dairy goats’ health and performance. It features Availa-4® minerals—an optimized blend of organic zinc, manganese, copper, and cobalt—to promote growth and boost immune function. With Peloton® yeast, it helps maintain rumen health and improve digestion. This nutritionally balanced formula is fully fortified with high-quality protein, essential vitamins, and minerals to support optimal milk production. Its palatable, high-quality ingredients encourage consistent consumption, while the pelleted form ensures no ingredient separation and easy handling. We purchase this from our local feed store.

Premium Alfalfa Pellets – multiple brands

Feeding premium alfalfa pellets to dairy goats is a great way to provide consistent, high-quality nutrition. Packed with protein, calcium, and fiber, alfalfa pellets support strong milk production, healthy digestion, and overall body condition. They’re easy to store, reduce waste compared to loose hay, and ensure your goats get the nutrients they need in every bite. Plus, picky eaters love them—making feeding time a breeze! We purchase this from our local feed store.

Steam Crimped Oats

Steam crimped oats are a highly digestible and energy-rich feed option for dairy goats. The steam crimping process softens the grain, making it easier to chew and improving nutrient absorption. These oats provide a great source of carbohydrates to support energy levels, especially important for lactating does. They’re also gentle on the digestive system and can help maintain healthy body condition without overwhelming the rumen. Plus, goats enjoy the taste, making them a palatable addition to any feeding program! We purchase this from our local feed store.

Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (BOSS)

Black oil sunflower seeds (BOSS) are a fantastic supplement for dairy goats, offering a range of health benefits. Rich in healthy fats, protein, and vitamin E, BOSS helps boost coat shine, support skin health, and provide extra calories for energy and milk production. The natural oils can also aid in maintaining body condition, especially during cooler months or times of higher demand. Plus, goats love the taste, making BOSS an easy and nutritious treat to mix into their daily ration! We buy the 25lb bag for our doe mix.

Beet Pulp Shreds

Beet pulp shreds are an excellent supplement for dairy goats, providing a digestible source of fiber and energy without adding too much protein. They’re especially helpful for maintaining body condition during lactation or colder months. Soaked beet pulp is gentle on the digestive system and helps keep the rumen functioning smoothly. Plus, most goats enjoy the soft, sweet texture—making it a tasty and beneficial addition to their daily ration!

Unbeetable Forage Only Blend

Unbeetable Feeds’ Forage Only Blend is a high-energy, grain-free feed formulated with dairy goats’ nutritional needs in mind. Combining alfalfa, beet pulp, and flaxseed oil, this blend provides easily digestible fiber and energy while maintaining low sugar and starch levels. It’s designed to meet the energy and nutritional demands of high-performance goats without the need for additional grains or supplements. The inclusion of flaxseed oil offers beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, supporting skin, coat, and overall health. This forage-based feed can help reduce reliance on long-stem hay, offering a convenient and nutritious alternative for dairy goat owners.

Manna Pro Calf-Manna

Supplementing dairy goats with Calf Manna is a great way to boost overall nutrition and performance. This high-protein supplement supports milk production, promotes weight gain, and enhances coat condition. It’s also packed with vitamins and minerals that help improve digestion and support growth, especially in young or lactating goats. Goats love the taste, making it an excellent choice for encouraging appetite and giving your herd that extra nutritional edge!

Calf-Manna includes multiple sources of high-quality protein. This protein provides a wide array of essential amino acids that meet the needs of many different animals. More proteins equal more growth and better muscle development. Digestible Carbohydrates = More Energy. Calf-Manna’s digestible carbohydrates are an excellent source of energy. It’s often called “energy dense” which means it delivers more calories per mouthful. Our quality carbohydrates also make Calf-Manna an ideal solution for weight gain. Anise = Palatability. Ingredients like Anise provide Calf-Manna’s inviting, sweet-smelling aroma and taste for animals of all ages. The great taste Calf-Manna encourages animals to stay on feed during times of stress like travel, illness, or environmental changes. Brewer’s Dried Yeast = Better Digestion. Brewer’s Dried Yeast improves palatability, encourages earlier and more consistent intake of dry feed, and promotes optimal digestion of other nutrients. Linseed Meal = Improved Coat Condition. Linseed Meal provides protein and oil to help add sheen and luster to your animal’s coat. At Manna Pro, we believe that every animal that comes down our path deserves the best nutrition possible, which is why Calf-Manna is America’s favorite nutritional supplement.

We feed Calf Manna to our Rafter O Kids and Milking Does. We purchase it at Tractor Supply.

Buck Feed

Purina Goat Grower

A pelleted complete feed formulated for the optimum growth, development, and maintenance of goats.

• Medicated options: rumensin or decoquinate* – Aid in protection against coccidiosis
• Nutritionally complete – Provides the proper balance of high-quality proteins, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Built-in roughage source minimizes clean-up from wasted or uneaten forage. Proper calcium to phosphorus ratio for goats.
• Palatable, high-quality ingredients – Helps ensure consumption

We only feed this to our Rafter O Bucks. We purchase this at Tractor Supply.

Standlee Alfalfa Timothy Pellets

Premium Alfalfa/Timothy Pellets are high density, 1/4 inch pellets of Standlee Premium Western Forage. This mix combines two of the most popular forages in a blend that is moderate to low in protein and sugar. We feed this to our Rafter O Bucks. We purchase this at Tractor Supply.

Kid Feed

Manna Pro Kid Milk Replacer

• All-Milk Protein Supports Growth + Development
• Powered by Opti-Gut™ to Support Gut Health + Digestion
• Easy-to-Mix for Fast Prep + Optimal Consumption

We only use this as a last resort if we need to bottle feed kids or as a supplement. First preference would be Raw Goat Milk from our Milking Does, but if we don’t have enough milk, we have used this with great success. We purchase this at Tractor Supply.

Medicated Kid Feed

DuMOR Medicated Sheep and Goat DX Feed is a great choice for dairy goat kids, especially those at risk of coccidiosis. Formulated with decoquinate, it helps prevent parasite infections following exposure to coccidia. This feed is fortified with essential vitamins, minerals, prebiotics, and probiotics to support healthy growth and boost immunity and digestion. With 15% protein, it ensures your kids get the nutrients they need for strong development. It also contains ammonium chloride to help acidify urine and is free of copper for safety. Ideal for supplementing a healthy forage or pasture diet, this feed helps keep your dairy goat kids thriving and parasite-free. We feed this mixed in with our Doe Feed once kids start weaning. We buy this at Tractor Supply.

Treats

Manna Pro Goat Treats – Apple or Licorice

• A fun, nutritious snack for goats of all ages.
• Enriched with vitamins and minerals.
• Easy-to-feed nugget form.

We feed this as a treat to all our Rafter O Goats! We rotate between the Apple and Licorice flavors. We purchase this at Tractor Supply.

Other Treats

There are many other treats that goats love! We rotate through other Commercial Goat Treats, Raw Whole Pumpkin Seeds, Bananas, and the occasional Oak Tree branch!

Hay

Goats need a good balance of long-stem roughage and high-quality feed to maintain healthy digestion and overall well-being. Long-stem roughage, like hay, is essential for providing the fiber that helps keep their rumen functioning properly. However, finding consistent, high-quality hay can be a real challenge depending on where you live, as climate and regional growing conditions heavily influence the availability and quality of hay. For example, in Texas, where I am based, the hot and dry conditions make traditional hay production more difficult, but I’ve been fortunate to discover Haygrazer (Sudan) and Coastal hay as an excellent alternative. Previously, I fed square bales of Alfalfa hay, but the goats tended to waste a significant amount, and the bales were difficult to manage. After experimenting with Chaffhaye, a fermented, pre-baled hay product, I found it to be a much better solution. Not only is it more nutrient-dense, but the fermentation process makes it more palatable and digestible for the goats, minimizing waste and ensuring they get the most out of their hay. Chaffhaye is a great option for maintaining their fiber intake while reducing the mess and hassle associated with feeding traditional hay bales.

Haygrazer or Sudan Hay

Haygrazers are described as crosses of forage types of sorghum, sorgo, and sudangrasses. Sudan hybrids are described as hybrids or crosses in which at least one parent is a Sudan. The other parent may be a grain sorghum, a sweet sorgo, or a Sudan. Sorghum X Sudan and sorgo X Sudan hybrids tend to have coarser stems and broader leaves than the true Sudan X Sudan hybrids. Common examples of Sudan hybrids are Haygrazer, Trudan, Sweet Treat, Sweet Graze, Sudax, and many others.

When available, we feed this hay free choice to all our Rafter O goats. The smaller stem varieties work better for goats than the larger stem cattle varieties. Waste still occurs with this hay, but they absolutely LOVE it!

Coastal Hay

Coastal Bermuda is the most common hay fed to horses in Texas. … A similar grass is Tifton 85, and lots of folks call it Bermuda grass. Still, it is different as Tifton 85 is a cross between a Bermuda grass and a close tropical relative called stargrass that was used in the cross to increase digestibility. We previously only fed this as filler hay in the winter, but due to the ongoing drought in Texas, this has become our main 24/7 hay.

Chaffhaye or Alfahay

Chaffhaye is premium bagged, Non-GMO Alfalfa sold in 50-pound bags that captures the key characteristics of alfalfa, while also offering a guaranteed level of nutrition. It is ideal for ensuring maximum health and well-being of all classes of horse, deer, goat, llama, chickens, camelid, household pets, and other exotic animals. Chaffhaye is family-owned and located in Dell City, Texas. There are many dealers all over Texas. We purchase this at our local feed store.

Alfahay comes in a 50-pound bag and is the closest thing to fresh-cut alfalfa.  Alfahay is NON-GMO alfalfa.  Alfahay is for horses, cattle, pigs, deer, goats, sheep, birds, and exotics.   Unlike other feeds that are dried, Alfahay is cut and packed with its natural moisture.  This locks in all the fresh nutrition of the plant.  Alfahay then undergoes a fermentation process after being bagged to produce beneficial yeasts and bacteria.  Alfahay is a newer company based out of Iowa with a growing number of dealers nationwide.

We feed Chaffhaye to our Rafter O Kids and Does. It is great when the kids start nibbling, and the adults gobble it up quickly with no waste.

Manna Pro Hi Fiber Chopped Hay

High Fiber Chopped Hay is a measured blend of timothy, oat, and alfalfa hay, with added molasses and short chopped for easier chewing and digestibility. Dried at a high temperature to lock in the natural nutrition. We feed this to our Rafter O Kids and all Does. It is a great starter hay for kids, and we use it often as a “distraction” hay to keep the girls busy while we are going in and out of the gate. We purchase this at Tractor Supply.

Supplements

Sweetlix Meat Maker Mineral

Sweetlix Meat Maker 16-8 Mineral is a mineral supplement formulated specifically for goats, aiming to support their health, growth, and productivity. It contains a comprehensive blend of vitamins and minerals, including calcium, phosphorus, salt, magnesium, cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, selenium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin D-3, and vitamin E, to meet the nutritional needs of goats. The product incorporates BIOPLEX organic trace minerals, enhancing bioavailability and absorption. Additionally, it includes RainBloc to improve resistance to moisture, reducing waste. Designed for self-feeding, it should be offered as the sole source of salt, minerals, and vitamins, with an average consumption of 0.3 to 0.5 ounces per head per day for a 150-pound goat. Ensure at least one mineral feeder per ten goats and place feeders near clean, fresh water sources. It’s important to note that this product contains added copper, making it unsuitable for sheep or species sensitive to copper supplementation.

We purchase this from our local feed store. We feed this to our goats in our homemade PVC Mineral Feeders. We fill our PVC feeders with minerals about once a month. We feed these minerals to all of our Rafter goats.

Thorvin Kelp

Thorvin Kelp is nutrient dense, supports animal health, is economical, has high nutrient value per pound, is a concentrated source, is versatile, organic, and all natural. Supplemental kelp may help raise milk production, increase appetite, improve digestion, and general overall condition, regulate heat cycles, rate of conception and healthy births and in bucks’ number and durability of sperm. 

We feed Kelp about once or twice a week to our Rafter O Kids, Does, and Bucks. We feed more often during Breeding Season in the Fall. Thorvin Kelp can be purchased in many places. We have purchased from Caprine Supply and New Country Organics.

Replamin Gel Plus

A nutritional source of amino acid chelated/complexed minerals and vitamins for all classes of Beef, Dairy, Equine, Goats and Swine.

REPLAMIN® PLUS PROVIDES 12 VITAMINS & MINERALS INCLUDING:

• selenium
• yeast
• cobalt
• vitamin E
• Metal Amino Acid Chelated minerals in a single dose to improve immune response

MAAC® minerals are 100% biodegradable and can be absorbed up to six times more than inorganic minerals. It also contains a direct-fed microbial that helps optimize digestion and absorption of vital nutrients.

We supplement our goats with this about once a month or when we are trimming hooves. It can be purchased at Jeffers Pet.

Probiotic Paste – Various Brands

What are Probiotics?

Every animal has bacteria in their digestive system that help to digest food. The balance of trillions of bacteria in the intestine includes both beneficial (good bacteria) and pathogenic (bad bacteria) microorganisms. Maintaining a balance of these bacteria aids in digestion and overall health.

Probiotics are good bacteria that can help boost the levels of naturally occurring beneficial bacteria in the gut. The word probiotic means “for life,” the opposite of antibiotic. Antibiotics indiscriminately kill both bad and good bacteria. Probiotics, or Direct-Fed Microbials (DFMs), can help return an animal’s intestinal microflora back to healthy, normal levels.

The benefits of probiotics are unique to each species and even further defined by the specific strain. Probiotics are living bacteria and are therefore sensitive to conditions such as pH, moisture, and temperature. The strains in Probios® microbial products have been carefully selected to survive the manufacturing process and storage in quantities meeting the label guarantees. These strains also remain viable under the harsh conditions of the animal’s gastrointestinal tract, meaning every guaranteed bacterium (expressed in Colony Forming Units or CFU) will be available to the animal.

Most Probios® products contain lactic acid bacteria including Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum. Select Probios® products contain Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis bacteria.

Probios is the top of the line brand, but others are okay too. We buy our Probiotic Paste at various outlets (Jeffers Pet, Tractor Supply, Caprine Supply). We give Probiotic Paste as needed to Kids and Adults.

Other Supplements

Selenium & Vitamin E

Vitamin E and Selenium are needed for optimum muscle health and antioxidant support. We feed these crumbles to our pregnant does about once a week during pregnancy.

We have the gel formulation on hand for Kids that might need extra supplementation to correct muscle issues after birth.

Vitamin B

Vitamin B is used to support appetite, digestion and energy levels. We administer during kidding, vaccinating, post antibiotic, deworming, weaning, diminished feed intake and other stressful events. Vitamin B can be either injected subcutaneously or given orally as a gel.

Feeding Routines

Doe Mix Recipe

We mix the following bags of feed into a food-grade barrel:

• Dairy Goat Parlor – 2 bags
• Premium Alfalfa Pellets – 2 bags
• Beet Pulp Shreds – 1 bag
• BOSS – 1 25lb bag
• Crimped Oats – 1 bag (added in late pregnancy and during lactation)

Kids

At Rafter O, our kids are dam-raised to ensure they bond with their mothers. For larger litters, like triplets or quadruplets, we’ll supplement with a bottle to make sure everyone gets enough nourishment. We prefer to use raw goat milk for bottle feeding, but if needed, we’ll use Kid Milk Replacer as an alternative.

As soon as the kids start nibbling, they join the does in munching on the same hay—Coastal and Chaffhaye. By around 4 weeks of age, we introduce them to the Doe Mix and Medicated Pellets, offering small amounts in the morning and evening through the creep feeder. This helps them gradually transition to solid food while getting the nutrients they need for healthy growth.

Dry Does

Dry Does consist of both junior does who haven’t freshened, and adult does who are given the year off. These goats don’t need as much food since they are not producing milk.

In the morning, these girls get the Doe Mix and all-day access to coastal hay. In the evening, they receive Chaffhaye and All Forage.

Milking Does

Milking does need a bit more fuel to keep up with milk production. In the morning, they get a serving of Doe Mix, with Calf Manna added in to boost milk production. Once milking is finished, they enjoy a handful of tasty goat treats as a reward. They also have free access to Coastal hay throughout the day. In the evening, they get lots of Chaffhaye. Depending on their condition, some milking does may get extra Doe Mix or a little extra time to graze around the property.

Bucks

Our bucks have free access to Coastal hay all day long. In the morning, each buck gets about 1-2 cups of Purina Grower pellets, and in the evening, they enjoy 1-2 cups of Alfalfa Timothy pellets. During rut in the fall, we increase their feed to support their energy needs, while in other seasons, we scale it back a bit.

Fresh Water

Water is an essential nutrient for all animals and is sometimes overlooked. While goats require less water than cattle, they do need water and require additional supplies when lactating or coping with hot weather. A 110-pound goat will require 1 to 3 gallons of water per day, depending upon diet, intake, and weather — toward the lower range in winter and the upper range in the hottest days of summer. A lactating goat will require an additional 1 quart of water for every 1 pint of milk produced. If a goat is producing 5 pints of milk at peak lactation while raising twins, 2.5 gallons of water are required each day. If goats are eating green material, a substantial part of their water requirement can be met by water contained in the plant material. However, if dry feed such as hay is consumed, water must be supplied to meet the requirement.

Water should be kept clean to encourage intake. This usually involves regular cleaning of the waterer. It is important that the area around the waterer not be muddy as this environment can spread foot rot and internal parasites. Placing some rock or gravel around the waterer can help keep feet dry and reduce disease problems. Water cleanliness is especially important for bucks on high-grain diets. Their water needs to be shaded in summer and warm in the winter to encourage intake and reduce the risk of urinary calculi.

Here at the Rafter O, we utilize Nelson Automatic Dog Waterers Model 1200. Unlike the cheap automatic waterers you can purchase at Tractor Supply, these waterers are built to last! They are built of high grade 304 stainless steel and they are virtually indestructible. We have one of these mounted inside our doe barn and another outside. We also use one for our LGDs.

We have very high water pressure at our barns, and I recommend using a water pressure regulator with these waterers. Reducing the water pressure helps lessen the strain on the waterer and decrease the chances of leaks.

We also have a few buckets of water out for our goats as well in case one goat decides to hog the waterer. In the summer, we add Goat BlueLite® to one bucket of water in the doe barn. During the extremely hot days, we refill this several times a day. Goat BlueLite® contains palatable electrolytes, vitamins, and readily available sources of energy and nutrients to use during periods of dehydration in goats. BlueLite is also helpful when taking goats to shows. Sometimes, goats won’t drink “new” water they aren’t used to. BlueLite makes the water more palatable and increases consumption. We have nicknamed this Goatorade! BlueLite is available at many online retailers.

Summary

We’ve been raising goats since 2015 and continually fine-tune our nutrition plans to meet their needs. Our goats are happy, healthy, and raised with the utmost care—no compromises! While our dry-lot setup means a higher feed bill, it also means we avoid the parasite challenges that come with pasture-raised herds. Stay tuned for a future blog where we’ll dive into more about parasites! Until then, happy goating!