Importance of Vitamins & Minerals for Goat

Supplementing vitamins and minerals for goat is very much important for their maintenance as well as proper functioning of their physiological systems. You can feed proper protein, energy, and fat, but if the mineral and vitamin mix is wrong, your goats will not do well. Most of the mineral- and vitamin-related problems in goats result from deficiencies, but toxicity can occur too.

Although no single mineral can be singled out as more important than others, copper, zinc, selenium, and manganese levels are especially critical. The interaction of minerals is astoundingly complex. The most difficult task in raising goats is getting nutrition right, and Minerals and vitamins for goat are integral parts of proper nutrition. Most goat raisers don’t know enough about nutrition to formulate our own feed ration. Do not make additions to already-formulated feed; you are messing up the nutritional balance that a trained goat nutritionist has put into his feed formula.

Now will discuss importance of various Vitamins and Minerals for Goat .

First let us discuss about the important minerals for goat:

Selenium requirements for Goat : Large parts of the United States have selenium-deficient soil. Selenium deficiency is widespread in most of the eastern coast of the U.S., into the Great Lakes area, and throughout the North- Western part of this country. Plants grown in these soils are selenium deficient; therefore they cannot provide adequate selenium to the goats that eat them. Selenium deficiency, like Vitamin E deficiency, can cause white muscle disease (nutritional muscular dystrophy), causing the goat to have difficulty controlling its muscles. New-borns with weak rear legs may be selenium-deficient. Kids may be too weak to nurse their dams. Pneumonia can result from weakness in muscles that control breathing.

If you are raising goats on selenium-deficient soil, you must make sure that this mineral is added to processed feed.

Grow E-Sel is very much useful for fulfilling Vitamin -E and Selenium requirements for goats.

Zinc requirements for Goat’ health : Zinc is needed in the synthesis of proteins and DNA and in cell division. Excessive salivation, deformed hooves, stiff joints, chronic skin problems, abnormally small testicles, and poor libido (reduced interest in mating) are some of the signs.

Copper and Molybdenum requirements for Goat : Copper in other than small amounts is toxic to sheep, but goats must have significant copper levels in their diet. Inadequate copper levels can cause loss of hair color, coarse hair that has hooked end tips, abortions, stillbirths, anaemia, frequent bone fractures, poor appetite, weight loss, and decreased milk production. Molybdenum and copper amounts must be balanced or health problems occur. More than three (3) parts per million (ppm) of molybdenum binds copper, creating copper deficiency.

Copper toxicity can occur by feeding too much copper. Make sure that the copper level in feed is correct for your goats by consulting a trained goat nutritionist knowledgeable about your area. Do not depend upon the advice of feed store owners. They are in the business of selling feed and most have almost zero knowledge of goat nutrition and health.

Iron requirements for Goat : Unless worm infested, foraging goats generally don’t experience iron deficiency. Certain onion-type plants, however, can cause anaemia. Stomach worms, sucking lice, and blood loss are common causes of anaemia in goats. Goats that are seriously ill with anaemia may be supplemented with injectable iron or oral administration of Red Cell. An excess of iron can contribute to decrease

Growmin Forte Plus should be supplemented for Iron ,Zinc, Cooper & Cobalt deficiencies d fertility in goats.

Iodine for Goat : Goitres are the most visible sign of iodine deficiency. New-borns whose dams are iodine deficient can be born with goitres. Commercial feeds and minerals contain non-iodized salt (it mixes well), so it may be necessary to offer iodized salt on a free-choice basis.

Calcium and Phosphorus for Goat : Calcium and phosphorus must be in proper balance or serious illnesses can occur. Female goats that have been bred at too young of an age can develop lameness and/or bowed legs if they are calcium deficient. Calcium is essential to bone formation and muscle contractions (including labour contractions). A calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of 2-1/2 to 1 is correct and helps prevent urinary calculi. Too much phosphorus in relation to calcium causes urinary calculi. An imbalance of calcium and phosphorus can result in birth defects. Urinary calculi is not caused by too much calcium but rather by too much phosphorus in relation to calcium. Plants fertilized with chicken litter are high in phosphorus, resulting in a calcium-to-phosphorus imbalance. Check with your hay producer to determine if chicken litter was used; if so, you will likely have to add calcium carbonate to your feed to get the calcium-to-phosphorus balance to the correct 2-1/2 to 1 ratio.

Grow Cal D-3 is the good choice for fulfilling the requirements of Calcium ,Vitamin D-3 ,Carbohydrate , Phosphorus , Zinc and Magnesium for goat.

Manganese for Goat : Slow growth rates in kids (especially buck kids), reduced fertility and abortions in does, improperly formed legs, and difficulty in walking are general signs of manganese deficiency. Too much calcium interferes with manganese absorption.

Importance of Salt for Goat : If a goat lacks salt in its diet, it may lick the ground to get salt from the dirt. Offer salt as part of an appropriate loose mineral mix on a free-choice basis. Do not force-feed salt by mixing it with processed feed. Salt is often used as a feed limiter, as heavily salted rations cause goats to eat less. Do not feed salt or mineral blocks to goats. Goats bite, damaging their teeth; cattle lick. Use loose minerals (salt is included) with goats.

Sulphur for Goat : Excessive salivation may be a sign of sulphur deficiency. A properly balanced loose mineral and vitamin mix is required. Do not directly supplement sulphur, because it can bind up iron and copper.

Potassium for Goat : Goats on forage usually get all the potassium they need. Penned animals need potassium added to their processed grain mix. Emaciation and muscle weakness are signs of severe potassium deficiency.

Magnesium requirements for Goat : Goats deficient in magnesium have lowered urine and milk production and may become anorexic.

Here are some symptoms associated with mineral deficiencies:

Selenium deficiency:Weak muscles, trouble breathing.
Zinc deficiency:Stiff joints, skin problems, low interest in breeding, deformed hooves, excessive salivating.
Copper deficiency:Coarse hair, hair that curls at the end only, abortion, stillbirths, weight loss, low milk supply.
Calcium & Phosphorus (usually found together) deficiency:Rickets, milk fever.
Iodine deficiency:
Iron deficiency:Anaemia, weakness.
Sodium deficiency:Licking the ground or eating dirt.
Manganese deficiency:Slow growth in kids, reduced fertility and stillbirths.
Boron:joint problems, arthritis

Now we will discuss about importance of Vitamins for Goat’ health :

Importance of Vitamin-A for Goat: Inadequate amounts of Vitamin A in a goat’s diet can lead to thick nasal discharge, difficulty in seeing or blindness, respiratory diseases, susceptibility to parasites, scruffy hair coat, and diarrhoea. Kids with coccidiosis need more Vitamin A because they have reduced intestinal absorption of nutrients. Adults are likely to be less fertile and more susceptible to diseases if they do not have adequate levels of this essential fat-soluble vitamin. Vitamin A builds up in the body’s fatty tissues, so it must be supplemented carefully to avoid toxicity.

Growvit- A is the best Vitamin-A supplement for a Goat

Vitamin -B requirements for Goat : A sick goat must be supplemented with B vitamins, particularly Vitamin B 1 (thiamine). The B vitamins are water soluble, so they need to be replenished daily. One of many conditions that depletes the goat’s body of B vitamins is diarrhoea (which is a symptom of a problem and not an illness in itself). Goats whose rumens are not functioning properly or have had their feed regimen drastically changed should be supplemented with B vitamins, particularly B1 (thiamine).

One of the most common examples of Vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency is “goat polio” (polio encephalomalacia). This disease does not mimic polio symptoms found in humans. Thiamine must be given to counteract severe neurological problems. Thiamine-deficient goats display rigid bent necks that won’t straighten and a loss of eye focus. This disease usually results from eating mouldy hay, feed, or sileage; however, it occasionally occurs because the organism exists under certain environmental conditions and a susceptible goat picks it up. The symptoms mimic those of tetanus and dehydration. Because all B vitamins are water soluble, it is difficult to overdose them.

Grow B-Plex is the best and most power supplement for fulfilling Vitamin-B requirements of Goat.

Vitamin- D for Goat: Enlarged joints and bowed legs (rickets) are a result of Vitamin D deficiency. Penned goats must have Vitamin D added to their feed.

Requirements of Vitamin E for Goat : Feeding sileage or old hay can produce Vitamin E deficiency and result in white muscle disease.

Grow E-Sel is a good supplement for Vitamin-E requirement for Goat.

Importance Water: Yes, water. The goat’s body is normally more than 60% water. Rumen contents must be about 70% water to function properly. Even a slight dip in water consumption can result in a goat with fever and off feed. Water should be always sanitize and pure please always keep in mind .

Aquacure is a good water sanitizer for a farm animal’s water .

Conclusion of Vitamins and Minerals for Goat:

The use of various Vitamins and Minerals for Goat are necessary, as Goat become more productive and need to perform at their best. Often, forages are not well balanced, hence we need to supplement vitamins and minerals for Goat as we discussed in this article.You should also read Commercial Goatery Guide

If you are into Goat Farming want to earn maximum profit in your goat farming then please join our Facebook group How To Do Profitable Poultry & Cattle Farming ?