Housing and feeding basics

A dairy goat that is dry, comfortable and well fed will milk well and fall sick less. Good housing and feeding are the foundation of the whole enterprise.

Housing

• Build a raised, slatted floor so urine and droppings fall through — this keeps hooves dry and cuts disease.
• Ensure good airflow but no direct draught or rain into the sleeping area.
• Allow roughly 1.5–2 square metres per adult goat so they are not crowded.

Feeding

Goats are browsers — they thrive on a variety of forage rather than one feed. Combine good-quality roughage with a mineral supplement and clean water at all times.

• Offer a mix of forage: napier grass, sweet potato vines, calliandra and other fodder shrubs.
• Provide a mineral lick and constant clean water — a milking doe drinks a lot.
• Introduce any new feed gradually over several days to avoid bloat.