Prepared by:

DR. Ahmed Al Taher Ahmed

Proper feeding of balanced food is necessary to ensure better breeding of animals and provide them with the necessary energy to function the basic and the necessary operations of body. It increases the animal resistance of diseases, as well as raising their productivity of milk and meat and to beget healthy generations. Food usually consists of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins in differential averages according to the type of food.

Protein Components

They are necessary for animals growth , rebuild and compensate their decayed cells and tissues and produce meat, milk and wool. Animal need of proteins differs according to age, size and the purpose of raising. Pregnant mothers especially in the last month of pregnancy and during the nursing period as well as the goats babies bred for their meet need fodder meals which contain high percentage of protein (18% ). Protein is available in many concentrated fodders such as the residues of cotton seeds, sesame and peanuts after being squeezed to extract oil and called peanut or sesame cake. It is very rich with proteins and minerals and the percentage of proteins is between 22 – 36% .

These elements generate the necessary energy for movement and the basic operations in the animal body such as breath, walking, digestion and excretion which are considered the vital operations to produce milk and meat.

These components are existed in grains like corn and various maize grains, barley and oily seeds. Lack of carbohydrates in the fodder may reduce the productivity of goats and weight of the mature and the newborn as well.

Minerals and Vitamins

Animals need Calcium and Phosphorus to build their bones. Therefore, the feedings provided to goats should contain Calcium and Phosphorus by 2:1 to avoid the constitution of uroliths. Iron components are necessary to produce blood. Minerals like Sodium Chloride, Iodine, Potassium and others play an important role in digestion and excretion since they are bound to essential hormones and enzymes. The group of B Vitamin is necessary for nerves, protection against skin diseases (Dermatosis) and stimulate the appetite. Although goats are like other ruminants that make the group of vitamin ( B ) in their digestion system, however, the feeding meals should contain (B)Vitamin.

Green fodders contain numerous of minerals and vitamins like Vitamin (A) which is necessary for growth, resist diseases especially skin and eye diseases and Vitamin (E) which is essential to constitute Spermatozoon while the lack of it may cause sterility, infertility and apportion to females. Vitamin C increases immunity, resistance of diseases and the safety of mucous membrane.

Goats Fodders

Fodders are divided into rough, green and concentrated fodders:

Rough Fodders

It helps the mechanism of the basic operations of body and other necessary elements for production such as milk, meat and births. Food usually consists of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins in different percentages according to the sort of fodder.

Straw (hay)

Straw is the remains of Gramineae (grassy plants) and Legumes such as wheat straw, barley straw, bean straw and clover straw. It contains higher percentage of fibers and little of proteins and carbohydrates. It is mixed with fodder to give it the suitable size as well as helping the digestion operations and instigate the animal's stomach. Straw is usually provided with green fodders like clover or added to wheat bran, corn, peanut or sesame cakes.

Straw loses taste and smell due to storage while it varies in its economical value. Barley hay for example is more nutrient than wheat hay and more tasty. Generally the percentage of moisture in hay should not exceed 10% .

Mashed Cloven

Mashed clover is one of the most important dry fodders provided for cattle during Summer season due to lack of green fodders. It contains 14% protein, 24% fibers, 8% digested protein and minerals.

Green Fodders

They include clover, wild and cultivated grass. These fodders constitute the main source of vitamins, minerals and protein components. They are mainly used for milk production in cattle and fattening.

Concentrated Fodders

They are divided into grain fodders which contain little quantities of protein and much quantities of carbohydrates such as corn and barley. The other kind of fodders contain higher percentage of protein and medium percentage of carbohydrates such as peanut cake, cotton seeds cake, sesame seeds cake and wheat and rice bran.

Grains

They contain high averages of carbohydrates and little quantities of protein, fats and fibers. Maize is preferable to feed fattening animals. However, feeding the animals with much quantities of maize may have an effect on the liquidity of butter in the milk. The percentage of protein in barley is higher than that in corn, however, it is less in carbohydrates. Therefore, barley is favorite to feed young animals like calves, goats and sheep. Barley grains should be grinded before being provided as fodder.

Wheat Bran

It is considered as one of the best nutrient fodders and preferable for milk cattle and young animals. It contains igh percentage of Vitamin (B) and Phosphor while the percentage of protein is between 10 –12 %. However it is poor in Calcium therefore, it must be provided with mashed dry cloven.

Cotton and Sesame Seeds Cake

Cotton seeds cake is less in cost but it is poor in Vitamin (A) and Calcium, therefore it can be provided with dry mashed cloven. Sesame seeds cake is delicious, easy for digestion and rich in nutrient elements and protein. More over, it is rich in minerals especially Calcium and Phosphorus and suites all specious of animals. Seeds cake should be given in reasonable quantities for fear that it may cause digestive disturbance.