What to Feed Dairy Goats: A Beginners Guide

If you've ever wondered what dairy goats should actually eat, you're not alone! Feeding goats is an important and nuanced topic, and there are a lot of opinions out there. In this video, I'm walking you through exactly what I feed my dairy goats, why I feed it, and how I think about building a healthy diet that supports milk production, rumen health, and long-term wellness. We'll cover forage, hay quality, grain, how much goats actually need to eat, and the biggest mistakes I see new goat owners make. I'll also share my free dairy goat grain ration recipe that has worked well for our herd. Get the FREE grain ration recipe here: https://lively-block-45106.myflodesk.... Whether you're getting your first dairy goats or you're looking to improve your current feeding program, I hope this video helps you make more informed decisions for your animals. In this video you'll learn: • how goats differ from cows and sheep • the importance of feeding ruminants a balanced diet • what kinds of hay and browse are best • what kind of grain is best for dairy goats • how much food they need on a daily basis • tips for avoiding hay waste and choosing the best quality hay Timestamps: 00:00 What do I feed my goats? 00:19 Welcome to my channel 00:41 How and what to feed goats is a hot topic 01:58 The primary source of nutrition for goats 05:15 How much do they need to eat? 07:42 Hay quality 08:09 Do dairy goats need grain? 10:00 Get my free recipe for goat feed 12:10 One more thing to mention… 13:16 In conclusion 14:10 Check out my membership 🐐 I’d Love to Support You On Your Goat Journey! The Dairy Goat Collective is a membership for milkmaids who want to learn holistic goat care without the overwhelm. Access a growing library of mini courses, private podcast, and monthly live zoom meetings, and be a part of a vibrant community of goat ladies. 👉https://thenestinthewest.com/dairy-go... ​​🌿 PRE-ORDER MY BOOK! Find all the places you can order my new book, The Homesteader’s Natural Dairy Goat Handbook, written by Sarah Withers and forwarded by Joel Salatin 👉 Check it out here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F... 🧀 WANT TO MAKE CHEESE WITH YOUR GOAT MILK? If you’re also planning to turn that fresh milk into delicious aged cheese, I teach homesteaders how to make beautiful wheels of cheese from start to finish in my online course, Goat Cheese Academy. It’s perfect for beginners or anyone looking to improve their goat milk cheesemaking. 👉 Learn more here: https://thenestinthewest.com 💌 Stay in the Loop Sign up for my email newsletter for regular tips on goat care, homesteading, cheesemaking, and behind the scenes of our farm life. 👉 Sign up here: https://lively-block-45106.myflodesk.... 🌻 Follow along on Instagram: / nest.in.the.west Thanks so much for watching! Your goat and cheese loving friend, Sarah