Sheep & Goat Nutriton

SHEEP & GOAT
NUTRITION
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
SHEEP & GOAT SPECIALIST, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXTENSION
WESTERN MARYLAND RESEARCH & EDUCATION CENTER, KEEDYSVILLE, MARYLAND
SSCHOEN@UMD.EDU – WWW.SHEEPANDGOAT.COM – WWW.WORMX.INFO

Presentation outline
 Nutrients
 Nutrient requirements
 Intake
 Synchronizing forage and animal
production
 Supplementation
 Evaluating nutritional program
 Suggested resources

Nutrients required by all sheep and goats
 Energy
 Protein
 Minerals
 Vitamins
 Water

Energy (calories)
 Nutrient required in the greatest quantity.
 Is usually the most limiting nutrient.
 Comes primarily from carbohydrates and
fats in the diet, but also from excess protein.
 Excess energy is stored as fat in the body.
 Energy is expressed in different ways:
• TDN - total digestible nutrients, %
• DE - digestible energy, kcal
• ME - metabolizable energy, kcal
• NEp - net energy, kcal
• DOM - digestible organic matter, %

Improper feeding of energy to livestock
Not enough energy in diet
 Reduced fertility
 Reduced growth rates
 Reduced milk production
 Loss of body condition, reserves
 Higher critical temperature
 Less cold tolerance
 Reduced resistance to disease.
 Risk of pregnancy toxemia (ketosis)
 Reduced nutrient absorption.
 Increases protein requirements
(%) of ration.
Too much energy in diet
 Wasteful economically
 Over-conditioned (BCS >4.5) animals
have impaired reproduction.
 Fat females are more prone to
pregnancy toxemia and dystocia.
 Feed efficiency decreases once an
animal has reached its optimal finish.
 Excess finish is undesirable to most to
consumers.

Protein (amino acids)
 Required in smaller amounts than energy.
 More expensive feed ingredient than energy.
 Amount more important than quality.
 Excess protein is not stored in the body:
excess protein is broken down and used
as energy.
 Some excess protein may be beneficial if
parasites burdens, esp. barber pole worm, are
excessive.
 Protein is expressed in different ways:
• CP – crude protein
• DP – digestible protein
• MP – metabolizable protein
• DIP – rumen degraded intake protein
• UIP – undegraded intake protein

Crude protein (CP): N x 6.26
 True or “natural” protein
1. Rumen degraded intake protein (DIP)
Digested in rumen
N  ammonia  microbial protein
2. Undegradable intake protein (UIP)
(bypass or escape protein)
Not digested in rumen.
Digested postruminally (in small intestines) or
excreted in feces.
 Non-protein nitrogen (NPN), e.g. urea

By-pass protein
 A mix of microbial protein and
bypassed dietary protein is
desired for optimal productivity.
 In high-producing animals, it is
recommended that 25-35% of
protein be bypass protein.
 20-30 % of the protein in fresh,
high quality forage is bypass
protein.
 Supplementing with bypass
protein may improve
productivity and/or increase
resistance to internal parasites.
Bypass Protein sources
 Low
Soybean meal
 Medium
Cottonseed meal
Dehydrated alfalfa
Distiller’s grains
 High
Corn gluten meal
Fish meal

Improper feeding of protein to livestock
Not enough protein
 Protein deficiency is rare;
most effects are sub-clinical
 Impaired reproduction
 Reduced growth rates
 Reduced hoof and horn growth.
 Reduced milk production
 Decreased fiber production
 Reduced resistance to disease,
especially parasites.
 Reduced rumen function
 Reduced nutrition absorption
Too much protein
 Expensive and inefficient source of energy.
 Risk of pizzle rot in males
 Can cause metabolic harm
Excess N  ammonia  UREA (BUN)
 Reduces performance, as energy is
required for removal.
 Excess protein has been shown to cause
reproductive problems in cattle .
 Excess N (in manure) can be an environmental
concern (“a resource out-of-place”)

Micronutrients
Required in small amounts: ounces, grams, international units (IU), or parts-per-million (PPM).
Minerals
 Macrominerals
Calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P)
Salt: sodium and chloride (NaCl)
Potassium (K)
Magnesium (Mg)
Sulfur (S)
 Trace or microminerals
1. Cobalt (Co)
2. Copper (Cu)
3. Fluoride (F)
4. Iron (Fe)
5. Iodine (I)
6. Manganese (Mn)
7. Molybdenum (Mo)
8. Selenium (Se)
9. Zinc (Zn)
Vitamins
 Fat-soluble - A – D – E – K
 Carotene (green forages)  vitamin A
 Sunlight  Vitamin D
 Vitamin E sometimes requires supplementation
 Vitamin K synthesized in rumen
 Water-soluble - B complex – C
 B vitamins synthesized in rumen
 Vitamin C synthesized in tissues

Possible micronutrient problems
Deficiencies
 Calcium and phosphorus
rickets
 Calcium
Milk fever
 Copper
Various, including
swayback, stringy wool,
hair color
 Iodine
Goiter
 Magnesium
Grass tetany
Excesses
 Calcium
milk fever
 Copper (esp. sheep)
Chronic or acute toxicity
 Selenium toxicosis
 Sulfur - polio
Imbalances
 Copper, molybdenum, and sulfur
Copper toxicity or deficiency
Urinary calculi
 Salt
Lower feed and water
consumption
 Selenium and Vitamin E
White muscle disease
Various other problems
 Thiamin (B2)
Polioencephamalacia
 Zinc
Wool picking, skin problems,
hoof problems

Important nutrition interactions
Ratio should never go below 1:1
2:1 is ideal for most rations, especially for males
and castrates.
 Cobalt and vitamin B12
 Copper, molybdenum and sulfur
Molybdenum forms insoluble complex with
copper
Sulfur binds with molybdenum
 Nitrogen and sulfur
10:1 to 12:1 ratio is ideal
 Energy and protein
Excess protein (N) reduces nutrient absorption
and causes intestinal imbalances.

Nutrient requirements of sheep and goats
Vary by
 Species
 Genetics (type)
 Size (weight)
 Body condition
 Sex
 Age
 Stage and level of production
 Disease
 Environment

Nutrient requirements vary by species
and genetics
0.50
0.70
0.90
1.10
1.30
1.50
1.70
1.90
2.10
2.30
Angora Boer Local Dairy Lamb
Energy (TDN) requirements, lb/day
66 lb. intact male kids/lamb
0.33
0.33
0.33
0.66
0.09
+
fiber
growth
0.50
0.70
0.90
1.10
1.30
1.50
1.70
1.90
Mature ewe Meat doe Dairy doe Angora doe
Energy (TDN) requirements, lb/day
132 lb. female, maintenance
+
fiber
growth
Source: Nutrient requirements of small ruminants, 2007

Nutrient requirements vary by size (weight)
0.80
0.90
1.00
1.10
1.20
1.30
1.40
1.50
1.60
1.70
110-lb 154-lb 198-lb
Energy requirements, lb. TDN/day
Mature ewe, maintenance
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
1.00
1.10
1.20
1.30
1.40
1.50
88-lb 132-lb 154-lb
Mature non-dairy doe, maintenance

Energy requirements vary by stage
of production
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
2.20
2.40
Maintenance Breeding Early gestation Late gestation Lactation
132-lb. mature non-dairy doe (twins)
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
176-lb. mature ewe (twins)

Protein requirements vary by stage
of production
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
Protein requirements, lb/day
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
0.40
0.45
0.50
Protein requirements, lb/day
132-lb. non-dairy doe (twins)

Mineral requirements vary by stage
and level of production
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
Maintenance Breeding Early gestation Late gestation Early lactation
Mineral requirements, g/d
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
Maintenance Breeding Early gestation Late gestation Early lactation
Mineral requirements, g/d
132-lb non-dairy doe (twins)
Calcium
Phosphorus

Nutrient requirements vary by level of
production
1.60
1.70
1.80
1.90
2.00
2.10
2.20
2.30
2.40
Single Twins Triplets
132-doe, late gestation
1.60
1.80
2.00
2.20
2.40
2.60
2.80
3.00
3.20
3.40
Single Twins Triplets
Energy requirements, lb. TDN/d
176-lb. mature ewe, late gestation

Nutrient requirements vary by desired level of
performance, e.g. ADG
0.50
0.70
0.90
1.10
1.30
1.50
1.70
No gain 0.11 0.22 0.33 0.44 0.55
44-lb. intact Boer buckling
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
0.44 0.55 0.66 0.88
66-lb. ram lamb, 4 mos. early maturing

Intake
 Intake is important for acquisition of
nutrients, especially by grazing livestock
 Livestock require amounts of nutrients, not
percentages.
 Livestock requirements are based on the
dry matter (moisture-free) content of the
feed source.
 Feedstuffs vary considerably in their dry
matter content (percentage).
 Fresh-growing forages usually have a low
dry matter content compared to more
mature pastures and most harvested feeds.
 Intake can be a limiting factor on pasture-
based diets.

Factors affecting intake
 Palatability
Flavor and texture
 Foraging behavior
bite size and bite rate
 Chemical characteristics of feed
alkaloids, endophyte, tannins, and terpenes
 Forage quality, density, and availability
 Dietary energy and fiber content
Fiber  Intake 
 Physiological stage of animal
 Temperature
temperature  metabolic rate 
 Supplementation

How to increase intake
 Keep forage in vegetative
stage through grazing
management.
 Diversify pasture composition
to include several grass species
and around 30% legumes.
 Maintain a dense pasture so
animals will take larger bites.
 Supplementation

Synchronizing forage and animal
production
Breeding flock/herd Growing/finishing lambs & kids

1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
January February March April May June July August September October November December
176-lb ewe 132-lb doe
Energy requirements of ewes/does, lbs. TDN/day
Winter (January) lambing/kidding (twins)
Dry periodLactation Early gestation
Late
gestationBreeding
Lambing
Kidding
Wean

1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
Winter (January) lambing/kidding (twins)
DryLactation Early gestation
Late
gestationBreeding
Lambing
Kidding
Wean

Growing and finishing
Winter-born lambs and kids
Winter
born
Wean

Winter-born lambs and kids
Winter
born
1. Sell at Easter
2. Market by July 1
3. Hold for Muslim holiday
Wean

1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
spring (APRIL) lambing/kidding (twins)
DryLactation
Early
gestation
Late
gestation Breeding
Lambing
Kidding
Wean

Spring-born lambs and kids
Spring
born
Wean

Spring-born lambs and kids
Spring
born
Wean
1. Sell at weaning
2. Hold over summer
3. Put on feed
4. Forage option

1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
Fall (September) lambing/kidding (twins)
Dry LactationEarly gestation
Late
gestationBreeding
Lambing
Kidding
Wean

Late
gestationBreeding
Lambing
Kidding
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
Wean

Late
gestationBreeding
Lambing
Kidding
Wean
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50

September October November December January February March April May
Fall-born lambs and kids
Fall
born
Wean

Fall-born lambs and kids
Fall
born
Wean
September October November December January February March April May
1. Sell at Christmas
2. Put on feed
3. Forage options

Supplementation: when is it necessary?
The purpose of supplementation is to provide required nutrients that are not being supplied by the forage diet.
 Determine which nutrient is limiting and
supplement that one first.
 Supplementing energy is helpful on
vegetative, well-managed pastures for
more efficient utilization of forage protein
(especially for high producing animals).
 Supplementing with protein is necessary
on low-quality pasture and rangeland or
when continuously grazing temperate
warm-season pastures.
 The added production should cover the
cost of supplementation.
Feed + delivery + labor

Who to supplement and why?
 Ewes and does
 Improve BCS
 Flushing
 Late gestation
 Early lactation
 Lambs and kids
 To improve growth rates
 To improve parasite tolerance
 To finish for market
 To reach target markets
 To develop replacement females
 Other reasons for supplemenation
 As a carrier for
 Minerals
 Coccidiostats
 Antibiotics
 MGA
 Natural “dewormers”
 Nematode-trapping fungus *
 Sericea lespedeza pellets to help
control parasites
 During drought conditions or
inclement weather.
 To stretch the pasture resource.

Supplemental feeding
Supplementation
 The animal eats the
supplement and
pasture intake is not
reduced.
Substitution
 Some of the
supplement is
substituting for pasture.
 Pasture intake drops.
Saved pasture may be
your goal.
Complementation
• A good supplement
increases the animal’s
intake of dead pasture
or crop residue.

Types of supplements
 Salt
Minimum recommendation
 Mineral mixes
General recommendation
 Nutritional tubs, blocks
Costly, but labor-saving
 Hay
Common practice
 Grain
Usually most economical
 Sericea lespedeza pellets
Help control parasites
 High fiber feeds
Ideal for grazing ruminants

Supplementation with fibrous by-product feeds
Permissible under USDA Grass-fed Standards
>18% CF  < 70% TDN  5.5% Fat
Feedstuff
CF
(fiber, %)
TDN
(energy, %)
CP
(protein, %)
Fat
(EE, %)
Almond hulls 16 59 5.0 3.3
Cottonseed hulls 48 45 5.0 1.9
Oat hulls 32 40 4.0 1.5
Peanut hulls 63 22 7.0 1.5
Soybean hulls 38 77 13.0 2.6
Source: Nutrient Requirements of Small Ruminants, 2007
Roughage feeds are low in starch and thus do not create the negative associative effects in the
rumen that are often created when the forage diet is supplemented with feed grains.

Mineral supplementation for grazing livestock
Free choice supplementation generally recommended
 Low-cost “insurance” to provide adequate
mineral nutrition.
 Because soils differ in mineral content from
place to place, it is difficult to recommend a
mineral mix that is suitable for all farms.
 Can test soil, feed, water, and/or tissues to
determine specific mineral needs of livestock.
 Use species-specific mineral mixes.
 Loose mineral mixes are better than blocks for
sheep and goats.
 Keep mineral mixes dry.
 Don’t let mineral feeder(s) run out.
 Make sure all animals get minerals; may need
multiple feeders placed around pasture.

Evaluating the nutritional program in a
pasture-based production system
Forage
1. Quality
 Forage test to determine likely
quality of animals’ diet.
2. Quantity
 Estimate forage yield
1) Clip-and-weight
2) Plant height and density
Animal
1. NIRS fecal profiling
► Have feces analyzed to determine
quality of forage diet consumed
by animals.
2. Evaluate animals
1) Health
2) Performance
3) Body condition scoring (BCS)

Sampling to determine quality of
diet consumed by grazing livestock
Forage
 Sample pasture to determine likely
quality of animals’ diet.
 Fill gallon-size bag with forage
sample.
 Take sample when animals first
have access to pasture.
 Observe animals to see what
plants they are consuming.
 Tear plant at grazing level.
 Sample entire pasture.
 Mix sample.
 Send to lab (can freeze)
Feces
 Sample feces to determine quality of
diet (forage component) animals
consumed in previous 36-48 hours.
 Collect pooled fecal sample after
animals have been grazing pasture
for at least 48 hours.
 Collect samples from ~10% of flock or
herd.
 Fill quart-size back with feces.
 Keep cool (can freeze).
 Send to a lab.

Western Maryland Pasture-based
meat goat performance test
Date Forage DM CP NDF ADF TDN RFV
7/14 Sunn Hemp 16.8 20.0 24.4 21.4 75.8 278
7/14
Sunn Hemp
Dwarf Pearl Millet
15.2 21.8 36.3 26.7 72.6 174
7/14 Orchardgrass 43.9 9.9 69.4 43.8 53.5 73
7/13 Sorghum 26.9 18.4 66.8
8/09 Mixed weeds 14.1 65.8 111
8/09 Chicory 14.3 75.3 184
8/09 Lambsquarter 23.2 89.6 289
Forage Analyses, Cumberland Analytical Services

2014 Western Maryland pasture-
based meat goat performance test
Date Composition CP DOM DOM:CP
June 19 Cool season 16.7 46.9 2.8
June 29 Cool season 19.0 50.0 2.6
July 3 Cool season 21.2 50.1 2.4
August 7 Warm season 21.5 47.4 2.2
NIRS Analysis, Grazingland Animal Nutrition Lab

Animal monitoring: Body condition scoring
 One the most practical and important tools
available to livestock producers.
 Used to monitor nutritional program and
health of flock/herd.
 Cannot determine body condition without
handling (touching) animals.
 A scoring system of 1 to 5 (with 0.5
increments) is usually used for sheep
and goats.
 Extremely thin with no fat reserves, 1
 Healthy animals, 2.5 to 4
 Very over-conditioned (obese) animal, >4.5

Suggested resources
 2015 Winter webinar series: pasture management for small ruminant producers
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/recordings.html#pasture
 Ruminant Nutrition for Grazers (NCAT-ATTRA)
http://extension.usu.edu/rangelands/files/uploads/Ruminant%20Nutrition/Ruminant%20nut
rition%20grazing.pdf
 Certified forage testing laboratories
http://www.foragetesting.org/files/2013_Certified_Labs.pdf
 Grazing Animal Nutrition (GAN) Lab
http://cnrit.tamu.edu/ganlab/
 Energy converter
http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/java/LivestockSystemMgt/Conversion/energy.htm
 This presentation
http://www.slideshare.net/schoenian/sheep-goat-nutrition

THANK YOU. QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Sheep & Goat Specialist
University of Maryland Extension
sschoen@umd.edu

Sheep & Goat Nutriton

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