can goats eat sweet feed

Can Goats Eat Sweet Feed?

We’ve received a lot of questions regarding sweet feed for goats over the years as our hobby farming friends have started their own goat herds. The most common questions are about the suitability of sweet feed for goats, as well as healthy quantities and feeding practices. 

As this seems to be a common concern, we put together this post to go over all the facts and answer all common questions regarding sweet feed for goats. 

Across the board, yes goats can eat sweet feed. Dive in to learn more about what sweet feed is, its nutritional and dietary benefit for goats, as well as best feeding practices!

What Is Sweet Feed For Goats

Sweet feed is a type of commercial goat feed that is specially formulated to provide essential nutrients and energy to your herd.

It typically contains a mix of grains, such as corn, oats, and barley, along with molasses or other sweeteners to enhance palatability. This combination creates a tasty and high energy treat for goats. 

Note that there are also common sweet feed mixes for horses, cows, and other large livestock. We do not recommend offering your goats these mixes because their nutritional contents are not formulated for goats and can result in health issues if eaten long term

Nutritional Contents Of Sweet Feed

Sweet feed for goats usually offers a balanced blend of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. 

In general, there is about 16% crude protein and 25% crude fiber in sweet feed mixes. However, we have come across some that contain only 12% crude fiber; we stay away from those brands. Goats are simply too dependent on high fibers for healthy digestion and metabolism to make such a low fiber sweet feed worth it!

But the specific nutrient composition can vary among different brands and formulations, so it’s essential to read the label for precise information. 

Common ingredients in a goat sweet feed blend include:

  • Whole barley
  • Molasses
  • Cracked corn
  • Copper
  • Alfalfa
  • Whole oats
  • Zinc
  • Salt
  • Soybean
  • Selenium

The added vitamins and minerals in sweet feeds ensure that goats’ macro and micro nutrient needs are met, especially when offered when foraging opportunities are limited. 

What Is The Difference Between Goat Feed And Sweet Feed

While goat feed and sweet feed share some similarities in terms of nutrition, there are differences. 

Goat feed is typically designed to meet the specific nutritional requirements of goats at various life stages, such as growth, maintenance, or pregnancy. 

On the other hand, sweet feed is more of a treat or supplement and might lack certain essential nutrients that goats need in their primary diet.

Can You Exclusively Feed Goats Sweet Feed

No, sweet feed should not be the sole diet for your goats. 

Although goats find it delicious, relying solely on sweet feed can lead to nutritional deficiencies and health issues, starting with poor digestion and possible calcium build-up in the urinary tract. 

Fast Fact: Some sweet feed blends have added ammonium chloride to help reduce the risk of urinary calculi, especially in wether goats. 

Always remember that all goats require a coarse, fibrous diet grounded in unlimited amounts of hay and access to fresh plant forage. 

Pellets and feeds are great dietary supplements in measured amounts, and veggies, fruits and sweet feeds are wonderful treats for your herd but should never replace their primary diet. 

So, Can Goats Eat Sweet Feed Everyday

We do not recommend feeding your goats sweet feed every day, especially in spring, summer, and fall when there is a lot of available foragable plant material for them.

In winter, we supplement our goat’s diet with a bit of sweet feed at least three times a week. We stick to the general guideline of about 1 lb of sweet feed per 100 lbs of your goat’s weight. 

For example, our 50 lb goat would get about 0.5lbs of sweet feed three times a week in the winter months.  

A word to the wise: the high sugar content in sweet feed can cause obesity, digestive problems, and tooth decay in goats. It’s best to offer sweet feed as an occasional treat and not make it a regular part of their daily meals! 

How Much Sweet Feed Is Too Much

This is a bit of a tricky question, as the amount of sweet feed a goat can handle depends on multiple variables such as size, age, and activity level.  

But generally speaking, the appropriate amount of sweet feed treats should not exceed 10% of their total diet. 

Monitoring your goats’ weight and overall health regularly will help ensure they’re not consuming too much sweet feed! 

Instances When Sweet Feed Is Beneficial For Goats

Sweet feed can be beneficial to your goats when it is offered in specific situations, such as enticing goats to eat medications, encouraging them to adapt to a new environment, or providing extra energy during colder months. 

We have found that sweet feed is a great way to train our goats to come when called and to reward them after milking time! 

Regardless, do not get carried away. It’s essential to remember that sweet feed should always compliment a balanced diet rather than replace it.

What To Feed Goats To Gain Weight

Many of our goat raising friends have asked us if sweet feed is appropriate to use to help their goats gain weight. 

We always reply that if they’re looking to help their goats gain weight, they must focus on increasing their access to high-quality hay, provide fresh forage, and supplement their diet with goat-specific feed formulated for weight gain. 

These weight gain feeds usually contain energy-dense grains like corn, higher protein contents, and less sugars. 

We also always suggest consulting with a veterinarian for personalized goat dietary advice. 

What Human Foods Can Goats Eat?

Goats can eat a wide range of the same fruits and veggies that us humans enjoy! 

In fact, offering our goats veggies treats, such as radishes, is one of our favorite ways to dote on them. 

However, any processed, cooked or canned human food is not recommended for goats. There are often preservatives, sugars, and other questionable ingredients that can result in serious digestive issues and encourage bad eating habits. 

What To Feed Goats In Winter?

During winter months when foragable, green foods are scarce we offer our goats unlimited amounts of hay alongside supplementary, goat-specific feeds and grains, such as oats

Lots of hay ensures they ingest the fibers they need while properly formulated feeds meet all their other nutritional requirements during colder months. 

This trip of goats are is loving the sweet feed offered to them! 

Final Thoughts On Can Goats Eat Sweet Feed

There we have it! We hope all your questions regarding sweet feed for goats have been addressed. 

Overall, incorporating measured amounts of treats such as sweet feed in your goats diet will keep them excited and in excellent condition day after day. 

Remember, a healthy and happy goat diet revolves around balance and variety and we cannot recommend more chatting with your local vet for their best, goat-specific dietary advice! 

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