Nutrition Requirement of Goat

by Farzana Panhwar

In the year 1996 the total goat population in Pakistan was 41166,000 heads, while in Sindh it was 9734,000 heads.

In the year 1999-00 total goat population in the country was 47426,ooo heads, while the male population, one year and above was 6010,000 heads, the female one year and above was 25755,000 heads and young stock less than one year was 15661,000 heads.

In the year 1999-00, in Pakistan the gross production for milk from goat was 31,804,000 tonnes, while goat milk consumption was 25,566,000 tonnes.

In the year 1999-00 in Pakistan the goat meat production was 218,000 tonnes/million, goat skin production was 23.3 million No., goat hair production was 18,000 tonnes.

In the year 1999-00 in Pakistan the total fodder production was 2,64,900 hectares out of which in Sindh was 365,700 hectares. The total fodder production in Pakistan was 22.7 per hectare in tonnes, out of which in Sindh, fodder crop production was 25.0 per hectares in tonnes.

Goat need food, which provide energy for its daily, body tissues, repair, for it growth, for lactation and to produce healthy off springs. Goat needs balance feed, which consist of protein, minerals, vitamins, water, and roughage. The nutrition requirement of goat depends upon various factors like, age, pregnancy , lactation, health, breed, climate and environment. It is recommended that to feed goat with seasonal feed, it is not only fresh but its provide better nutritional values. The major purposes of goat farming is either for meat or milk production. In both the cases goat not only need a balance diet, but she must have a place to walk, to burns the food and convert into energy. The goat diet plan changes with the supply of fresh green fodder. These are discussed below:

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