1ORGANIC

AGRICULTURE
12 PRODUCTION NCII
RAISE ORGANIC SMALL RUMINANT (GOAT)
Quarter 3 – Module 2, wk. 3 - wk 4

Department of Education--Republic
 12
TVL–AFA-ANIMAL
PRODUCTION (SMALL
RUMINANTS)
Quarter 3 – Module 2:

FEEDS AND FEEDING

 What I Need to Know

This lesson focuses on the discussion of feeds and feeding small ruminants. Particularly,
it will deal with feeding guides, common feed ingredients, feeding habits, and feed
requirements of small ruminants.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. define feeds and feeding;

2. show and explain feeding guides;
3. characterize the common feed ingredients for goats and sheep;

What I Know

Instruction: Read the questions carefully and write the letter of the correct answer in your
activity notebook.

1. The rate of weight gain per day of goat and sheep is .

a. 30-40 grams/day c. 70-80 grams/day
b. 40-60 grams/day d. 80-90 grams/day

2. These are feeds containing a relatively large amount of fiber that provides bulk to fill up
the rumen.
a. Concentrates c. Mineral Supplements
b. Feed Additives d. Roughages

4. These include all grains and many by-products of grains and animals such as rice bran,
ground corn, soybean oil meal, copra meal, and bone meal, and molasses.
a. Concentrates c. Mineral Supplements
b. Feed Additives d. Roughages

4. These are organic compounds needed by the animal’s body in a small amount for
maintaining vigor, health, and productivity.
a. Concentrates c. Mineral additives
b. Feed additives d. Vitamin supplements

5. The following are examples of concentrates EXCEPT

a. Copra meal c. Napier
b. Molasses d. Rice bran

6. The following are examples of green roughage EXCEPT,

a. Banana c. Guinea
b. Centrosema d. Napier

7. Banana, kakawate, ipil-ipil are examples of .

a. concentrates c. roughages
b. minerals d. tree leaves

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8. These are practically all carbohydrates with only three percent (3%) of crude
protein.
a. Copra meal c. Molasses
b. Corn bran d. Soybean

9. It is a product of rice milling that contains an average crude protein of 10-12%.

a. Corn bran c. Rice bran
b. Copra meal d. Sorghum

10. Salt, oyster shell, limestone and wood ash are examples of .
a. concentrates c. mineral supplements
b. feed additives d. vitamin supplements

Lesson FEEDS AND FEEDING

Small ruminants like goats and sheep require all the nutrients necessary for the
maintenance of body functions, meat and milk production, growth, and pregnancy. A
deficiency in any of these nutrients can limit production.

In this module, you will know some suggested feeding guide for small ruminants,
classification of common feed ingredients for goats, commonly used ingredients for goat
concentrates, list of common Philippine feedstuffs for goat production, practical feeding guides
for goats, and computation of feed requirements for goats.

What’s In

Instruction: Answer the following questions below the picture.

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1. What did you see on the picture?

2. What are they doing?

What’s New

Instruction: Identify the correct term based on the given definition. Choose your answer
from the box below. Write your answer in your notebook.

1. These are feeds with high digestibility and they are relatively low in fiber and
include all grains and many by-products of grains and animals.
2. It contains about 8.9% crude protein and a high amount of energy (Total
Digestible Energy) that makes it an ideal feed for fattening.
3. This group of feeds includes freshly cut grasses and legumes, hay,
silages, fodder, and other green herbages.
4. It is a by-product of rice milling that contains an average crude protein of 10-
12%.
5. It is a protein supplement produced after fresh leaves are dried and
grounded and its crude protein content is about 19-21%.
6. These provide skeletal support; Salt, oyster shell, limestone, and wood ash
are examples of these.
7. These are organic compounds needed by the animal’s body in small
amounts for maintaining vigor, health, and productivity.
8. This by-product feed is produced after extracting oil from soybean seeds. It
contains about 44% crude protein with a very high feeding value.
9. This is what is left of the coconut meat after the oil has been removed or
extracted. It contains an adequate amount of carbohydrates but it is used
mainly as a protein supplement due to its high crude protein (20- 22%).
10. These are practically all carbohydrates with only three percent (3%) crude
protein. It is a by-product of the sugar industry and is sold in the dark and
semi-liquid (thick) state.

Concentrates Ipil-ipil leaf Meal Roughages

Copra Meal Vitamin Supplements Sorghum

Corn Molasses Soy Bean Oil Meal

Goat Ration Rice Bran Mineral supplements

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 What is It

FEEDS AND
Feeds and feeding are important factors in raising small ruminants. Proper nutrition
is essential for the health of all animals and is the basis of a successful production system.
The nutrition of the goat is of paramount importance for successful goat production. Goats
require proper nutrition. They need six (6) groups of nutrients such as water, vitamins,
minerals, fats, carbohydrates, and protein to live and survive, to maintain body functions,
to produce meat and milk, to grow, and to have a healthful pregnancy.
Feeding is one of the largest expenses of any goat operation. For sustainable and
profitable production, nutrients must also be provided cost-effectively. Goats raised for
meat need feeds most of the time and require an optimum balance of many different
nutrients to achieve maximum profit potential. Because of their unique physiology, meat-
goat does not fatten like cattle or sheep. Rates of a weight gain are smaller ranging from 40
to 60 grams per day. Therefore, profitable meat- goat production can only be achieved by
optimizing the use of forages, grasses, and strategically using expensive concentrate feeds.
These can be achieved by developing a year-round forage program allowing as much
grazing as possible throughout the year.

Suggested Feeding Guide for Goats

Age Feed Amount per Day
Colostrum Ad libitum(3 to 5x feeding)
Birth – 3 days
Whole milk (Goat milk) 0.5 – 1 L/kid divided into 3x
feeding
4 days – 2 weeks
Vitamin-mineral Water Ad libitum Ad

libitum
Whole milk or milk 0.5-1 L/kid divided into
replacer 2x feeding Ad libitum

grass-legume hay or quality

fresh forages Ad libitum Ad
2 weeks – 16 weeks
Vitamin-mineral mix Water libitum

Starter (22% CP)1 Increasing amount

without causing
digestive upset

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 Forages, vitamin-mineral mix Ad libitum

Water
4 months to kidding Ad libitum
Concentrates (18-20% CP)2
Up to 0.5 kg/head

Forages, vitamin-mineral mix Ad libitum

Water
Dry, pregnant, bucks Ad libitum
Concentrates (16-18% CP)3
0.2-0.7 kg/head

Forages, vitamin-mineral mix Ad libitum

Water
Lactating Ad libitum
Concentrates (16-18% CP)
0.3-0.5 kg/L milk
produced

Whole milk can be goat or cow milk. Milk replacer can be used after 2 weeks. Formula I.
Ground corn-12, Rice bran-24, Copra meal- 40, Soybean oil meal- 8, Meat and bone meal-
10, molasses- 5, and salt- 1kg.
Formula II. Copra meal-50, Wheat pollard-32, Molasses-15, Bone meal-2, and salt- 1kg.
Formula III. Copra meal-40, corn-25, soybean oil meal-15, rice bran-10, molasses- 8,
bonemeal-1, and salt-1kg.

Classification of Common Feed Ingredients for Goats

There are four types of goat feeds:

1. Roughage. These are feeds containing relatively large amounts of fiber that provide bulk
to fill-up the rumen. This group of feeds includes freshly cut grasses and legumes, hay,
silages fodder and other green herbages.

2. Concentrates. These are feeds with high digestibility. They are relatively low in fiber and
include all grains and many by-products of grains and animals, such as rice bran, ground
corn, soybean oil meal, copra meal, bone meal, and molasses.

3. Mineral Supplements. These supplements provide the goat with skeletal support. Salt,
oyster shell, limestone and wood ash are examples of mineral supplements.

4. Vitamin Supplement. These are organic compounds needed to maintain vigor, health
and productivity, such as Vitamins A, B, and C.

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Commonly Used Ingredients for Goat Concentrates

The following are locally available concentrate ingredients for goats:

1. Corn. This is the second commonly used ingredient in formulating concentrate mixture.
It contains about 8.9% crude protein and a high amount of energy (Total Digestible Energy)
that makes it an ideal feed for fattening.

2. Rice bran. It is a by-product of rice milling that contains an average crude protein of 10-
12%. Locally available rice bran is classified as first-class (D1), second class (D2), and third
class (D3). Like corn, it is also a good source of energy for fattening animals.

3. Sorghum. This is very similar to corn in feed value with crude protein content ranging from
5-9%. It makes, therefore, a very good livestock feed and substitutes for corn because its
price is lower than corn.

4. Copra meal. It is a by-product of copra production. This is what is left of the coconut
meat after the oil has been removed or extracted. It contains an adequate amount of
carbohydrates but it is used mainly as a protein supplement due to its high crude protein
(20-22%).

5. Soybean oil meal. This by-product feed is produced after extracting oil from soybean
seeds. It contains about 44% crude protein with a very high feeding value.

6. Molasses. These are practically all carbohydrates with only three percent (3%) crude
protein. It is a by-product of sugar milling and is sold in the dark and semi- liquid (thick)
state.

7. Ipil-ipil Leaf Meal. This protein supplement is produced after the flesh leaves of ipil-ipil
has undergone drying and grinding. Its crude protein content is about 19- 21%.

List of Common Philippine Feedstuffs for Goat Production

Feedstuff Dry matter Total Crude Digestible
Protein
(%) Digestible Crude
Nutrients (CP)
Protein
(TDN)
(%)
(DCP)
(%)
(%)

Concentrates

Copra meal 89.6 78.5 20.6 14.50

Corn gluten feed 90.1 74.9 20.2 17.10

Corn, grain 88.8 84.2 08.1 07.70

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 Rice bran (Cono) 88.0 69.1 12.3 08.30

Rice bran (Kiskis) 89.0 46.6 06.2 04.50

Soybean oil meal 88.4 76.0 44.0 41.00

Molasses, cane 76.3 53.6 02.0 00.40

Corn bran 88.0 72.1 10.5 05.60

Green roughages

Napier grass 27.5 12.6 ---- 1.60

Para grass ---- 15.3 ---- 0.90

Guinea grass 20.4 16.0 ---- 1.40

Centrosema 24.2 11.8 ---- 3.16

Tree Leaf/ Browse

Plant

Banana 94.0 ---- 9.80 5.70

Kakawate 25.3 ---- 6.52 ----

Ipil-ipil 13.30 ---- 27.80 22.50

Santan 27.68 ---- 4.02 ----

Caimito 48.32 ---- 4.98 ----

Camachile 34.78 ---- 9.96 ----

Gumamela 19.10 ---- 4.14 ----

Bamboo 42.00 ---- 7.60 3.54

Acacia 43.40 ---- 9.10 ----

Sources of Ca and P % Ca %P

Steamed bone meal 28.00 14.00

Dicalcium phosphate 28.00 14.00

Oyster shell powder 33.00 00.00

Source: Goat Production and Entrepreneurship Training Manual, 2014

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Goat Rations
List of Examples of Formula for 100 kg for Goat Concentrates
Kind of ration Ingredients Parts by weight
(kg)

General-purpose ration for all First-class rice bran 80.0

ages of goats (not for
Ipil-ipil leaf meal 0.0
milking does) (not balanced)
Molasses 0.0

Salt 20.0

Homemade ration First class rice bran 50.0

(General purpose) Ipil-ipil leaf meal 30.0

(not balanced) Salt 20.0

Shelled corn 50.0

Copra meal 29.0

Milking ration # 1 Rice bran 20.0

Oyster meal 0.5

Salt 0.5

Ground yellow corn 33.0

Fine rice bran 33.0

Milking ration # 2 Copra meal 33.0

Salt 0.5

Ground oyster shell 0.5

Rice binlid 28.0

Rice tiki-tiki 20.0

Copra meal 30.0

Milking ration # 3 Molasses 8.0

Ipil-ipil leaf meal 8.0

Meat and bone meal 5.0

Salt 1.0

Tiki-tiki 18.0

Rice binlid 11.5

Ground corn 11.5

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 Milking ration # 4 Copra meal 21.0

Ipil-ipil leaf meal 36.0

Limestone 1.0

Salt 1.0

Tiki-tiki 77.0

Fattening ration Ipil-ipil leaf meal 15.0

Limestone 6.0

Salt 2.0

Source: Philippine Recommends for Goat Production, 2011.

Practical Feeding Guides for Goats

Goat nutrition is a requirement for good health and reproduction, high milk yield,
and fast growth rates.
Based on the technical assumption of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic
and Natural Resources Research and Development, a 25-doe level needs ½ hectare of well-
developed pasture to sustain their feeding.

The following are the feeding guides for goats in the different age group level:

Kids. Young kids which are still nursing may begin to eat non-milk foods at about six weeks
of age. They should be fed with high quality feeds to help them grow and get them used to
eat food other than their mother’s milk. The feeds need to be of high quality because kids can
only eat a little. Kids should be fed with the following:
- young forage with plenty of leaves, few stems
- tree leaves
- concentrate (adjust the amount needed according to how much the kids eat)
Moreover, the feeds should be in one partitioned part of the barn so that the kids can
easily reach them. This prevents adult animals from eating the feeds intended for young
animals.

Feeding the Weaners. An offspring are weaned at three months of age. At this time, they can
grow very fast with a high-quality diet. Weaners should be fed with the following:
- Young forage with plenty of leaves
- Tree leaves (all they want)
- Concentrate (all they want). They can start with 50 to 70 gm. /day and the
amount increases as they grow.

Young replacement females. After the animals have been weaned, select the best female
young to use for breeding. They need extra food for growth. Feed them as much grass as
they want. These animals need to receive tree leaves or legumes too. Some concentrates or
by-products will also help them grow so that they will be large and in good shape for
breeding at 9 to 10 months of age.

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Feeding the dry doe. A dry-pregnant doe should be adequately fed with quality feeds to
build reserves and help in lactation. Good quality forage, whether fed cut and carry, or
browsed in pasture area will normally be sufficient to support the daily nutritional
requirement of the dry doe. However, if the pregnant doe looks thin, she could be given
about one-half to one kilo of concentrates every day.

Feeding the milking doe. Provide ad libitum amount of good quality grasses and legumes.
For every liter of milk that a doe gives, feed her with one kilo of concentrates. Fresh water
and mineral lick-brick or loose coarse salt should be provided to the doe freely. If the doe
does not consume all of her concentrates, reduce the next day’s feeding by the amount she
did not eat. From time to time increase her feed to see if she needs more than what you are
giving her.

Feeding the buck. Your buck for breeding should be fed properly. When it is not being used,
ad libitum amount of good quality forage and 250-300 gram concentrate mix should be
given daily. However, do not overfeed the buck with concentrates for this will make him fat
and non-aggressive. But when he is scheduled for service, increase his concentrates to half a
kilo per day two weeks before and during the breeding period to keep him fertile and in
good condition.

Feeding the young goats. The goal of feeding yearlings or young goats is to provide the
nutrients for maintenance and growth. Adequate space for exercise plus abundant quality
grasses and legumes are important for yearlings. Feed them with concentrates that are at
least 1% of their body weight.
Bottle-feeding is recommended in these situations:
- the amount of milk produced by the doe is not enough for her kids,
especially for purebreds and upgraded animals;
- there are more than two kids from a doe;
- a doe cannot nurse her kids due to sickness;
- a doe dies after delivery;
- goat’s milk is preferred for consumption or for sale.
The baby goat to be bottle-fed should be separated from its mother three to four days
after birth. Warm the milk to about 39.4 oC- 40.6oC during the first week. Powdered milk may
also be used to feed the kids.

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Computation of Feed Requirements for Goats

Milk Offered = Animal bodyweight x 10% of body weight Example:

= 10 kg x 0.10
= 1 kg of milk per day

Fresh Roughages
*Determine Dry Matter (DM) requirement:
Animal bodyweight x 3% of body weight
= 30 kg x 0.03
= 0.9 kg DM per day

Convert DM requirement into fresh roughage (20% DM) DM

requirement ÷ DM of fresh roughage
= 0.9 kg DM ÷ 0.20
= 4.5 kg fresh roughage per day

Roughages + Legumes
Roughage to Legumes Ratio = 75%:25%
Determine DM requirement (follow formula*): DM requirement at 3% of body weight
= 30 kg x 0.03 = 0.9 kg DM per day
DM (roughage) = 0.9 kg DM x 0.75 = 0.675 kg DM DM
(legumes) = 0.9 kg DM x 0.25 = 0.225 kg DM

Convert DM requirement into fresh roughage + legumes:

Roughage (20%) = 0.675 kg DM ÷ 0.2 = 3.375 kg per day
Legumes (25%) = 0.225 kg DM ÷ 0.25 = 0.9 kg per day

Fresh Roughage + 200 g Concentrate

Determine DM Requirement (follow formula*): 30 kg
x 0.03 = 0.9 kg DM per day
DM from concentrate (87% DM) = 200g x 0.87 = 0.174 kg DM
from fresh roughage = 0.9 kg – 0.174 kg = 0.726 kg DM

Convert DM requirement into fresh roughage (20% DM): 0.726

kg DM ÷ 0.2 = 3.63 kg fresh roughage per day

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 What’s More

Instruction: Differentiate the feeding habits of goats and sheep. Write y o u r answer in your
activity notebook.

Comparison of Feeding Habits Between Goat and Sheep

Goat Sheep
Parameter Characteristic
Activity
Feeding pattern
Variety in feeds
Salivary secretion rate
Recycling of urea in saliva
Dry matter intake; For
meat production
For milk production
Digestive efficiency
Retention time
Water intake per unit dry
matter
Water economy
Water turnover rate
Dehydration: Feces
Urine

Fat metabolism

What I Have Learned

Knowledge in feeds and feeding is important for goat and sheep raisers. This is the
basis of having a healthy herd and flock which will lead to a successful production system.
There are four classifications of goat and sheep feeds namely: roughages,
concentrates, mineral supplements, and vitamin supplements. The locally available
concentrate ingredients for goat and sheep are the following: corn, rice bran, sorghum,
copra meal, soybean meal, molasses, and ipil-ipil leaf meal.
Goats and sheep differ in their feeding habits on the following parameters: activity,
feeding pattern, variety in feeds, salivary secretion rate, recycling of urea in saliva, dry
matter intake digestive efficiency, retention time, water intake per unit dry matter, water
economy, water turnover, rate dehydration, and fat metabolism.
Goat and sheep nutrition is a requirement for good health and reproduction, high
milk yield, and fast growth rates. Thus, feeding guides for goats and sheep in the different
age group level was given emphasis. The computation of feed requirements for the goat
was likewise included.

14
 What I Can Do

Instruction; Collect samples of brands of vitamins, supplements, and mineral supplements.

Summarize them using the format below. Write it in your notebook.

Supplements Brand/s Ingredients

Vitamins

15
 Assessment

Instructions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter in your
notebook.

1. These are feeds with high digestibility.

a. roughage
b. Vitamin supplement
c. concentrates
d. Mineral supplement

2. These supplements provide the goat with skeletal support.

a. roughage
b. Vitamin supplement
c. concentrates
d. Mineral supplement
3. These are feeds containing relatively large amounts of fiber that provide bulk to fill-
up the rumen.

a. roughage
b. Vitamin supplement
c. concentrates
d. Mineral supplement

4. These are organic compounds needed to maintain vigor, health and productivity,
a. roughage
b. Vitamin supplement
c. concentrates
d. Mineral supplement

5. It is a by-product of rice milling that contains an average crude protein of 10-

12%.
a. Sorghum
b. Rice bran
c. Corn
d. Copra meal

6. It is a by-product of copra production.

a. Sorghum
b. Rice bran
c. Corn
d. Copra meal

7. This is the second commonly used ingredient in formulating concentrate

mixture.
a. Sorghum
b. Rice bran
c. Corn
d. Copra meal

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 8. This is very similar to corn in feed value with crude protein content ranging from
5-9%.
a. Sorghum
b. Rice bran
c. Corn
d. Copra meal

9. These are practically all carbohydrates with only three percent (3%) crude
protein.
a. Ipil-ipil leaf meal
b. Corn
c. Molasses
d. Sorghum

10. This protein supplement is produced after flesh leaves of ipil-ipil has undergone
drying and grinding.
a. Ipil-ipil leaf meal
b. Corn
c. Molasses
d. Sorghum

Additional Activities

Instruction: Compute the word problems below by showing the correct solutions.
Write your answer in your notebook.

1. If the goat weighs 25 kg, how many kilos of milk it can offer per day?

2. How many kilograms of fresh roughages a goat will consume if it weighs 25 kg?

Answer Key

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 LESSON II
What I Need to Know
This lesson focuses on the discussion of different feeding technologies for small
ruminants. It also deals with the importance of nutrients specifically minerals present in
the feeds. It is also included in this lesson is the recommended feed formulation for small
ruminants.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. enumerate and discuss the different feeding technologies for goats and sheep;
2. determine the effect of minerals in the development of the small ruminants;
3. use critical thinking in making the recommend feed formulation for goat and sheep.

What I Know

Instruction: Read the questions carefully and write the letter of the correct answer in your
activity notebook.

1. This involves dividing the pasture area into paddocks and allowing the animals to
graze rotationally in different areas.
a. Concentrate Ration c. Silage
b. Rapid Rotational Grazing d. Urea-Molasses-Mineral Block

2. Some limitations of Rapid Rotational Grazing are the following EXCEPT

a. A large area is required
b. Intake of more nutrients
c. Lesser anthelminthic residues
d. Prevention of more damage to crops and neighboring farm

3. Concentrate ration tends to .

a. avoid parasitism c. provide minerals
b. give protein and energy feeds d. provide vitamins

4. In Urea-Molasses-Mineral Block, the highest percentage in the composition of

ingredients is .
a. molasses and urea c. salt and cement
b. rice bran and molasses d. urea and cement

5. The following are the important features of Urea-Molasses-Mineral Block EXCEPT.

a. Ingredients are expensive
b. Supply essential nutrients
c. Commercially feasible to produce
d. Increase microbial protein synthesis

6. The function of this is to supply NH2 for the rumen microbes to synthesize microbial
protein for the animal.
a. Cement c. Salt
b. Rice bran d. Urea

7. This ingredient improves palatability and source of sodium and chlorine.

a. Cement c. Salt
b. Rice bran d. Urea
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8. It is the process of preservation of the succulent or high-quality forage under anaerobic
conditions or the exclusion of air principally oxygen from the ensiled forages.
a. Concentrate Ration c. Silage
b. Rapid Rotational Grazing d. Urea-Molasses-Mineral Block

9. What is the quality of the silage if it has acid odor and taste; an absence of molds, with
green color, a pH value of 3.5 – 4.2, and ammonia nitrogen is less than 10% of total
nitrogen.
a. Fair c. Poor
b. Good d. Very Good

10. This feeding technology contains 30% more energy and twice more protein
compared to the untreated one.
a. Rapid Rotational Grazing c. Urea-Molasses-Mineral Block
b. Silage d. Urea Treated Rice Straw

Lesson
FEEDING TECHNOLOGIES

In this module, you will learn how to enumerate and discuss the different feeding technologies
for goats and sheep.

What’s In

Instructions: Answer the following questions below. Write your answer in your activity
notebook

1. Do you raise small ruminant at home?

2. What feeding technology you used in raising small ruminant.

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 What’s New

Instruction. Select the words in Column B that are associated with the words in Column A.
Write the answers in your activity notebook.

Column A Column B
9-10 paddocks 5m

Rapid Rotational Grazing rope

Space for grazing

Cement
Rice Bran Corn

Concentrate Ration Copra Meal

Ipil-Ipil

Rice bran (D1)

Urea-Molasses Mineral Block Molasses Vitamin A

Cement

Corn Grasses

Silage sugar cane tops

5 m long rope

Urea

Urea-treated Rice Straw Rice straw

Water

Molasses

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 What is It

FEEDING TECHNOLOGIES

Feeding small ruminants requires technologies to meet the required

nutritional requirements intended for goats and sheep.
In this module, five feeding technologies will be presented for you to understand.

Feeding Technologies

Rapid Rotational Grazing (RRG)

Rotational grazing or tethering involves dividing the pasture area into paddocks and
allowing the animals to graze rotationally in different areas. Parasitic infection is
minimized because the life cycle of the parasites is broken.

Recommended Practices

The concept of RRG can likewise be applied to

tethering one to five goats. In this approach,
tethered goats are transferred to 9 – 10 different
paddocks in a month. The objective is not just to
provide the daily requirement for forage but also
to minimize parasitic infection.
A rope, about 5 m long, is tied around the neck
of each mature goat in a way that allows it to
move easily. All available and possible grazing
areas are divided into 9 -10 paddocks. In dividing
the pasture into paddocks, it is important to
consider the amount of available forage more
than the size of the area.
Start tethering the animals in the first paddock;
move the pegs around during the day to allow
them maximum access to
forage. After 3 ½ days, move the animals to the next paddock and do not allow them to go
back to the first paddock for 30 days. Continue moving the animals to other paddocks
every 3 ½ days until they have returned to the first paddock. As earlier pointed out, this
rotational grazing is done to minimize parasitic infestation among the goats and allow
uniform grazing of pasture areas.

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 Requirement for Adoption
The minimum requirements for adoption are:
 Sufficient and appropriate space for grazing
 Availability of labor to transfer animals at least twice a day within the paddock and
after every 3 ½ days to other paddocks
 Water for the goat
 A 5 m long rope

Benefits and Cost of Adoption

 By applying the 3 ½ day-rotational tethering, the following benefits may be realized:
 Minimize exposure of goats to parasite
 Reduced dependence on anthelmintic chemical
 Less anthelmintic residues and resistance
 Decreased cost of parasite control
 Sustained pasture quality because of better utilization and prevention of overgrazing
 More intake of nutrients by the animals
 Heavier animals at market weight
 Ease in animal retrieval by the raiser at the end of the day, or during inclement
weather, or when the heat of the sun is intense
 Prevention of damage to crops and neighboring farms

Reservations/Limitations of Use
 Raisers are not particular with the practice, as animals are allowed to graze on their
own or tethered on the same spot for the convenience of the owner.
 Labor availability must be considered
 A large area is required
 Expensive fencing materials
 This practice can be applied to mature goats only
 There is a danger of exposure to thieves, predators (like dogs), and sudden changes of
weather.

Concentrate Ration
Concentrate feeding is seldom practiced because it increases farm inputs.
However, it is important to give high protein and energy feeds during the late
pregnancy finishing stage. Concentrate improves the condition of the microbes in the
rumen and provides the goat with bypass nutrients (nutrients that pass through the
rumen without microbial digestion). Therefore, concentrate supplementation will
improve the level of productivity.

Ingredients Parts by wt Cost/kg Total Cost

(kg) (Php) (Php)

Rice Bran 35 6 (5) 210 (175)

Corn 14 14 (5) 196 (70)

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 Copra Meal 34 7.50 255
SBOM 5 (7.4) 18 (5.5) 90 (44)
Molasses 10 6 60
Salt 1 20 20
Dicalphos
1 16 16
Total
100 87.5 847 (289)

Source: Goat Production and Entrepreneurship Training Manual, 2014

Use of Urea in Goat Diets

Under a confined feeding program, mineral deficiencies usually occur in farms. Salt
blocks intended for cattle have been used. Because goats have shorter tongues they can lick
smaller amounts of salt. Hence, a loose form of vitamin- mineral supplement is
recommended to satisfy the goat requirement from the few grabs. The following is an example
of a loose form of a vitamin-mineral mix:
5 parts of salt
1 part lime or oyster shell
½ part commercial vitamin-mineral mix
Likewise, the occurrence of urinary calculi or stones has been traced to low salt-
mineral intake and subsequent low water intake. The loose form of supplementation can
solve the problem. The addition of iodine to the diet especially in highland areas is
recommended.
Goats are efficient in utilizing the non-protein nitrogen in the diet. The capacity of
microorganisms to transform nitrogen into microbial protein makes it possible to
incorporate a small amount of urea in the ration of goats, primarily to increase utilization of
low-quality roughages. Urea as a supplement for goats must be used with caution. A high
concentration of ammonia in the blood is toxic and fatal to ruminants. For efficient
utilization of urea as a non-protein nitrogen source, an adequate amount of energy
(molasses, corn, etc.) and minerals, particularly sulfur, in case molasses are used, should be
made available to the animal. If possible, provide a daily allowance of urea in small
amounts throughout the day, instead of just one feeding.

Urea is equivalent to 281% CP (45% N x 6.25).

Safe usage of urea in the diet can be achieved following any of these restrictions:
- 1% of the ration (DM basis), or
- 2-3% of the concentrate mixture (air-dry basis), or
- 25-30% of the total dietary protein (one-third of the protein in the ration)

The use of Urea-Molasses-Mineral Block (UMMB) is highly recommended during

lean month feeding or when goats are fed with low-quality forage materials. The UMMB is a
cheap source of mineral supplement in the form of lick-block. Aside from mineral elements,
the UMMB provides non-protein nitrogen and energy due to the presence of urea and rice
bran, respectively.

23
 The UMMB has the following composition:
Ingredient Part by Weight Cost/kg Total Cost
(kg)
(Php) (Php)

Rice bran (D1) 38 5 190

Molasses Urea 38 7 266

Cement 10 7 70
Salt 10 3 30
Dicalcium 1 20 20
phosphate
3 15 45
Total
100.00 6.31 631

Source: Goat Production and Entrepreneurship Training Manual, 2014

Important Features of the UMMB

 Increases microbial protein synthesis
 Supplies essential nutrients
 Causes no toxicity
 Easy to handle and transport
 Commercially feasible to produce

Functions of the Ingredients

Molasses. A source of readily available energy; makes the block palatable to the animal.
Urea. Supplies NH3 needed by the rumen microbes to synthesize microbial protein for the
animal.
Cement, calcite powder, Sodium (Na) bentonite. Serve as a binder for the block; source of
calcium and sodium.
Rice bran. Provides by-pass protein and fermentable energy; serves as a carrier of other
ingredients.
Salt. Improves palatability; source of sodium and chlorine.
Trace Minerals. These are sources of macro and micro minerals.

Mixing Procedure
1. Place the weighed individual ingredients into the bucket.
2. Mix urea and molasses into the cement mixer until the urea is dissolved.
3. Dissolve cement in a little water and mix with a urea-molasses solution through
continuous mixing.
4. Add salt, trace minerals, and bone meal one after the other into the solution, and allow
mixing for 15 minutes.
5. Add the rice bran gradually until a homogenous mixture is attained. Allow
another 10 minutes mixing until the mixture forms a dough-like product.
6. Unload the mixture and put it into the molder with the tamper.
7. Allow the product to cure for two weeks before packing and selling.

24
Feeding the Block
The UMMB can be fed ad libitum to goats. Mature goats can lick 50-80 grams per
day.

Precautions;
Do not offer the UMMB to animals younger than 6 months old, and those pregnant animals in
their last trimester of pregnancy.
Drinking water should be available (free choice) when feeding with UMMB. Avoid
feeding the block along with rainwater.

Silage

Feeds used by the commercial raiser are based largely on the silage, or sugar
cane tops and chopped sugar cane with rice bran and copra meal tapioca, pineapple pulp,
local cottonseed meal, wheat pollard, and brewery spent grain.

Plant materials that can be made into silage:

 sugar cane tops
 grasses
 corn
 sorghum
 farm by-product
 a mixture of grasses and legumes

The basic process of silage making or ensiling is the preservation of the succulent or
high-quality forage under the anaerobic condition or the exclusion of air, principally oxygen,
from the ensiled forages. The transformation of the green forage into silage takes place in the
silo where the green forage is placed in a compact mass. The plant cells and the aerobic
organisms continue to respire, thus, rapidly consuming the oxygen in the entrapped air and
turn giving carbon dioxide. When the oxygen is consumed by the bacteria, aerobic activities stop
creating an oxygen-free atmosphere inside the silo.

25
Steps in Silage Making

Harvest grass just before the flowering stage. Corn and sorghum should be cut at the semi-
dough stage.
If the moisture content of the harvested plant is higher than 70%, reduce moisture by wilting
from 60-70% to minimize or reduce nutrient loss through seepage.
Chop plant materials into 1-2.5 cm length.
Fill up the silo in one continuous operation; press the materials well to form a compact
mass. Exclusion of much oxygen is essential. Rapid filling and packing in the silo are
essential for good silage.
Add silage conditioner (molasses, by-product concentrate) if the original plant material is of
poor quality. Molasses diluted 1:1 with water can be sprinkled over the prepared material
before loading at 2-4% by weight.
Cover the silage with a plastic sheet to protect it from rain, and place some weight on top.
The silo must have a roof to prevent the entry of rainwater.
After one month, silage is ready for feeding.
Continuous feeding of silage should be followed after opening the silo to avoid excessive
spoilage of the exposed materials.

Qualities of Silage
Very Good: has acid odor and taste; have no molds; shows green color; has no
butyric acid; has a pH value of 3.5-4.2; has ammonia nitrogen
less than 10% of total nitrogen.

Good: has acid odor and taste; exhibits trace amounts of butyric acid;has a pH value of 4.2-
4.5; has ammonia nitrogen equivalent to 10-15% of total nitrogen.

Fair : shows the presence of butyric acid; shows the presence of molds; has a pH value of 4.5-
4.8; has ammonia nitrogen equivalent to 15-20% of total nitrogen.

Poor : has an amount of butyric acid; is slimy; shows the presence of molds; has a pH
value of 4.8; has ammonia nitrogen equivalent to 20% higher.

Urea-Treated Rice Straw

Rice straw can be better utilized by goats when
treated with urea. For urea-treated rice, straw contains
30% more energy and twice more protein, compared
to untreated rice straw (CASREN, 2003). This is
prepared by mixing 10 kg dissolved rice straw with a
solution of 600 g of urea into 10 liters of water. The
mixture should then be stored in an anaerobic
condition for 7 to 14 days. Before feeding, expose the
treated straw for one day.

26
 What’s More
Instruction; Arrange the proper mixing procedure of Urea-Molasses Mineral Block using
the numerical symbol (1 – for the first step; 7 – for the last step). Write your answer in your
notebook.

Unload the mixture and put it into the molder with the tamper.
Mix urea and molasses into the cement mixer until urea is dissolved.
Allow the product to cure for two weeks before packing and selling.
Dissolve cement in a little water and mix with a urea-molasses solution with
continuous mixing.
Weigh the individual ingredient into the bucket.
Add salt, trace minerals, and bone meal one after the other into the solution, and
allow mixing for 15 minutes.
Add the rice bran gradually until a homogenous mixture is attained. Allow
another 10 minutes mixing until the mixture form a dough-like product.

What I Have Learned

Feeding small ruminants requires technologies to meet the required nutritional

requirements intended for goats and sheep. There are five feeding technologies introduced in
the lesson that can be followed by small ruminant raisers to meet the nutritional
requirements of goat and sheep. These are rapid rotational grazing, concentrate ration, urea in
goat diets, silage, and urea-treated rice straw.

What I Can Do

Instruction. Arrange the steps in Silage making using a numerical symbol (1 – for the first
step; 8 – for the last step). Write your answer in your notebook.

After one month, silage is ready for feeding.

Chop plant materials into 1-2.5 cm length.
Fill up the silo in one continuous operation, pressing the materials well to form a
compact mass. Exclusion of much oxygen is essential. Rapid filling and packing in
the silo are essential for good silage.
Continuous feeding of silage should be followed after the opening of the silo to avoid
excessive spoilage of the exposed materials.
If the moisture content of the harvested plant is higher than 70%, reduce moisture by
wilting from 60-70% to minimize or reduce nutrient loss through seepage.
Harvest grass just before the flowering stage. Corn and sorghum should be cut at the
semi-dough stage.
Add silage conditioner (molasses, by-product concentrate) if the original plant material is
of poor quality. Molasses diluted 1:1 with water can be sprinkled over the prepared
material before loading at 2-4% by weight.
Cover the silage with a plastic sheet to protect from rain and place weight on top. The
silo must have a roof to prevent the entry of rainwater.

27
 Assessment
Instruction: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter in your notebook.

1. Quality of silage shows the presence of butyric acid; shows the presence of molds; has a
pH value of 4.5-4.8; has ammonia nitrogen equivalent to 15-20% of total nitrogen.
a. Very good
b. good
c. fair
d. poor

2. Quality of silage has acid odor and taste; has no molds; shows green color; has no
butyric acid; has a pH value of 3.5-4.2; has ammonia nitrogen less than 10% of
total nitrogen.
a. Very good
b. good
c. fair
d. Poor

3. Quality of silage that has an amount of butyric acid; is slimy; shows the presence of
molds; has a pH value of 4.8; has ammonia nitrogen equivalent to 20% higher.

a. Very good
b. good
c. fair
d. Poor

4. A source of readily available energy; makes the block palatability to the

animal.

a. urea
b. molasses
c. Rice bran
d. Cement

5. Supplies NH3 needed by the rumen microbes to synthesize microbial protein for the
animal.

a. urea
b. molasses
c. Rice bran
d. Cement

6. Serve as a binder for the block; source of calcium and sodium.

a. urea
b. molasses
c. Rice bran
d. Cement

28
7. Provides by-pass protein and fermentable energy; serves as a carrier of other
ingredients.
a. urea
b. molasses
c. Rice bran
d. Cement

8. Improves palatability; source of sodium and chlorine.

a. urea
b. salt
c. Rice bran
d. Trace mineral

9. These are sources of macro and micro minerals.

a. urea
b. salt
c. Rice bran
d. Trace mineral

10. Quality of silage that has acid odor and taste; exhibits trace amounts of butyric acid;
has a pH value of 4.2-4.5; has ammonia nitrogen equivalent to 10-15% of total nitrogen.
a. Very good
b. good
c. fair
d. Poor

29
 Additional Activities

Instruction; Write your work in your notebook.

1. If you are a goat raiser, what feeding technologies will you adopt? Why?

2. Discuss the illustration presented adjacent to items 2 and 3. (Rapid Rotational

Grazing)

What is your idea about the presented illustration?

3. What is the main purpose of Rapid Rotational Grazing?