A goat’s diet is primarily comprised of hay (about 80 percent) because the roughage aids in the healthy functioning of the rumen. 

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However, it is important to ensure that your newborn goat does not switch to hay too quickly, as this could result in bloating and digestive difficulties. Here’s what to include in a goat’s diet during the changeover period:

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To prevent bacterial infection and encourage rapid drying, trim the goat’s navel chord to 3 to 4 inches in length and dip it into an iodine solution to prevent bacterial infection and promote fast drying. If the navel cord is bleeding, bind it with surgical suture material to stop it from bleeding further.

If at all possible, bottle-feed colostrum within the first 2 hours of a baby’s life. Colostrum, also known as “first milk,” is the antibody-rich milk produced by mother goats or doe, as well as other animals, that aids in the development of the newborn’s immune system and the battle against infection throughout the animal’s life. It is not necessary for the colostrum to come from the goat kid’s biological mother. Refrigerate or freeze any unused colostrum promptly so that it can be used within 6 months of being refrozen or frozen.

If no maternal colostrum is available, feed the newborn goat kid colostrum supplement to make up for the lack of it. Colostrum replacement products are available for most livestock species, including goats and other bovine animals, from Tractor Supply Co.

How to Maintain the Health of a Baby Goat Kid During the First Few Weeks

Bottle-feed the goat kid modest, regular meals of milk or milk replacer in little amounts. Kid goats should be fed at least four times each day for the first 30 days of their lives in order to avoid gastric disorders. You should be able to reduce the number of daily feedings to three at this stage. This activity replicates the typical breastfeeding behavior of newborn goats in their native environment. 

When the child reaches the appropriate age, you can begin feeding him or her milk from pails or automatic feeder systems. Electrolyte supplements should be given to child goats who are suffering from scours or diarrhea. This will help to keep goats from becoming dehydrated. Electrolytes should not be used to replace more than 50 percent of the typical daily milk replacer volume, according to the manufacturer. If the scours persists, you should visit your veterinarian.

Animals and Insects

Baby goats are herbivores and will never eat animals or insects.

Plants and Fruits

Healthy young goats are able to digest hay and effectively absorb the nutrients in their feed by the time they are around 1-2 months old. Doelings who are maintained with their mothers for a longer amount of time may still nurse on occasion, but their hay consumption will grow until they are mostly consuming hay. Bucklings should be weaned and separated from their mothers by the age of ten weeks, due to the development of their sexual maturity.

During this stage of growth, baby goats primarily digest fiber from hay, which helps to promote the development of the epithelial lining of their rumen (rumen lining). It is anticipated that this will ultimately boost their ability to absorb nutrients. Furthermore, you can give baby goats some minerals to help them build their muscle mass as they grow. 

It’s important to remember, though, that you can only feed them loose minerals to aid in digestion. Baby goats also eat hay, apples, carrots, grass, bananas, hay, alfalfa, hay alfalfa, pellets, bread, broccoli, blueberries, beans, and peanut. Also, Baby goats can eat butter, cracked corn, corn, celery, calf starter, clover, chocolate, fruit, grain, grass hay, garlic, honey, haylage, timothy hay, lettuce, leaves, milk, yogurt, oatmeal, oats, oranges, pellets, peanuts, potatoes, and pecans.

What they don’t eat?

Baby goats can’t eat meat or insects because they are herbivores and they rely on plant-based food.