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Meat Goat Farm

Nutritional Requirements of Meat Goats during their various lifestages along with tips on their welfare and housing requirements in climatic conditions of UAE, KSA, Oman and Qatar.

Chevon Goat Farming

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Welcome to the technical standard for Aarday Meat Goats.

 

Producing premium Chevon (meat from goats 6-9 months old) or Cabrito (young milk-fed kids) in the Gulf requires navigating extreme heat and feed scarcity.

Our approach maximizes Average Daily Gain (ADG) while strictly preventing Urinary Calculi, the #1 metabolic killer of feedlot male goats in this region.

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  • The "Browser" Physiology: Goats have small mouths and reject dusty/fine feed. We recommend pelleting the concentrate or using molasses to bind fines. If dust is high, goats will starve rather than eat.

  • Urinary Calculi (Water Belly): Male goats on grain are prone to fatal urinary stones. Our rations strictly maintain a 2:1 Calcium:Phosphorus ratio and include Ammonium Chloride as a standard preventative.

  • Heat Stress & Panting: Goats do not sweat effectively. When THI > 75, they pant, expelling moisture. We increase Salt (Sodium) levels to stimulate water intake and replace losses.

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Read the Disclaimer before blindly following these without a paid consultation.

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Meat Kids (Creep Feeding Phase: 0 - 3 Months)

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The goal is to maximize weaning weight. A heavier weaned kid reaches slaughter weight weeks faster, saving significant feed cost.

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Housing Requirements

  • Creep Area: 0.3 m² per kid (Accessible only to kids, not does).

  • Ventilation: Open-sided drafts at animal level are fatal. Solid walls up to 1m height recommended.

  • Bedding: Deep sand (10cm) cleaned weekly. Ammonia burns lungs instantly.

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Nutritional Targets

  • CP: 18-20% (High protein for rapid muscle accretion).

  • Energy: >12 MJ ME/kg (High energy).

  • Coccidiosis Control: Medicated feed (Monensin/Decoquinate) is often required in the starter.

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Sample Ration: "Kid Rocket Fuel"

Feed ad-libitum in creep feeder starting Day 14.

Ingredient
Daily Amt (g)
Cost (AED)
Nutritional Role
Maize (Cracked)
150g
0.17
High starch energy.
Soybean Meal
100g
0.22
Muscle-building protein.
Barley (Rolled)
50g
0.05
Fermentable energy.
Molasses
20g
0.02
Binder/Palatability.
Alfalfa Hay
50g
0.08
Digestible fiber/Calcium.
Ammonium Chloride
3g
0.01
Stone Prevention.
Total Daily Cost
~0.37 kg
~0.55 AED
Plus Doe's Milk.

Weaners & Growers (3 - 6 Months)

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The "Frame" stage. We need the goat to grow tall and long before we put fat on them.

 

Housing Requirements

  • Space: 1.5 - 2.0 m² per head.

  • Climbing: Goats get bored and destructive. Provide sturdy objects (logs/rocks) in the pen to reduce fence testing.

  • Fencing: 1.5m height minimum. Diamond mesh (50mm) prevents head entrapment.

Nutritional Targets

  • CP: 15-16%.

  • Energy: Moderate (10.5 MJ ME/kg).

  • Mineral Interaction: High Iron in local water blocks Copper absorption. Injectable Copper or high-level chelated minerals may be needed.

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Sample Ration: Grower Blend

Target ADG: 150g - 200g/day.

Ingredient
Daily Amt (kg)
Cost (AED)
Nutritional Role
Rhodes/Bermuda
0.6
0.6
Cost-effective fiber base.
Alfalfa Hay
0.4
0.66
Calcium & Protein.
Barley (Whole)
0.4
0.4
Energy (Whole barley works well for goats).
Soybean Meal
0.15
0.33
Protein supplement.
Wheat Bran
0.2
0.17
Phosphorus source.
Total Daily Cost
1.75 kg
2.16 AED
Cost per kg gain: ~12 AED.

Finishing Bucks (The "Chevon" Phase: 6 - 9 Months)

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The final push. We want to add loin depth and leg muscle.

Avoid excessive fat (tallow), which is penalized in the Chevon market.

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Housing Requirements

  • Space: 2.0 - 2.5 m² per head.

  • Shade: 100% Solid Shade (Metal roof with insulation).

  • Water: 6-8 Liters/head/day. Cool water (<25°C) increases intake.

Nutritional Targets

  • CP: 13-14% (Protein requirement drops).

  • Energy: High (>11.5 MJ ME/kg).

  • Feed Form: Pelleted or Coarse Mix. NO DUST.

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Sample Ration: Finishing TMR

Target ADG: 200g - 250g/day. Slaughter Weight: 35-45kg.

Ingredient
Daily Amt (kg)
Cost (AED)
Nutritional Role
Barley
0.8
0.8
Primary grain energy.
Maize (Corn)
0.4
0.44
High energy for finish.
Rhodes/Bermuda
0.5
0.5
Fiber mat.
Wheat Straw
0.3
0.21
Scratch factor (prevents acidosis).
Soybean Meal
0.15
0.33
Protein balance.
Limestone
0.02
0.01
Critical to balance high phosphorus grain.
Total Daily Cost
2.17 kg
2.29 AED
Efficient finishing.

Breeding Does (The Engine)

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For meat goats, efficiency is defined by kids weaned per doe per year. We aim for 3 kiddings every 2 years or high twinning rates.

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Housing Requirements

  • Type: Open paddock with shade structures.

  • Space: 4.0 m² per head.

  • Feeder Space: 40cm per doe (Horned does are aggressive; crowding causes abortion).

 

Nutritional Targets

  • Maintenance: Low energy, high roughage.

  • Flushing: Increase grain 3 weeks before breeding to boost ovulation (twins/triplets).

  • Late Gestation: Critical to prevent Pregnancy Toxemia (Ketosis) in does carrying twins.

 

Sample Ration: Maintenance

Goal: Maintain Body Condition Score (BCS) 2.5 - 3.0.

Ingredient
Daily Amt (kg)
Cost (AED)
Cost (AED)
Nutritional Role
Rhodes Grass
1
1
1
Bulk forage.
Wheat Straw
0.5
0.35
0.35
Cheap filler.
Wheat Bran
0.25
0.21
0.21
Energy & Minerals.
Alfalfa Hay
0.1
0.17
0.17
Small protein boost.
Mineral Block
Ad-lib
0.1
0.1
Trace minerals.
Total Daily Cost
1.85 kg
1.83 AED
1.83 AED
Keep costs low here.

Breeding Bucks (Boer/Ardi Sires)

A lame or heat-stressed buck is useless. Ardi bucks are heat resilient; Boers need protection.

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Nutritional Requirements

  • Zinc: 50-70 mg/kg (Essential for hoof hardness and sperm health).

  • Vitamin E: 2x Standard level (Antioxidant for sperm protection).

  • Urinary Health: Ammonium Chloride is mandatory.

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Sample Buck Ration:

Ingredient
Daily Amt (kg)
Cost (AED)
Cost (AED)
Rhodes/Bermuda
1.5
1.5
1.5
Alfalfa Hay
0.5
0.83
0.83
Barley
0.4
0.4
0.4
Buck Mineral Mix
0.05
0.15
0.15
Total Daily Cost
2.45 kg
2.88 AED
2.88 AED

Summary

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Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL): This "abscess disease" is rampant in the region.

  1. Never buy goats with visible lumps near jaw/shoulder.

  2. Quarantine all new animals for 30 days.

  3. Vaccinate with Glanvac-6 or equivalent to prevent CL and "Pulpy Kidney" (Enterotoxemia), which kills the fastest-growing kids on high-grain diets.

Life Stage
Feed Cost
Target Outcome
Kid (Creep)
~0.55 AED
Early weaning, reduced stress.
Grower
~2.16 AED
Frame development (Skeleton).
Finisher
~2.29 AED
Meat yield (Carcass wt).
Doe (Maint)
~1.83 AED
Produce 1.8 kids/year.
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