Salt and Trace Minerals for Livestock, Poultry and Other Animals

SALT FOR GOATS

Deficiency Symptoms

Goats developed deficiency symptoms in 4 to 6 weeks after being fed a low-sodium diet (121). The deficiency symptoms included persistent licking, restlessness, dull shaggy hair, poor growth and intake of feed and marked emaciation during lactation. After 224 days, the deficient goats weighed 20% less than those supplemented with salt. They ate an average of 6% less feed per day and required 18.5% more feed per unit of gain.

Salt Helps Regulate Grazing

The 1981 Goat NRC committee stated "placing salt in less frequently grazed pastures may influence goats to move to these areas" (100). This principle is the same as that for cattle and sheep wherein the proper location of salt blocks or salt boxes can be used to help regulate grazing into less accessible range areas.

Salt Regulated Feed Intake

The 1981 Goat NRC committee (100) also states that "salt is often incorporated at high levels to regulate the free intake of nutritional supplements" This is similar to the practice followed with sheep and cattle, wherein, salt at levels of 10% to 50% is added to the feed as a means of limiting how much the animal consumes daily. However, plenty of water must be available to prevent harmful effects from the excess salt intake.

Salt Consumption

It is estimated that milking goats consume about 18 pounds of salt yearly. Meat goats and kids consume about 9 pounds and 4.5 pounds of salt, respectively. These are average figures and can vary due to many factors, as has been discussed for other animals. Heavy milk-producing goats would require higher levels of salt, since milk contains considerable sodium and chloride.

Salt Feed Recommendations

The 1981 Goat NRC committee states that, "..if goats are not provided salt free-choice, salt should be added to the feed. A recommended level would be 0.5% of the complete feed or proportionately higher levels in supplements" (100). It is recommended that 0.5% salt be added to the total diet or 1.0% salt to the concentrate portion of the diet. Goats on pasture should be self-fed salt in a mineral box. 

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