94 | Winter Feeding Goats: How Growth Rate Changes Hay Needs and Marketing Plans

Fast growth is something we’re genuinely excited about on our ranch. This winter, a stretch of unusually mild weather reduced maintenance energy demands, allowing our weaned goat kids to put more of what they were eating toward growth instead of staying warm. As a result, they’re running 15–20 pounds ahead of where we’d normally expect them to be this time of year.

In this episode, I walk through how that weather-driven growth changed our winter feeding plan. I explain how we recalculated hay needs, what a 30–44% increase in feed demand looks like in real terms, and how we adjusted our marketing plan to match what the goats were actually doing instead of forcing the original timeline.

I share what we noticed early, how we ran the feed calculations, and why additional weight matters so much during winter feeding. I break down dry matter versus as-fed hay, how waste factors into real-world feeding systems, and why those details add up quickly when you’re feeding a large group of goats.

You’ll also hear how we evaluated our options, why buying more hay didn’t pencil out, and why selling earlier than planned was the most responsible decision given our feed inventory and the current market. This episode is a real ranch example of adjusting plans early, before a good situation turns into a costly one.

If you’re feeding goats through winter and trying to balance growth, hay supply, and marketing decisions, this episode will help you think through those trade-offs with clarity instead of guesswork.

In This Episode, I Cover:

• A ranch update and how winter breeding conditions affect management decisions
• How mild winter weather shifted energy use and increased growth in weaned goat kids
• Why faster growth directly increases winter feed requirements
• Calculating feed intake based on body weight
• Converting dry matter intake to as-fed hay requirements
• Accounting for hay waste in winter feeding systems
• How increased growth led to a 30–44% increase in hay consumption
• Evaluating winter feeding options: buy more hay or sell early
• Why return on investment matters when feed requirements increase
• How predictable goat markets factor into winter marketing plans
• When adjusting a plan early is better than sticking to the original one

Key Takeaways:

• Mild winter weather can significantly increase growth rates in young goats
• Faster growth increases winter feed needs more than most people expect
• Winter feeding decisions should be based on math, not assumptions
• Hay inventory creates real limits on how long animals can be retained
• Selling early can be a proactive, responsible management decision

Mentioned Episodes:

• 28 | Winter Feed for Livestock: Calculate How Much Hay You Need and a Strategy to Save Money

Related Episodes:

• 35 | Winter Hay Feeding Evaluation: Meeting Nutritional Requirements of Goats and Reducing Hay Waste
• 78 | Winter Grazing: Low Cost, Regenerative Strategies for Goats and Other Livestock
• 71 | Livestock Management Decisions and Why We Are Selling Part of Our Goat Herd

All the Best, Millie

Resources & Links:

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab the free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart
• Get Dry Creek meat: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com
• Join my insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider
• Join the free community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community
• Email me: [e-mail]
• See ranch life on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/

Disclaimer:

The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.