Feeding Goats in the Heat: What the Science Says

In this episode, we're diving (really deeply) into one of the most important, yet often overlooked, aspects of goat care in hot climates: nutrition. We’re breaking down a dense but eye-opening scientific review that asks a critical question: are the feeding systems we use for goats really built for the environments we raise them in?

Most feeding guidelines for goats were developed in temperate regions, like parts of Europe or the U.S., where heat stress isn't a daily concern. But this paper takes a fresh look at what goats actually need when they're growing or pregnant in hot climates, think Brazil, and by extension, places like the southern U.S. and especially here in Florida.

The researchers explore how heat, pregnancy stage, breed (or genotype), and even whether a goat is male or female can change their energy, protein, and mineral needs. Goats in hotter regions often eat less to stay cool, but their bodies still need to grow, build muscle, or support developing kids. That mismatch can lead to undernourishment or poor performance, unless we adjust their diets with heat in mind.

We’ll talk about what this means for real-world feeding: how energy needs shift, why protein may need to be dialed up, and what minerals might need special attention in hot-weather herds. Whether you're raising meat goats, dairy does, or just trying to manage growth during a brutal summer, this episode gives you science-backed tools to feed smarter, not just more.

So grab some shade, maybe a cold drink, and let’s get into how heat really affects your goats' breakfast.

Referenced Article: I.A.M.A. Teixeira, C.J. Härter, J.A.C. Vargas, A.P. Souza, M.H.M.R. Fernandes, Review: Update of nutritional requirements of goats for growth and pregnancy in hot environments, animal, Volume 18, Supplement 2, 2024,

101219, ISSN 1751-7311, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2024.101219.

A NotebookLM Deep Dive human written to make goat science make sense.

Visit Companion Blog for this Episode: https://goathousefarm.com/goat-nutrition-hot-weather/