Dr. C.K. Shaju, Peruva
Deputy Director (Rtd.), Animal Husbandry Department. Phone: 9447399303
George Kuriakose Panthadans, Muvattupuzha
For the healthy growth of billy goats, can chicken eggs be given? If so, how many can be given per day?
A common farmer question is whether eggs can support billy goat growth and energy.
It is a practice to feed bad, unfertilized local chicken eggs to billy goats on the days they are used for mating. The general belief is that giving eggs regularly helps in overall body growth and provides energy.
However, experts do not advise giving too many eggs. The reason for this is the peculiarity of the goat’s digestive process.
Unlike other mammals, the stomach of ruminant animals like cows has 4 chambers. In the first chamber, the rumen, microorganisms belonging to the bacteria and protozoa species carry out the digestion process for the animal.
As part of the digestion of feed materials, they are converted into the cells of microorganisms, called microbial protein. Then they move to the subsequent chambers and are digested by digestive juices.
In short, the high-value protein in eggs is likely to be subjected to the action of microorganisms. Therefore, the protein in the given egg may not be fully available to the goat in its original form. That is why experts do not recommend giving eggs to goats regularly.
However, in situations where milk, oil cake, bran, and commercially available goat feed are not available, only the egg white can be given as a life-saving medicine to an emaciated animal.
If it has sufficient weight and it is a billy goat, it can mate with three or four goats in a day.
If it is used for mating, a break should be given.
There is nothing wrong in adopting the farmers’ practice of giving one egg on the day of mating.
Farmers also give 50 ml of sesame oil on the day of mating.
Can goats eat eggs every day?
Experts do not recommend giving eggs to goats regularly. Goats are ruminants, and the rumen microorganisms act on feed before nutrients move through the remaining stomach chambers. Because of this, the high-value protein in eggs may not be fully available to the goat in its original form.
How many eggs can be given to a billy goat?
Too many eggs are not advised. For mating-day practice, there is nothing wrong in adopting the farmers’ practice of giving one egg to a billy goat. This is different from regular egg feeding for growth, which experts do not recommend because of the goat’s digestive process.
Why is egg protein not fully useful for goats?
In goats and other ruminants, digestion begins in the rumen, where bacteria and protozoa act on feed materials. These materials are converted into microbial protein and then move to later chambers for digestion. So the protein in eggs may be changed before the goat can use it in its original form.
Can egg white help a weak or emaciated goat?
According to the article, if milk, oil cake, bran, and commercially available goat feed are not available, only the egg white can be given as a life-saving medicine to an emaciated animal. This is presented as an emergency situation, not as a regular feeding recommendation.
Can eggs improve a billy goat’s mating energy?
The general belief among farmers is that giving eggs helps overall body growth and provides energy, especially on mating days. However, experts caution against too many eggs. The article says there is nothing wrong in the farmer practice of giving one egg and 50 ml sesame oil on the day of mating.
How many goats can a healthy billy goat mate in one day?
If the billy goat has sufficient weight, it can mate with three or four goats in a day. The article also notes that if a billy goat is used for mating, a break should be given. Rest is important even when the animal appears healthy and active.
