The last two trimesters of pregnancy require considerably more protein ( groceries for city folks ). Pregnant does have to take care of their own body needs and the developing kids. Here in the middle of the Winter, the does also have to deal with the cold weather. It's time to supplement the forage with prairie hay and cattle cubes or corn.
We use corn part of the time because the goats like it. Animal feed specialists will tell you it probably doesn't have the protein the does need. Cattle cubes can also be used and our feed stores sell an 18 percent protein. The does like them pretty well. In the cold weather and heavy development time, we like to give them approximately half a pound per day. Sometimes a little more, others a little less.
We started putting out round bales of prairie hay about three weeks ago. Most of it has gone untouched so far. Not entirely uncommon as there is still some natural forage remaining with acorns from the oak trees. As January approaches, the round bales will start to go a lot faster until the end of March.
Nutrition is essential to healthy kids and does capable of producing enough milk for them to grow after they are born.