CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF GOAT

Care of pregnant goat

1. Keep pregnant animals separated from others
2. Provide adequate nutrition, easily digestible and laxative diet
3. Do not allow them to fight with each other
4. Do not allow them to mix with recently aborted animals
5. Shortly before the doe is due to freshen, clip hair around the udder, hind quarters and tail for greater cleanliness.
6. If the goat continuous to produce milk , dry her off at least 6 to 8weeks before expected kidding.

Care of newborn kids

Clean the nostrils and remove the placental membranes sticking on the kid, by gently rubbing with dry cotton or rags. Holding the kids up by hind legs with head downward for few seconds, will aid in clearing the respiratory tract. The kid will get up and start walking within half an hour. Allow the doe to lick the kids dry. Immerse the end portion of umbilical cord in tincture iodine. Repeat this after 12 hours. The kid should get its first drink of colostrum within 30 minutes of birth. If the kids do not suck properly, the teats should be held by the hand and pressed into their mouth. Once they have drawn a little of the milk, it will not be long before they take to the normal method of sucking.

Proper selection of kids on the basis of initial body weight and weaning weight should be initiated by maintaining appropriate records for replacing the culled adult stock as breeders.
Additional feed requirements of lactating does must be ensured for proper nursing of all the piglets born.

(Source : Namakkal KVK )

Care at milking

Keep the lactating doe away from the buck. Bruising of the teats and udder of goats should be avoided. Generally goats are milked twice a day. Prepare the goat for milking by washing the udder with lukewarm water and keep it dry with clothing. To prevent injury to the udder, first close the thumb and first finger, then close the second finger, followed by third finger. Use a steady pressure. Finally close the little finger and squeeze with the entire hand until the milk is drawn. Now release the pressure on the teat and open the finger so that the teat can refill. Repeat the process until very little milk comes out. Both the hands can be simultaneously used for milking.

Care of young Doe

 They should be provided with good quality feed and fodders. Stock for breeding purposes or in progeny- testing programme should be weighed weekly and the weight recorded in the register . Protect them against disease, which can be effected by vaccinations.

Management of doe

The doe comes into heat every 18-24 days with an average of 21 days. The duration of heat period 2 to 3 days. The gestation period 151±3 days. Generally, the breeding season is spread all over the year and under good feeding and management conditions, two pregnancies in a year are possible.

( Source:www.vuatkerala.org )