Goats are kept on farms for meat and milk. These animals are unpretentious to feed, productive and hardy. Childbirth in most goat breeds is very easy. In this case, the offspring is born strong and healthy. However, the uterus should, of course, be well prepared for lambing. In particular, it is necessary to properly launch the goat, that is, make it so that it stops giving milk and rests from lactation. In winter, this procedure is performed almost the same as in summer, but has some of its own characteristics. How to run a goat before lambing in the cold season - we will talk about this later in the article.
Goat pregnancy
These farm animals reach puberty at the age of 8 months. At this time, future queens are mixed with males. Pregnancy in goats lasts about 5 months. After that, usually 1, less often 2 cubs are born. After birth, the goat begins to produce milk. This product is subsequently daily given twice a day and used for human consumption.
Goats can give birth twice a year. This usually occurs in spring and autumn. But experienced farmers still do not advise bringing queens with goats more often than once a year. With too frequent births, the goat’s body wears out, resulting in poor-quality offspring.
The uterus can give milk, starting from one birth and ending with the following. Before lambing, however, the animal must rest from lactation. For this, the goat is launched. Before lambing in winter or summer, the future uterus is simply less frequently milked. As a result, the milk production mechanism is temporarily disabled. It turns on again immediately after childbirth.
Milk and Colostrum
How to run a goat before lambing - we will talk about this a little lower. To begin with, we’ll deal with what exactly is the process of milk production in these animals. Little kids, like any other animals, are not able to eat adult food. For development and growth, of course, for the first time, they need mother's milk. Immediately at the start of lactation after childbirth, a special product is produced in the goat in the udder. It is called colostrum and contains many substances necessary for the body of cubs. Eating such a product helps to strengthen the immunity of kids and gives impetus to the rapid development of their body.
Over the next few days after lambing, an increasingly liquid product begins to be produced in the udder of the goat. It is believed that by the 10th day the animal gives not milk, but colostrum. From this point on, people can eat the product.
What is the launch for?
How to run a goat before lambing correctly - of course, many novice farmers would like to know about it. But why is such a procedure necessary? The period of lactation in the goat lasts, as already mentioned, until the next birth. But just before the lambing, milking the animal is reduced. Running a goat before childbirth is a must. During the rest period, the animal’s body will redistribute its forces from milk production to strengthening the health of the uterus itself and the production of substances vital for the fetus. Ignoring the launch can, unfortunately, lead to such unpleasant consequences as:
the birth of a sick, weak poor-quality offspring;
a significant decrease in goat productivity in terms of milk yield after childbirth.
Every beginner farmer should figure out how to start a goat before lambing correctly. Perform this procedure without errors is a must. Unfortunately, the milk yield of a child who gave birth without rest from lactation of the animal can decrease significantly. Sometimes productivity indicators in this regard for unreleased goats fall to 30-40%. Moreover, after 5-6 months, such an animal will most likely cease to milk at all.
How to determine pregnancy
Every farmer should find an answer to the question of how to run a goat before lambing in winter without errors. But of course, before proceeding with the preparation of the animal for childbirth, you need to make sure that it really bears the fetus. To do this, even a not too experienced farmer will not be difficult. The main signs of a goat's pregnancy are:
an increase in the size of the udder;
smoothing the skin and smoothing the folds near the vagina in the animal;
lack of hunting 15-25 days after mating.
In the later stages of pregnancy, the stomach of a goat increases significantly in size. At the same time, her pelvic bones become wide.
Sometimes a false pregnancy occurs in goats. In this case, the animal manifests all the signs described above, up to an increase in the abdomen. However, at the time of “delivery” a lot of water simply spills out of the goat’s vagina. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to distinguish a false pregnancy from a real one at home. To do this, do laboratory tests.
Is it necessary to run a goat before lambing artificially
Representatives of not too dairy breeds usually stop lactating on their own a couple of months before birth. Therefore, in many cases, the owners of the goats do not have to take any actions that are too complicated. Not very productive animals usually only slightly change their diet some time before birth. However, high-milk goats without special measures still usually do not stop milking until lambing.
It is the thoroughbred productive IFA in farms that is currently most valued. Therefore, run the goats to the owners of the compound artificially still have to quite often. In most cases, this should be done when the animal gives 4-5 liters per day.
When to start the launch
Rest from lactation of a goat before childbirth is quite long. Therefore, the question of when it is better to run a goat before lambing can be considered very important. It is believed that this procedure should be started no later than about 1 month before birth. A month before, the goat's diet should begin to gradually make changes. From the animal’s menu, all products that contribute to milk production should be phased out.
Thus, the answer to the question of when to run a goat before lambing is the 3rd month of pregnancy. After all, such animals carry babies, as already mentioned, for about 5 months.
Goat diet in winter
Such animals eat the following varieties in the cold season:
The first type of feed includes cereals (whole grain, rolled, crushed), bran, animal feed. Of the juicy products, goats are offered root crops, vegetables, and silage in the winter season. The category of roughage mainly includes hay and dried brooms.
When starting from the diet of goats, juicy food and concentrates are gradually removed. By the time the milking schedule is changed, the animal should receive only roughage.
Hay and Brooms
How to run a goat in front of lambing correctly in winter is, of course, a very important issue for any farmer. But it is equally important to decide what to feed the animal during this period. Of course, goats should be given only high-quality food before delivery. The following types of hay are believed to be suitable for such MPC:
The best kind of hay for pregnant goats is forbs or cereals and legumes. Of course, this food should not be too wet, moldy or too dry. Give goats need green hay with leaves.
Also, such animals are given straw, corn stalks. It will be very useful to prepare for the goat for the winter and foliage of maple, birch, oak, mountain ash. In addition, for this MPC often dried lashes of zucchini, tops of potatoes and beets. All of this food for a pregnant goat before launch will be very healthy.
Also, the animal must be given dried brooms from the branches:
willows and rockets;
ate;
alders;
elm and elm, etc.
You can offer pregnant goats branches of almost any tree. The only exceptions are poisonous. Also, experienced farmers do not recommend giving goats too many birch brooms. Such food can cause animal kidney disease.
How to run a goat before lambing: a schedule of milking
So, about 4.5 weeks before giving birth on the farms, the goat is launched. That is, they completely change the milking schedule. In the first week of launch, the number of milks is reduced to 1 per day. For high-milk goats, a gentle regimen may be used first. Such animals are first milked every 16-18 hours, gradually bringing the gap to a day. Otherwise, the goat will begin to expand the udder, which will lead to the development of mastitis. By the end of this period, the goat is likely to reduce the amount of milk produced to 1 liter.
A week later, the future uterus is transferred to milking 1 time in 1.5 days. This will lead to the fact that the amount of milk in the udder of the animal will decrease to 800 g. The next week, the goat is milked once every two days. By the end of this period, the milk yield usually decreases to 300-500 g.
And in the last week of launch, the goat is not milked at all. By this time, the udder of the animal usually already becomes soft. In the last week it only needs to be checked from time to time (once every few days). If milk accumulates in the goat, it should be milked.
After the lactation in the animal ceases, it can be returned to the normal diet. But too sharply, concentrates and succulent feeds cannot be entered into the goat’s menu. This should be done gradually, during the week increasing the amount of such food.
How to milk
Thus, the question of whether to run a goat before lambing in winter should not be faced by the farmer at all. This should be done. Even for a not too dairy goat that can start on its own, changes to the diet will have to be made.
Milking such animals before birth is also necessary. Trying to empty the udder of the goat completely during this period should not be. A certain amount of milk should remain in it. During start-up, the goat should be no more than ¾. Experienced farmers are advised to perform milking until the pressure in the udder is reduced. In any case, you should not massage the lobes and squeeze everything down to the drop.
What you need to know
Thus, the answer to the question of when and how to run a goat before lambing is relatively simple. But when performing this procedure, you should still follow some recommendations. Before covering the goat, you must make all the necessary vaccinations. During pregnancy, and even more so at startup, it is impossible to carry out a similar prophylaxis for animals. This may damage the fetus.
As already mentioned, in the last week of launch, the udder of the goat is checked from time to time to see if there is still some milk in it. If it is detected, it is decanted. But experienced farmers do not advise performing this procedure without the need. It is only necessary to finish the goat if there is really a lot of milk in its udder. Constant expressions during this period can lead to too early new lactation, which will negatively affect the health of future offspring. In addition, after starting the goat's nipples are covered with a thin film to prevent infection. With frequent expressions, the latter will, of course, be damaged, which can lead to udder disease.
What to do in the warm season
Of course, many beginning farmers are also interested in how to run a goat before lambing in the summer. At this time of the year, almost the same technology for stopping lactation in an animal is used as in winter. The only thing, in the summer, among other things, you need to reduce the time the goat stays in the pasture. To keep a pregnant animal in the meadow during this period is supposed to be no more than 4-5 hours a day. After all, grass, like root crops or silage, can also be classified as succulent feed.
Postpartum Diet
So, we figured out how to run a goat before lambing. But what to do after the goat gives birth to cubs? What to feed the animal during this period?
Lambing of goats usually happens very easily. Even an inexperienced farmer is likely to be able to take the young on their own. The only exceptions are those cases when the kid goes out forward with his feet. In this situation, it is better to call a veterinarian on the farm.
Of course, after giving birth, the goat is transferred to the maximum protein-rich diet. Indeed, at this time, the animal’s body produces colostrum necessary for the young, and therefore loses a lot of energy. Also, the goat at this time begin to crush. Feeding poor-quality food during this period can lead to a decrease in subsequent productivity in terms of milk production.
Immediately after childbirth (which lasts about 5 hours in these animals), the goat should be offered water and a chatter from bran or liquid oatmeal. In such food, you can add, among other things, a little sugar - about 50 grams. Hay should initially be present in the manger of the animal. Of the concentrates, goats after birth are usually given only flattened barley or oats. Wheat by the body of such animals will be digested poorly.