Goat

Nutrition of Newborn Kids

Colostrum is the first milk produced after parturition (the actual birthing process). Colostrum contains a high content of immunoglobulins (antibodies), vitamin A, minerals, fat and other sources of energy. Antibodies are proteins that help the goat kid fight off diseases.

The ability of kids to resist disease is greatly affected by the timing of colostrum intake and the quantity and quality of the colostrum ingested. Reports from cattle indicate that if left alone, 25 percent of the young do not nurse within eight hours and 10 to 25 percent do not get sufficient amounts of colostrum. Colostrum should be ingested or bottle-fed (in case of weak kids) as soon as kids have a suckling reflex

The producer must be certain all newborn kids get colostrum soon after birth (within the first hour after birth and certainly within the first six hours) because the percentage of antibodies found in colostrum decreases rapidly after parturition.

The antibodies in colostrum need to be consumed before the kids suck on dirty, pathogen-loaded parts of its mother or stall. In addition, the ability of the newborn kid to absorb antibodies also decreases rapidly 24 hours after birth. Newborn kids should ingest 10 percent of their body weight in colostrum during the first 24 hours of life for optimum immunity.

The extra colostrum produced by high-lactating does during the first 24 hours following kidding can be frozen for later use when needed. Only first milking from healthy animals should be frozen for later feeding, and the colostrum from older animals that have been on the premises for several years is typically higher in antibody content against endemic pathogens than is colostrum from first fresheners.

Ice cube trays are ideal containers: once frozen, cubed colostrum can be stored in larger containers and the trays used for another batch. Ice cubes are the perfect size for newborn kids, thus thawed colostrum is always fresh, and waste reduced to a minimum. Thawing colostrum either at room temperature or at a fairly low temperature is recommended. Colostrum should never be overcooked during the thawing process.

Revaccination against tetanus and enterotoxemia (over-eating disease) two to four weeks before the kidding date is commonly used to improve the protective value of the colostrum against these conditions.

When to Kid and When to Wean

Kidding season and weaning age depend on several management and marketing factors. However, kids born in very late winter and early spring, when grazed with their mothers on lush, high-quality small grains or cool-season forages, will grow faster and will be healthier than kids born during the heat of late spring and early summer, when forages mature and worm burdens increase. Letting the kids nurse and graze with their mothers for as long as the doe stays in good enough body condition so as not to impair the success of its next breeding season is a sound management practice that will ensure rapid growth of the goat kids.

Weaning is a very stressful period for kids and coccidia infestations generally show up at weaning. Frequent observation of weaned kids is very important. Kids showing signs of coccidia infestation should be treated immediately; otherwise they will dehydrate and die. Coccidia can damage the lining of the intestines, and if not treated properly, surviving kids may not grow to reach their normal size and production potential.

Body Condition Scoring (BCS)

As the breeding season approaches, producers should be concerned with the body condition of their breeding does. Goats should not be allowed to become too thin or too fat. Failure in reproduction, low twinning rates and low weaning rates can result if does are too thin. Overly fat does can suffer pregnancy toxemia, but fat does are rarely a problem.

Flushing, or increasing the level of feed offered to breeding does, can be accomplished by moving breeding does to a lush nutritious pasture three to four weeks prior to the introduction of the bucks. This cost-effective flushing method is underutilized in the southeast where forage is abundant. Another method is feeding one-half pound per day of a high-energy supplement. Corn is the grain of choice for flushing; whole cottonseed is another low cost, high energy supplement. The goal of supplements is to increase the intake and body weight. Breeding does should be grouped according to their BCS and be fed accordingly, first to improve their body condition, then to maintain it.

Selenium Deficiency and Supplementation

Selenium in soil is absorbed by growing plants that are eaten by foraging/browsing goats. Proper selenium levels are required for goats to breed, birth, lactate, urinate, and for proper muscle function. Symptoms of selenium deficiency (white muscle disease) are similar to those of Vitamin E deficiency. Presents as kids who are too weak to stand or suckle at birth, consistently cough, milk runs out of their nose after nursing, and those who develop pneumonia due to weakness of lung muscles. Symptoms in adult goats include abortions, stillbirths, retained placenta, or inability to conceive.

Dosages vary by region and should be discussed with a knowledgeable vet, but the following is a general outline of how many goat raisers supplement their goats to achieve adequate selenium levels:

Annually before breeding, goat producers in selenium-deficient areas give SQ injections of Bo-Se (Selenium with Vitamin E) to all adult goats, including breeding bucks. Bucks may be given Bo-Se injections twice a year. Pregnant does are again supplemented with Bo-Se 4-6 weeks before kidding. Selenium-deficient dams produce selenium-deficient kids. Kids are injected SQ with Bo-Se at birth, and again if not thriving.

General herd maintenance can also include providing a feed or mineral block with selenium included.

Table 8-1. Summary of reproductive characteristics in goats.

Source: Oklahoma State Extension - Kidding Chapter PDF