Feeding kids from the first days of life can be carried out in a variety of ways. However, it is worth remembering that the interval between the moment of birth and the start of colostrum feeding should be small. The maximum indicator of such a period should be 1 hour. This is the whole point. Newborn kids are born with very weak immunity. As a result, they are affected by many diseases. The composition of their blood does not yet contain the necessary antibodies. But thanks to colostrum, weak kids become stronger. Their body receives a portion of antibodies that will be aimed at strengthening the body's defenses. In addition, colostrum for kids is an unusually tasty substance.
It should be noted that colostrum is not only a source of vital antibodies. It is also considered a kind of digestive inhibitor. The quick receipt of colostrum by the body contributes to the fact that lactic acid bacteria appear in the kid’s stomach, which protect against the development of various infectious diseases. In this case, the harmful bacteria do not gain access to the stomach and intestines. Also, beneficial bacteria improve digestion, accelerate the release of feces.
Feeding kids from the first days of life: description
Feeding the kids under the uterus is used in cases where the goats have low milk productivity. Then the finding of the kids with the uterus is extended to 4 months of age. Then they are transferred to another feed (for example, milk replacer). When the kids are fed from the first days of life on a suction, it is necessary to carefully check that the udder is clean and healthy, and the milk itself is normally dispensed. Usually, after the birth, the kid begins to suck on its own, but it is better to support it by the tummy, since it is still very difficult for it to stand on its legs. In some cases, goats get nipples in the nipples that prevent the kids from getting to the milk. It should be noted that very weak kids and can not get to the milk at all because of the cork. Therefore, before feeding the kids, it is recommended to milk the first trickle.
For the first time, newborn kids are allowed to goat to the goat one hour after his birth. She feeds them about 6-8 times a day. From the 11th day of life, the kids begin to feed the freshly cooked and chilled oatmeal. Every day they put fresh hay in the feeder. Dairy-free feeding is transferred within 10 days.
Growing lambs and kids: feeding standards
In the first week, the diet of young kids should contain about 1.5 liters of milk, and it should be taken 3-4 times a day. It is worth remembering that a milk substitute must be included in the kid’s diet gradually. This should be done until mother's milk is replaced. At the age of 20-30 days it is necessary to include mineral fertilizing in the kids diet. This is about 5 grams of salt, 7 grams of crushed chalk or bone meal. The portion is calculated on one individual. When the kid is 3 months old, you can increase the daily portion of bone meal (chalk) to 10 g. It is at this age that you should gradually wean the kids from uterine feeding. A 10-day time limit is recommended. During this period, it is necessary to feed the animal at the same time with mother’s milk and concentrate, so that it is easier to train a mother’s milk replacer.
Pasteurized Milk Feeding
An artificial milk replacer can find its alternative. This is pasteurized goat milk of natural origin. Pasteurization is necessary in order to destroy all harmful microorganisms, thus making milk suitable for consumption some time after milking.
Pasteurization Methods
Pasteurization can be done in two ways - quickly and slowly. Fast pasteurization is that the milk is heated for half a minute to a temperature of 74 degrees Celsius. When using the slow method, the temperature will be slightly lower (64 degrees Celsius), however, the exposure time is longer (it is necessary to withstand half an hour). In order to prepare pasteurized milk, you can use an ordinary stove with a thermometer or a household pasteurizer.
After the procedure, it is necessary to quickly cool the milk in some sterile container. It must be remembered that any item that touches the milk should be sterilized to avoid infection. A slightly different technology is used to heat the colostrum. Colostrum should be heated to a temperature of 56 degrees Celsius, and then kept for an hour. Such a process is capable of destroying all harmful microorganisms, and, on the contrary, retaining antibodies important for the kid, in the active state.
When the kids are fed from the first days of life without a uterus, then in most cases, bottles or cups are used to feed the animals. The milk container must be clean. You should always remember that as the kids grow, they become active, they can butt, while hitting a person who is feeding from a bottle. It should be noted that feeding newborn kids with a bottle with a pacifier will take a lot of time.
Pan feeding
Kids can be taught to consume milk on their own since their birth. Feeding an animal from a pan is an unusual method, but the kids like this way of feeding the most. This is because in this case they can drink as much milk as they want. You can feed the kids from a bowl or pan from the moment you use colostrum. The kid will be happy to drink milk if it is preheated to a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius (that is, a couple of degrees above the usual temperature). When a kid first sees a pan or bowl of milk, he will not do right away. Therefore, it is necessary to dip his face in a container of milk. Most often this will be enough for the kid to understand what should be done next. At first, you can use small cups to drink the kid, which can soon be exchanged for a pan or bowl. A cup or pan is much easier to wash than a plastic bottle. In addition, there will be unexpected expenses associated with the acquisition of nipples and bottles. But in feeding from the pan there is also a small minus - the kids are often put in the capacity of the legs, so they overfill it.
Kid diet
Feeding and caring for kids from birth to 30 days is as follows.
Before reaching 30 days of age, it is recommended to feed the kids at least 4 times a day, that is, every 5 hours. Breakfast at the kid should begin at six in the morning, and dinner at 9 in the evening.
At 10 days of age, a small amount of hay or brooms can be added to the kid’s feeder. Also, salt is beginning to be included in the diet (4-6 g per day will be enough).
At 3 weeks of age, the kids can already cope with various concentrates: bran, rolled oats, crushed oilcake. It is best to add about 10 g of ground chalk or bone meal to these concentrates. Every day, the kids are cooked oatmeal, which is slightly necessary to salt and serve the animals warm. Different kinds of root vegetables served to the goats finely chopped.
When the kids are growing, the feeding pattern for the kids up to a month is about this:
- 1-2 days - 200 g of whole milk is fed in one feeding (4 times a day).
- 3-5 day - feed 225-250 g (4 times a day).
- 6-10 day - in one feeding give 300 gr.
- From 11 to 20 days, 200 grams of oatmeal are fed.
- 21-30 days, except for milk (1200 g per day), a kid is given 300 g of oatmeal and 300 g of concentrates.
It is worth remembering that from birth, kids will need water. Therefore, it is necessary to provide them with a sufficient amount of clean, non-cold water.
When the kids go to the stall at the age of 8 months, they need to give one and a half kilograms of hay daily, about 300 grams of concentrates and about one kilogram of different root crops. Such a diet will provide the kid with enough nutrients and will promote growth. This scheme of feeding and caring for the kids in the first months of life will be able to guarantee a weight gain of up to 4 kg per month.
The benefits of goat milk
Goat owners are aware that goat milk is more high in calories. In addition, it contains a huge proportion of proteins, fats and dry matter. If we compare it with cow's milk, then it contains amino acids necessary for humans. Goat milk is more fat. However, it has amazing anti-infective properties. Many people do not consume goat's milk just because of its smell. However, this is not the fault of the animal itself. Milk has a peculiar smell due to the careless attitude of its owners. An animal that is kept clean, the udder is always washed, and the dishes for the feed are clean, will produce odorless milk. The smell of a goat can soak everything around, including food, wool of queens. It should be noted that goat hair needs to be scratched once a week so that the pores of the skin do not clog. Otherwise, those substances that must come out with sweat enter the blood and milk. Experienced breeders know that to determine the quality of goat's milk you only need to sniff the goat’s head. If there is no unpleasant odor, you can be sure that the milk will also be odorless.
Dairy goat feeding
Goats are most often fed food waste (vegetable tops, potato peels). In the hot season, animals feed on pasture, therefore , they do not need additional additional nutrition. The daily serving of hay for goats is about 3 kg. For the winter, animals are advised to prepare about half a ton of hay. It should be remembered that fresh grass in the summer improves the digestion of the animal. Although goats are very unpretentious in choosing food, but still refuse products that are spoiled by mold.
Uterine diet
The uterus menu ’should contain 2 kilograms of hay, about 2.5 kg of feed, and another half kilogram of concentrates. The room for the animal should be free of drafts and dampness. In winter, the room should be ventilated, that is, it is necessary to provide access to fresh air.