Bottle feeding baby goats whole milk

For more information on how to feed kids as they grow, check out this article on What Do Goats Eat? It depends?

Feeding kids from the first days of life. Learn how to feed kids

From the first days of life, kids can be fed in a variety of ways. However, it is worth remembering that the interval between the moment of birth and the start of feeding with colostrum should be small. The maximum indicator of such a period should be 1 hour. The whole point is this. Newborn goats are born with very weak immunity. As a result, they are susceptible to many diseases. 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 inhibitor of the digestive process. The rapid receipt of colostrum by the body contributes to the fact that lactic acid bacteria appear in the stomach of the kid, which protect against the development of various infectious diseases. In this case, 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 kids under the uterus is used in cases where goats have low milk production. Then the presence of kids with uterus is extended to 4 months of age. Then they are transferred to another feed (for example, milk replacer). When feeding goats from the first days of life takes place on suction, it is necessary to carefully check that the udder is clean and healthy, and the milk itself is normally milked. Usually, after giving birth, the kid begins to suck on his own, but it is better to support him by the tummy, since it is still very difficult for him to stand on his legs. In some cases, there are plugs in the nipples of goats that prevent the goats from getting to the milk. It should be noted that very weak kids cannot get to the milk at all because of the cork. Therefore, before feeding the kids, it is recommended to milk the first stream.

For the first time, newborn kids are allowed near a goat one hour after its birth. She feeds them about 6-8 times a day. From the 11th day of life, kids begin to feed freshly cooked and chilled oatmeal. Every day they put fresh hay in the feeder. Dairy-free feeding is transferred within 10 days.

Raising lambs and kids: feeding norms

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 milk replacer must be included in the goat's diet gradually. This should be done until the mother's milk is replaced. At the age of 20-30 days, it is necessary to include mineral supplements in the diet of kids. This is about 5 grams of salt, 7 grams of crushed chalk or bone meal. Portion is for one person. 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 the kids should be gradually weaned from uterine feeding. It is recommended to take 10 days for this. During this period, it is necessary to feed the animal with both mother's milk and concentrate at the same time, so that it is easier to accustom to mother's milk substitute.

Feeding with pasteurized milk

You can find your own alternative to artificial milk replacer. It is pasteurized goat's milk of natural origin. Pasteurization is necessary in order to destroy all harmful microorganisms, thus making the milk suitable for consumption some time after milking.

Pasteurization methods

Pasteurization can be carried out in two ways - fast and slow. Fast pasteurization is that the milk is heated for half a minute to a temperature of 74 degrees Celsius. When the slow method is used, the temperature will be slightly lower (64 degrees Celsius), but the exposure time is longer (it takes half an hour to withstand). 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 object that touches the milk should be sterilized to avoid contamination. A slightly different technology is used to heat colostrum. Colostrum should be heated to a temperature of 56 degrees Celsius, and then kept for an hour. Such a process is able to destroy all harmful microorganisms, and, on the contrary, keep the antibodies important for the kid in an active state.

When baby goats are fed from the first days of life without a uterus, in most cases bottles or cups are used for watering the animals. The milk container must be clean. It should always be remembered that as the kids grow, they become active, they can butt heads, hitting the person who is feeding from the bottle. It should be noted that feeding newborn kids with a bottle with a nipple will take a long time.

Pot feeding

Kids can be taught to drink milk on their own from birth. Pot-feeding is an unusual method, but goats love this way of feeding the most. This is because in this case they can drink as much milk as they want. You can feed kids from a bowl or pan from the moment you consume colostrum. A goat will be happy to drink milk if it is preheated to a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius (that is, a couple of degrees above its usual temperature). When a kid sees a pot or bowl of milk for the first time, he won't come right away. Therefore, it is necessary to dip his muzzle into a container of milk. Most often, this will be enough for the kid to understand what to do next. At first, you can use small cups to water the kid, which will soon be changed to a pot or bowl. A cup or pan is much easier to clean than a plastic bottle. In addition, there will be unexpected costs associated with the purchase of pacifiers and bottles. But there is a small minus in feeding from a pan - often kids put their legs in a container, so they pour it over.

Kid's diet

Feeding and caring for kids from birth to 30 days is as follows.

Until the age of 30 days, kids are recommended to be fed at least 4 times a day, i.e. every 5 hours. Breakfast at the goat should start at six in the morning, and dinner at 9 in the evening.

At 10 days old, a small amount of hay or brooms can be added to the goat's feeder. Salt also begins to be included in the diet (4-6 g per day will be enough).

At the age of 3 weeks, goats are already able to cope with various concentrates: bran, rolled oats, crushed cake. It is best to add about 10 g of crushed chalk or bone meal to these concentrates. Every day, the goats are boiled oatmeal, which needs to be lightly salted and served warm to the animals. Serve various kinds of root crops to goats finely chopped.

When kids are reared, the scheme of feeding kids up to a month is approximately the following:

• 1-2 days - feed 200 g of whole milk in one feeding (4 times a day).
• 3-5 days - feed 225-250 g (4 times a day).
• 6-10 days - 300 gr.
• From the 11th to the 20th day feed 200 g of oatmeal.
• 21-30 days, in addition to milk (1200 g per day), the 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 volume of clean, non-cold water.

When the goats go to the stall at the age of 8 months, they need to be given one and a half kilograms of hay daily, about 300 grams of concentrates and about one kilogram of various root crops. Such a diet will provide the goat with a sufficient amount of nutrients and will promote growth. This scheme of feeding and caring for goats in the first months of life can guarantee a weight gain of up to 4 kg per month.

Benefits of goat's milk

Goat owners know that goat's milk is more nutritious. In addition, it contains a huge proportion of proteins, fats and dry matter. If we compare it with cow's milk, then it contains the amino acids necessary for a person. Goat milk is more fatty. 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 specific smell due to the negligent attitude of its owners. An animal that is kept clean, the udder always washed, and the feeding utensils clean, will produce odorless milk. The smell of a goat can saturate everything around, including food, wool of queens. It should be noted that goat hair must be combed once a week so that the skin pores do not become clogged. Otherwise, those substances that should come out with sweat enter the blood and milk. Experienced livestock breeders know that to determine the quality of goat milk, you only need to smell the head of a goat. If there is no unpleasant odor, then you can be sure that the milk will also be odorless.

Dairy goat feeding

Goats are most often fed with food waste (vegetable tops, potato skins). In the hot season, animals feed on pasture, so they do not need much additional feeding. The daily portion of hay for goats is about 3 kg. For the winter, animals are recommended to prepare about half a ton of hay. It should be remembered that fresh grass in summer improves the digestion process of the animal. Although goats are very unpretentious in their choice of food, they still refuse products spoiled by mold.

Ration of the queens

The "menu" of the queens 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.

Feeding kids from the first days of life: table and video

Feeding kids from the first days of life is of great importance. An approximate diet table for them helps to understand what proper nutrition should be. If babies have enough food and useful trace elements, they grow up healthy. Therefore, the owner must take care not only about the comfort of the kids, but also about their feeding. The menu for them is selected depending on age.

Root crops - Favorite treats for growing goats

Content of Article

• 1 Preparation for the first feeding
  • 1.1 Diet and feeding scheme during the milk period
    • 3.1 Prices for milking machines for goats
  • 4 Table of feeding goats
  • 5 Ways to raise goats
    • 5.1 Natural feeding
    • 5.2 Video - How to excommunicate goats from a goat
    • 5.3 Crowing goats without uterus
  • 6 How to feed goats without a goat
  • What will be the goat menu after three months
    9005 7.1 for goats

  Preparing for the first feeding

  It must be carried out in the first half hour after the birth of the kid. Then the young animals develop strong immunity. There are no problems with lambing in goats - most often it passes naturally, without the intervention of the farmer. His help will be needed only after the immediate birth of the baby.

  You can read all about goat lambing in our article here.

  What to do before the first feeding

  The owner needs to perform certain actions:

  Step 1.

  Cut the umbilical cord with a sterile instrument. To do this, the scissors are treated with alcohol.

  Umbilical cord

  Step 2.

  Wipe the kid with a clean towel. Remove mucus from mouth and nose. If it enters the lungs, it can cause illness.

  Take care of the newborn goat

  Step 3.

  Cover the newborn with a soft cloth or dry towel to maintain normal heat exchange.

  Newborn kid needs warmth

  Step 4.

  Wash the goat's udder. Milk the first jets of colostrum. They are considered unsuitable for eating due to the presence of harmful bacteria.

  The first streams of colostrum are not suitable for food

  After that, you can start the first feeding. Goat colostrum contains a complete set of trace elements that help activate the newborn's immune system. It contains easily digestible protein, fats and a group of enzymes, thanks to which digestion is improved in the baby's fragile stomach. Thanks to colostrum, the intestines of the young are also cleansed of the original feces.

  First feeding

  Feeding devices

  Before you start feeding, you need to prepare special dishes. For feeding animals use buckets with nipples or bottles.

  Newborn bottle feeding

  Important! Do not feed young animals from troughs or cups. Their body is not yet ready for this way of eating. If the kids immediately swallow milk in large doses, a curd mass will form in the stomach. Then the kids will have diarrhea, exhaustion.

  It is undesirable to let them near a goat in the first days of birth for several reasons:

  • babies can overeat;
  • the goat will become nervous, overexcited;
  • milk will be less or its quality will change.

  A few baby bottles are enough to feed a small number of animals. These can be bought at the pharmacy. If the livestock is large, it is recommended to use special buckets. They are joined by nipples, through which the cubs receive food in small portions.

  Thanks to special buckets with nipples, the suckling reflex develops faster in young animals.

  If the farm is large, then it is better to feed the babies using automatic machines. These are special tanks with tubes connected to cages with young animals. In them, the food is first heated to the required temperature, and then the feeding process begins. Thanks to the use of this type of professional equipment, food is delivered to newborns according to a certain schedule, and its volume is also regulated. As a result, the kids have no problems with the digestive system.

  Video - Feeding kids

  Diet and feeding scheme during the milk period

  For 3-4 weeks from birth, babies are given food several times a day, gradually increasing portions. The milk period in goats lasts up to 30 days from birth.

  Appearance of babies in the milk period

  Table №1. Approximate nutrition scheme for cubs in the milk period.

  Age	Number of meals	Recommended amount of milk per feeding	Recommended amount of milk per day	Oatmeal	Concentrates
  1-2 days	5	150 ml	750 ml	-	-
  3 days	5	225 ml	900 ml	-	-
  4-5 days	4	250 ml	1000 ml	-	-
  6-10 days	4	300 ml	1200 ml	-	-
  11-20 days	4	300 ml	1200 ml	200 g	-
  21-30 days	4	300 ml	1200 ml	300 g	30 g

  Newborns are fed fresh colostrum for the first few days. And only for 5-6 days they are given whole milk. Liquid oatmeal on the 11th day begins to be added to milk. It is not as nutritious as colostrum, but it contains antibodies that form resistance to infections.

  Goat milk is the basis of the diet

  Goat milking machine prices

  Goat milking machine

  Important! In a goat, the most nutritious colostrum is excreted 1-2 days after lambing. It can be milked and frozen to be given to pups for 3-7 days to improve their health.

  Baby goat feeding chart

  Newborn babies are under stress. This is caused by a sharp change in the form of development - the intrauterine period passes into the postnatal. At this point, babies are very susceptible to the influence of the external environment. To reduce the negative impact from the outside, you need to carefully monitor the diet.

  Table #2. Feeding kids at 31-90 days of life.

  Age	Number of meals	Recommended amount of milk per feeding	Recommended amount of milk per day
  31-40 days	3	350 ml	1050 ml	500 g	50 g 9025 40254
  41-50 days	3	250 ml	750 ml	700 g	100 g	60 g 902
  51-60 days	3	150 ml	450 ml	800 g	120-150 g
  61-70 days	3	150 ml	450 ml	800 g	200 g	150-200 g
  71-80 days	3	150 ml	450 ml	-	250 g	250 g
  81-90 days	3	150 ml	450 ml	-	300 g	250 g

  On the 5th week, crushed root crops are introduced into the menu. Feeding for babies is young needles, fish oil. In small quantities, bone meal can also be given - up to 5 g per day. As roughage, animals are also given hay or fresh grass. If you feed them according to this scheme, the monthly growth of each individual will be 3-4 kg.

  Hay is an additional source of vitamins

  Ways of rearing kids

  There are two types of feeding young animals - under the uterus and without it. You can choose one method or combine them.

  Natural feeding

  This method is considered optimal for animals with low milk production. As part of this type of feeding, babies are left with their mother until they are 3-4 months old. All this time they freely suck the udder, getting milk as many times as they want.

  Natural nutrition is the key to healthy baby

  Important! Breastfeeding requires good care of the mammary glands of the female. Young growth is not able to suck out all the colostrum completely. Especially for 1-3 days old. Then the discharge accumulates, which can cause the development of mastitis. To prevent this from happening, the goat's udder should be checked regularly. If there are milk residues after feeding, they are milked.

  At the age of 3 weeks the cubs are fed 10 g. It contains salt and chalk in equal proportions. After 2 months, the rate is doubled. As they grow older, mixtures of sunflower cake and oats are introduced.

  When the young are 3-4 months old, the process of weaning begins. It lasts from 7 to 10 days. During this period, kids are allowed to visit it once every two days. The transition is carried out gradually. It is impossible to abruptly tear off babies from the uterus.

  Important! They perceive even a smooth transition to artificial feeding painfully - they behave restlessly, bleat. At first, the cubs refuse to use milk mixtures.

  Video - How to wean kids from goats

  New ingredients are introduced into the diet immediately. They are added to mashed bran or liquid oatmeal.

  The natural method of feeding has its advantages:

  • milk that enters the stomach of goats directly contains more nutrients than the product that first falls into a separate container, and only then is fed to animals;
  • in young animals, the immune system is strengthened, resistance to diseases increases;
  • development is proceeding at an accelerated pace;
  • accelerates the process of weight gain;
  • babies copy their mother's behavior and learn to eat hay or concentrates faster;
  • does not require large energy and time costs on the part of the farmer.

  This method has only two drawbacks. If babies are born in summer or early autumn, then in the process of walking in the pasture, they can completely suck out the goat, causing her exhaustion. In addition, babies can damage non-working nipples. Then they swell and hurt, causing discomfort in the goat.

  Raising queenless kids

  This type of food is more troublesome, requiring constant supervision from the owner. You also have to spend time and effort on additional care for animals. Rearing without a queen is practiced mainly when breeding goats with high milk production.

  After the birth of a kid, he is immediately weaned from his mother. Milk is given to a baby in a bottle with a nipple. Before feeding, it is heated to 38 degrees. Feeding utensils must be sterilized, otherwise the infection will enter the body of newborns.

  Weaned newborn goat

  Important! Colostrum must not be withheld from formula-fed babies. Together with it, young animals receive useful trace elements that contribute to normal growth and development.

  There are few advantages to artificial feeding - it is the possibility of self-control over the diet of cubs and getting a large milk yield from females with a dairy direction of productivity.

  The disadvantages of this method include:

  • exposure of young animals to infectious diseases;
  • slow development of kids;
  • difficulty;
  • the need for large financial costs.

  Regardless of the choice of feeding method, one should not forget about the drinking regimen. Animals should always have access to warm and clean water.

  How to feed kids without a goat

  If you have to raise babies without a uterus due to the lack of a nursing mother, then goat's milk is replaced by its analogues. The composition of such mixtures contains low-fat milk, vitamins and emulsifiers. You can also use milk from other goats. If this is not possible, you will have to feed the young with the help of milk replacer - milk substitutes. Mixtures are given in accordance with certain rules:

  • the portion size should correspond to the age of the individual, its daily needs;
  • the specified rate must not be exceeded;
  • with increasing portions, the number of feedings decreases;
  • the older the calf, the longer the intervals between meals should be;
  • if the goat died, you need to give the babies heated colostrum from another goat.

  Important! If it is not possible to feed the kids with colostrum or milk replacer, cow's milk will do. But individuals fed with such food will be inferior in productivity and weight to their relatives.

  Table #3. The daily rate of the mixture.

  Age of kids	Total servings per day
  1-7 days	900-1200 ml
  7-20 days	1300-1600 ml
  Up to 9 weeks	1700-1900 ml

  Milk replacer is prepared according to a specific recipe at the rate of 5 liters of water per 1 kg of dry product. To make baby formula you need:

  1. Combine dry product with water.
  2. Heat the mixture over low heat to 45 degrees. Stir continuously while heating.
  3. Strain until there are no lumps.

  After 9-10 weeks they are switched to adult nutrition.

  Milk replacer for kids

  What will be the menu of goats after three months

  Animals are accustomed to it gradually. Give new feed start in small doses, gradually increasing them. The new menu will include the following products:

  • fresh herbs or hay depending on the season;
  • young branches of shrubs;
  • silo;
  • root vegetables and cabbages;
  • compound feed;
  • straw;
  • ground grain;
  • vitamin supplements.

  Due to the diversity of the diet, goats receive all the necessary substances for active growth. To provide the animals with green grass, they are kept on a leash in the pasture or allowed to graze freely in a separate paddock. While walking in the meadow, lick salt can be decomposed as a source of additional minerals for young animals.

  Salt-lick for kids

  Prices for felucene mineral lick for goats

  Felucene mineral lick for goats

  With a change in diet, the cubs are accustomed to a bowl and a trough. In order for the kids to understand what the owner wants from them, you need to perform the following actions:

  • pick up the baby;
  • bring a container of food to his muzzle;
  • dip your finger in it;
  • let the kid lick it.

  Hay can be given not only in winter. It is also suitable for evening feedings in the summer. Goats are fed with straw only in winter, so that there is no shortage of useful trace elements.

  Metal trough - the most comfortable and stable option for kids

  Important! Vegetables are first washed and then finely chopped and poured into a feeding container. For young individuals it is a valuable source of proteins and carbohydrates. Compound feed and cereals improve digestion. For the day of each individual, it is necessary to eat up to 1.5 kg of grass, 300 g of feed and 1 kg of root crops or silage.

  In order for babies to get stronger and grow up healthy, they are provided with good care and quality nutrition.

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