Bucket feeding baby goats

extension/bottle-feeding-hand-rearing-goat-kids

Why hand-rear your goat kids?

There are a number of reasons to feed your kids by hand, separate from their mothers, some by choice, and some by necessity. This article explores why a producer might want to hand-rear kids and discusses the pros and cons of some of the different options.

Reasons why you might choose to hand-rear your goat kids

Allowing for the doe to be bred more quickly after giving birth. This is sometimes a necessity in commercial operations.
Managing the amount of milk fed to kids to ensure maximum volume of milk for consumption or sales.
Preventing spread of disease carried in bodily fluids, such as Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE), Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL), and Johnes Disease.
Ensuring survival of kids if dam is suffering from mastitis, is not producing enough milk to feed all her kids, has rejected one of more of her kids, or has died.
Promoting kid bonding with human handlers, not their dam. This helps develop trust and ease of handling when the kids mature.

Some of the common methods of hand-feeding goat kids

Feeding methods can differ from one breeder to the next, and in some cases, from one situation to the next within a herd. Ultimately, you must choose what works best for you and your herd. With that said, here are some possible feeding solutions.

Bottle feeding

If you have a small number of kids, bottle feeding can be a great way to feed your kids. It is an inexpensive option as bottles you would normally recycle, such as soda or water bottles, can be reused for this purpose. It also gives the handler one-on-one time to bond with the kids as their "mother" and helps develops the trust required for easy handling as the animal matures.

Even if you use a different method for feeding older goat kids, getting newborns or kids just starting on hand-feeding comfortable with bottle feeding first will help them have confidence as they transition to the more competitive methods discussed below.

One of the biggest benefits of bottle feeding is also its downside; with many kids to feed, bottle feeding one or two at a time can take a while. Additionally, with the need to thoroughly clean those bottles between every feeding, washing between feedings can again take a lot of time out of the day

Lambar or teat feeder

The Lambar is teat feeder (sometimes called a "momma bucket"), which is a bucket with nipples attached to it that your young goats use to feed. They are often used to feed 6-10 kids and are a great step up from hand-feeding one or two kids at a time. Some people worry that using a bucket minimizes the bonding benefits of hand-feeding kids, but if you sit out with the bucket resting near you, the kids will still associate you with feeding, and therefore trust you like their "mother."

The cold milk method

This is a variation on the teat feeder that allows you to provide free choice feeding to your kids. Instead of simply putting the bucket out on a stand or holding it while your goats feed, the cold milk method has you keep the feeder in an ice bath, keeping it icy cool and fresh throughout the day. This allows you to let your kids drink when they feel hungry, but it prevents them from drinking too much at one time as the cold milk gives them a brain freeze.

Since this method encourages the kids to take several small meals in a day versus a few larger meals, it more closely replicates the natural feeding they would get if they nursed their dam.

Automated feeding systems

If you run a large-scale operation, you may want to use automated feeders that can feed many more goats at a time. Automated feeders ensure regular feeding by dispensing milk or milk replacer throughout the day. If you opt for automatic feeders, milk can be kept cold all day, or at room temperature switched out twice a day. This feeding method has the drawback of minimized bonding with your animals, but will still help prevent the spread of disease.

Pan or trough feeding

Another feeding option is using a trough or pan to feed multiple kids at once. If you opt for this method, stay vigilant to ensure the smaller kids are getting enough and the larger kids aren’t overindulging. If you trough feed, be sure to clean your kids' mouths after each feeding so they do not develop milk sores.

Can I use a multi-animal feeding system right away?

It is not recommended that put your kids on a multi-animal feeding system right at birth. Bottle feeding kids for at least a week after birth will ensure they initially get enough colostrum, and later enough enough milk, to provide the required nutrients for a good start. After that, you can begin teaching them to feed from a different feeding system.

Photos courtesy of Goat Milk Stuff

EasyKeeper Extension Disclaimer

The information contained in this site is for general guidance on matters of interest only. The information is provided with the understanding that the authors and publishers are not herein engaged in rendering veterinary or other professional advice. While EasyKeeper Herd Manager, Inc. ("Company") has made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this site has been obtained from reliable sources, no liability can be accepted for any errors or omission or for any person acting or refraining from acting on the information provided on this site. As such, it should not be used as a substitute for consultation with licensed veterinarians or other competent advisors. It is the sole responsibility of the reader to obtain veterinary services and advice before using any of the information in this site.

The Company accepts no responsibility for the content of any website to which a hypertext link from this website exists. The inclusion of a hypertext link to another website does not constitute an endorsement of that site by the Company.

Bucket Teat Unit - Premier1Supplies

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Bucket teat units were first introduced to the USA by Premier over 30 years ago. They have been the “gold standard” design ever since.

Feed orphan lambs, goat kids and calves by attaching this unit to a square bucket. Teats sold separately. (See Accessories tab below.)

Use a bucket teat wrench to easily tighten or loosen the plastic gray “nut”.

About Conductivity

Conductivity measures the amount of electrical current a material can carry. The opposite measure is known as resistance.

Many of Premier’s nets feature a green and white superconductor that has both stainless steel and tinned copper filaments for optimal conductivity. These “premium” nets are 10 times more conductive (38 ohms per 1000') than our “basic” nets. This enables the electric pulse to travel much farther and be less affected by weed contact.

We do not recommended the basic nets listed below for fences exceeding 500 ft in length:

Goat & Sheep Net 10/42/7
Sheep & Goat Net 9/35/7
Chicken Net 11/42/3
Chicken Net 12/48/3

Customers who are unhappy with netting are often those who’ve chosen one of these or their farmstore equivalents. Why do we offer them? Because they are similar in design and conductivity (380 ohms) to nets from our competitors—and comparisons make decisions easier.

Types of Line Posts

Line posts are built into the net. Three options are available.^*

Single Spike (SS)
The best choice, unless your soils are always soft or very hard.
Double Spike (DS)
Posts allow you to push in the spikes with your foot. When soil is hard or rocky, double spikes are more difficult to install and remove.
Drivable Posts (DP)
Allows use of a mallet or dead blow hammer for installing posts in dry, hard or rocky soil. Features a “spike stop” for extra support and internal fiberglass ribs for added strength.

Tip: To insert a line post into frozen or hard soil, use a power tool to drill pilot holes.

* Not all fences have all line post options.

About Positive/Negative (Pos/Neg) Nets

Is your area dry?

Conventional electrified fence systems rely on soil moisture to be effective. However, not all areas have the required moisture.

Dry soil increases resistance—a weaker, less effective pulse occurs that does not deter animals.

To overcome this, Pos/Neg nets* are wired to allow the use of every other horizontal strand as an extension of the ground terminal. Because half the strands are connected to the ground terminal or ground rod, reliance on soil moisture is reduced. A PowerLink must be purchased separately to make the secondary ground connection.

How it works…

In order to receive a shock, the animal must touch both a positive (hot) and negative (grounded) strand at the same time. This will deliver more pain to the animal than an all hot net (Pos/Pos) because moisture in the soil is not required to complete the circuit.

Pos/Neg fences can be converted to Pos/Pos in moist conditions. Remember, all fences must be kept free of vegetation.

* Not all fences have Pos/Neg options.

Line Post Spacing

“Plus” nets—6'8" spacings between built-in line posts*

Standard nets—10' or 12' spacings between built-in line posts*

* Spacings are approximate.
Distance between built-in line posts may vary by product.

Essential Energizer Advice

Buy a larger energizer than necessary. When the fence pleases, most folks will buy more fence—and need additional output.
Use a low-impedance intermittent pulse energizer.
Use a fence tester to check the voltage often.
Use enough ground rod(s)—included with our energizer kits.
Don’t allow your lead acid battery to discharge below 40%.
Use insulated wire that is designed for electric fences.
Always connect the fence to an energizer, not an outlet.
Visit this link for answers to other common energizer questions.

Two Basic Types

All-in-one Solar

Solar units are very portable.
Because they need a battery, these units are more costly to purchase and operate than plug-in units.
Batteries are less effective in cold temperatures (deplete faster).
Most farmstore solar units are too weak, in joules of output, to properly energize netting. That’s why we designed our own.

Plug-in & Battery

Least cost to purchase and operate per joule of output.
Best for fences exposed to heavy vegetation.
Cold temperatures do not affect performance.
Recommended for whole-farm systems, but can be complex to install. Higher output requires more ground rods, underground cables, multiple output terminals, etc.

Shipping Zones

Dr. Dan Morrical, Ph.D.

Premier 1 Supplies

Dan Morrical joined the Iowa State University staff in 1984 as Extension Sheep Specialist after completing his doctorate degree at New Mexico State University. He held the rank of Full Professor as of July 1, 1995 and retired from full-time teaching in 2017.

While at Iowa State University, Dr. Dan Morrical was responsible for educational programs in all areas of sheep production, ranging from nutrition, genetics, marketing and management. Research areas focused on applied projects in the areas of nutrition, forage utilization, genetics, out-of-season breeding and lamb survival.

Dr. Morrical has been heavily involved in providing educational resources to the sheep industry. He has authored over 30 extension fact sheets, ration balancing software programs, grazing videos and co-authored the nutrition chapter of the SID Handbook with Dr. Margaret Benson from Washington State University.

Dr. Morrical now serves as Premier’s on-staff small ruminant nutritionist and sheep production advisor. Most recently, he’s introduced a line of “GOLD FORMULA” mineral premixes under The Shepherd’s Choice® brand, aimed to maximize hoof health and immunity.

Braided vs. Twisted

Braiding instead of twisting the horizontals increases the frequency of metal filaments on the outside of the strand.

What’s the benefit?

More metal is exposed on the outside of the strand. This enables improved animal to conductor contact. The electric pulse is better able to travel from the fence and into the animal, resulting in a memorable shock.
A tighter, braided weave results in fewer snags when carried or pulled through pastures, reducing frustration.

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Bucket feeding baby goats

extension/bottle-feeding-hand-rearing-goat-kids

Bucket Teat Unit - Premier1Supplies

About Conductivity

Types of Line Posts

About Positive/Negative (Pos/Neg) Nets

Is your area dry?

How it works…

Line Post Spacing

Essential Energizer Advice

Two Basic Types

Shipping Zones

Dr. Dan Morrical, Ph.D.

Braided vs. Twisted

What’s the benefit?

Bucket for watering kids in the category "Agricultural products, machinery and equipment"

002 Buy

Learn more

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