Adult feeding (6-7 months and up):

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   Each doe not in milk and bucks get a  16% goat pellet feed with rumensin (that helps with coccidia prevention)  1 cup per animal, once a day to maintain condition. Goats between 6 months and 1 year get 1 cup per animal, twice a day. 

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   Loose minerals are and baking soda are available free choice at all times as in fresh water and pasture/hay.

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   Does that are in milk require a lot more feed to keep up with kids, milking, and keep their body condition from falling too low. We milk morning and night and they are able to eat all they want while they are on the stand. Once they are finished we move them back to their pasture. Goats in milk are fed a 16% dairy enhancer mix and eat between 2.5-4 c at each milking.

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Young goat feeding (8,12 weeks-6 months)

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Goats are fed a 16% grower with rumensin mixed with alfalfa pellets. 1 cup per animal twice a day.

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Loose minerals are and baking soda are available free choice at all times as in fresh water and pasture/hay.

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Baby goat feeding

 

We choose to dam raise our kids wherever possible. I believe that gives them the very best start in life and they end up happier and healthier for it. Doelings are weaned at 12 weeks and bucklings at 7-8 weeks. The reason being is that bucklings can be fertile THAT YOUNG! We don't want any accidental breeding.

 

Babies are also offered free choice 16% grower feed with Rumensin. They may only nibble at it at first, but will increase as they get older.

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Loose minerals are and baking soda are available free choice at all times as in fresh water and pasture/hay.

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Stalls should be free from soiled bedding and should be cleaned out and refreshed weekly at minimum. 

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We spend time amongst all our goats daily to spot any behavior that may be odd for that particular goat.  Getting to know each of their personalities and quirks will help you spot something that may be brewing. 

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Monthly

We do a thorough exam of each goat every month. This includes:

• Checking their body over for any lumps/bumps/or bites

• Clipping hooves

• Checking FAMACHA score

• Looking at their coat to help assess health 

• Taking down thorough notes of body condition and if they are too fat, too thin, or just right. :)

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Every 3 months

   We conduct fecal testing for coccidia and worms. If any are found to be concerning, we treat accordingly with Sulfamed for coccidia and cydectin or valbazen for worm loads.

   Copper bolusus are given if needed as are B vitamin shots if needed.

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Yearly:

   CDT boosters are given (kids are given 2 doses, one at 4 weeks and one 30 days later). Pregnant does are given a dose 3-4 weeks before kidding to help protect new babies.

    Disease testing is done by drawing blood and sending it to be tested for CAE and Johne's disease. Starting in 2021 we also plan to add q-fever, TB, listeria, and CL to our testing routine. Keeping a clean herd is vital to your goats heath and your own.

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Vaccinations, deworming, and coccidia in kids:

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Cydectin is given at 3 weeks old and repeated ten days later

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Sulfamed 40% is given orally at 3 weeks old. One 5 day round at 3 weeks followed by another 5 day rounds 21 days later and again 21 days after the second round.

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CDT is given at 4 weeks and repeated in 30 days. Then an annual booster every year after that.  

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Disbudding is done between 3 and 10 days old.

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Neutering is done using a burdizzo bloodless castrator, as we believe this is the safest and least painful method. This is done around 12 weeks old. While this seems cruel to wait so long, there is reasoning behind this. IF you neuter a goat too soon they run the real risk of developing urinary calculi later in life. This is a life threatening condition making itWaiting to neuter gives time for the urethra of the male goat to widen decreasing the risk of urinary calculi. 

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Stressful situations:

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Goats get stressed out, and when they do their rumen can be thrown out of balance making them susceptible to problems. To combat that, if they are ever in a stressful situation, be it transport, immunizations, disbudding, neutering, kidding, weaning, illness, etc. we give them a dose of probiotics and nutridrench. Many times this will head off any potential problems you might encounter.

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***As always, consult your vet for any questions, medications, or vaccinations***

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