The ideal size of kid groups is about 15, with no more than 25 in a pen. If you are housing goats until weaning, allow at least 0.6 m2 of solid floor or 0.2 m2 of open floor per kid. Draughts are more likely with open floors. Kids can be reared on an elevated platform of, for example, woven mesh, expanded metal or wooden slats, or on the ground on earth or concrete, in which case clean straw freshened up each day should be provided. Do not let the temperature in goat housing fall below 5☌. However, in cold conditions, piglet heaters or infra-red heating lamps are suitable. If kids are housed together in a suitable shed, additional heat may not be necessary. Clean bedding, feeders and waterers help to ensure that the kids remain healthy. As with all intensively reared animals, good ventilation is important, and any draughts should be eliminated. A dry, clean, well-drained area with shelter is essential. Successful hand rearing requires that you stick to a few fundamental rules. to ensure the survival of multiple-birth kids.to break disease cycles-certain diseases, such as caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) and Johne’s disease, are spread by infected goat colostrum (the doe’s first milk), by milk, and by faecal contamination of sucked teats.to prepare uniform batches of suckling kids for premium goat meat markets.to rear replacement breeding and meat kids in the goat dairy when you cannot afford to feed them marketable milk-you can then use this milk more profitably for product and market development.to allow does to be re-mated more quickly if your aim is to increase herd size and maximise genetic progress.You can use artificial methods of rearing goats: This Agfact sets out how to use these methods. They have a number of advantages over natural methods, particularly in more intensive commercial goat-breeding operations. The success of rearing kids using milk replacers requires strict adherence to correct management practices, particularly in ensuring good hygiene in rearing facilities, and cleanliness of feed and feeding equipment.Īrtificial methods of rearing goat kids are widely used overseas, and are gaining acceptance in Australia. The advantages include reduced costs, increased production, and breaking disease cycles. Alternative rearing systems are a high priority to producers of goat milk. Kids can be reared economically using milk replacers, and weaned at an early age, 6 weeks or less, if adequately grown.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |