Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
if necessary. Read labels on worming preparations carefully, or consult your veterinarian, be-
cause some can cause miscarriage.
Around this time, begin supplementing your does' diet with concentrate or high-quality for-
age. Consult your agricultural extension office or a local goat keeper for advice on local con-
ditions. In areas where soils are selenium-deficient, pregnant does should receive a Bo-SE
(selenium/vitamin E) injection. Ensure that your goats get enough exercise. Pregnant dairy
goats should be well nourished but not fat. Excess fat can lead to serious complications before
and after giving birth.
About ten days before you expect your first kid, assemble your kidding supplies. If your goats
will kid indoors, clean and disinfect the pens where does and kids will be kept, or construct
new ones in a draft-free but well-ventilated area. Allow 25 to 35 square feet of space for each
doe and her kids. Litter the floor with dust-free bedding (sawdust is not good bedding for
newborn kids because it can trigger respiratory problems) and arrange for watering and feed-
ing. Remember that a tiny kid can drown in a standing bucket of water, so use small or elev-
ated watering containers.
A week before the kids are due, clip the hair around the does' udders and escutcheons (the
area between the udder and tail), vulvas, and tails.
Drying off
Drying off is the process of stopping lactation in a dairy goat. In late pregnancy, the milk pro-
duction of many does stops naturally. If this does not occur two to three months before the
kids are due, stop milking to allow the goat's body to build up reserves for lactation after the
birth. Some goat keepers recommend drying off gradually by reducing milking to once a day
and then, every other day. Other farmers believe it is better to stop milking the doe altogether
and let the pressure in her udder naturally put a stop to milk production. When milking ceases,
the udder forms a mucus plug to prevent bacteria from entering through the teat. Each time
you milk the goat, this plug must be re-formed, which increases the chances of infection, and
the goat's udder receives another signal to produce milk. Gradual cessation of milking can
result in fibrosis of the udder and lower milk production in the future.
TO DRY OFF YOUR GOAT:
