General goat husbandry and management

Ideal stocking rates vary depending on the type of pasture, the stage of life the animals are at (pregnancy, lactation) and local council laws.

Keeping stocking rates low is also a key component in controlling parasites and disease.

Goats require at least 4–5L a day, but can drink up to 10L when lactating.

They should be provided with a constant supply of fresh clean water; automatic waterers are ideal.

A minimum of 2 waterers is recommended per enclosure.

Goats are ruminants which means they chew their food, swallow it, regurgitate it, and chew it and swallow it again. This allows them to breakdown and digest all types of tough vegetation.

To assist them with digestion, goats have a 4-chambered stomach. The rumen, the largest of the stomachs, resides on the left side of the animal and acts as a large fermentation chamber.

There are millions to microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi that help to ferment the vegetation into energy for the goat. Therefore, providing a goat with vegetation to eat will keep the rumen microbes healthy, ensure that the rumen functions correctly, and keep your goat healthy.

ALWAYS feed goats in a trough or feeding cage if supplement feeding to ensure they cannot stand in their food or ingest feed contaminated by faeces.

Various dietary components of goats

Fresh vegetation

Fresh form of roughage, rich with vitamins such as vitamins A and E.

Hay

Fibrous roughage that aids in feeding the various bacteria, fungi and protozoa in the goat’s rumen. High-quality hay will be easily digestible by these microorganisms and rich in energy and nutrients. An example of this is lucerne (See below)

Lucerne

Sugar, protein- and calcium-rich type of forage. Great for growing, pregnant or lactating animals. Should be avoided in males to minimise risk of developing bladder stones or pizzle rot. Available to be purchased mixed with various grasses and hay.

Pellets

A concentrated, easily digestible, energy-dense form of food. Minimum of 7% protein (ideally 15%). Pellets should be introduced in small amounts gradually and the amounts altered very gradually to avoid diet-associated diseases such as ruminal acidosis.

Feeding requirements by life stages

Feeding requirements for goats change with their life stages.

The recommended Dry Matter Intake (DMI) by % of animal’s body weight:

• Maintain: 2%
• Early pregnancy: 2.5%
• Late pregnancy: 3%
• Lactation: 4%

Goats need to be vaccinated against clostridial diseases. These pathogens are present in the environment, and animals not vaccinated are at a higher risk of contracting clostridial diseases. Injuries, weather, and stress can all make a goat vulnerable to infection.

Initially goats should be vaccinated with 2 doses administered 4 weeks apart, then receive annual boosters. Pregnant does should be revaccinated 4wks prior to parturition.

The vaccination schedule for kids depends on the vaccination status of their mother. Kids from vaccinated does, can be vaccinated at 6 weeks of age then followed up with a booster vaccine 4–6 weeks after. Kids born from unvaccinated dams should be vaccinated sooner at 3–6 weeks of age and receive a booster 4–6 weeks later.

Disbudding involves removing the pre-developed horn bud from the top of the goat’s head to ensure it does not grow into a horn later in life. Disbudding is performed between 7–14 days of age.

The kid is sedated so they are relaxed for the procedure and local anaesthetic nerve blocks are performed to ensure they have no feeling in the area. A hot iron is applied to the area to kill off the horn bud tissue to ensure the horn will not grow.

Once the horns are larger, dehorning requires a surgical procedure, which is more invasive than disbudding

The process of giving birth in goats otherwise known as kidding is a 3-step process.

Stage 1

Lasts 1–3 days and involves behavioural changes such as nesting behaviours, restlessness, reluctance to eat, separating themselves from the herd, and physical changes such as a swollen vulva or increased udder size.

Stage 2

Involves active contractions. Kids should be born within 30 minutes to 1 hour of contractions. Kid should be born with front feet first with the legs extended.

Stage 3

The expulsion of the placenta. This process takes up to 8 hours after the birth of the last kid. If it remains for longer than 12–24 hours seek veterinary intervention; do not attempt to pull on retained placentas.

When to intervene:

• if the doe has been contracting for more than 1hr with no kid expelled
• if the kid's feet are not presenting in the correct position (i.e. 2 front legs and head on top in a ‘diving’ motion is typically normal)
• if the doe appears weak or exhausted (i.e. excessive contracting, nil kid, then apparent cessation of contractions)
• if it has been more than 12hrs since the last kid was born and foetal membranes remain.

Pregnancy toxaemia

In late pregnancy the energy requirements of the foetus are greatly increased and if the doe does not have adequate nutrition to support this increased energy demand they can develop pregnancy toxaemia.

Pregnancy toxaemia typically describes when the dam's energy reserves are so low that she becomes ketotic, or when her blood calcium levels drop below normal levels secondary to foetal development.

Clinical signs begin with anorexia and depression and can progress to prolonged recumbency.

Prevention includes supplement feeding of ewes in later pregnancy to ensure they maintain a good body condition and energy stores. Typically high-energy, high-calcium feeds such as lucerne and grain are adequate.