Goats are animals that can be raised at low cost and are also tolerant of drought and disease, unlike cattle, because they have a small body size, they can be raised in a small area with a small workforce and even by those with low incomes. Goats can be raised for meat/milk/leather/wool and other crops as fertilizer for family use and to increase income.
BEST WAY OF KEEPING :-
Keep them in a good enclosure
. Choose according to their characteristics and the purpose of raising (producing) meat/milk/wool.
Feed them the right food according to their age
. Consider the advice of a veterinary specialist, especially on how to control diseases.
Keep production records.
Produce quality meat/milk/wool that meets market needs.
1. The best enclosure should be one that can protect goats or sheep from attacks by wild (dangerous) animals and thieves.
2. There should be a place where water cannot stagnate.
3. The huts should be separated according to age.
4. It should be of a size that can be cleaned.
INDOOR BREEDING CONSIDER THESE
A sturdy shed that can protect them from health, wind/rain, etc. It should be well ventilated. It should have a slatted floor and a place to store food and water. It should have separate rooms for keeping young/sick/growing animals.
CONSTRUCTION OF GOAT BANKS
The barn should be built using materials available in the area and taking into account the farmer’s capacity.
The walls should be strong and allow sufficient light and air.
The door should be 60X150 centimeters in size.
The floor should be made of clay/concrete, you can use planks/bamboo and allow feces and urine to drip down.
The room for females and kids should have 1.25 centimeters between posts or boards, the room for adult goats/sheep should have 1.9 centimeters between boards.
SELECTION OF GOATS FOR BREEDING: –
The goal is to improve production and obtain better offspring. There are many types of goats for breeding according to the environment and the needs of the breeder. Selection can be done by looking at the structure, production and records of the parents such as large size, fast growth, ability to care for the young and produce a lot of milk.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES: –
Straight hind legs with space for the udder, large udder and long, well-set teats.
MALE CHARACTERISTICS:-
- Straight and strong legs
- Having two well-placed, straight ears
- Possessing the ability and strength to climb
- Must not have a disability.
CARE OF THE BABY:-
Make sure the baby gets colostrum (colostrum) in the first 3 days.
If it is fed, it should be given 0.7-0.9 liters per day. This milk is good because it contains nutrients and protection against diseases.
If the mother does not give milk or has died, another nursing goat can help feed it.
The baby should be breastfed for 12-16 weeks. After 2 weeks of birth, along with milk, it should be given other food such as grass to grow
its stomach and it should also be given enough water.
It should be weaned when it reaches 3 months.
It should be vaccinated against diseases according to the advice of an expert.
OTHER MAINTENANCE:-
Goats should be marked to make it easier for the farmer to keep records.
REMOVING ANTERY STEMS:
-Must be dewormed within 3-14 days by a veterinarian
TO FEEL:
-Puppies that will not be used for breeding should be examined by a veterinarian
CARE OF 4-8 MONTH GOAT
For the goat to grow and mature early, consider the following: –
Provide it with supplementary food for 2 consecutive months at the rate of 0.2-0.7 kg per day starting from the time it is weaned.
Provide it with deworming medication as advised by a veterinary specialist and bathe it regularly to prevent diseases.
Trim the hooves when they are mature.
AGE OF PROMOTION:-
If well cared for, they can be raised at the age of 8-12 months.
The average age is 18-24 months, depending on its health, and its average weight is 12 kg.
HEAT SYMPTOMS:-
- It wags its tail.
- Produces a white vaginal discharge
- Follows the male
- Appetite decreases.
- Frequent urination
- The vagina becomes swollen and redder than usual.
- It constantly kicks and screams.
- For a milking goat, it reduces the amount of milk.
- A goat with these symptoms should be taken to a mare and re-examined for signs of heat after 19-21 days.
- The best time to breed is after the rains.
CARE OF PREGNANT GOATS/SHEEP:-
1. Goats are pregnant for 5 months.
2. Give him/her 0.2-0.7 extra food.
3. Give him 1.8-2.5 kg of mixed grass, fodder plants and legumes per day.
SIGNS OF APPROACHING LABOR:-
It causes frequent sleeping and waking up
Separates from the herd and follows dry, shady areas
Thick vaginal discharge
Hupiga kelel
Once you see these symptoms, prepare a special breeding area and provide plenty of water.
CARE OF A LACTATING GOAT:-
It requires more food for milk production such as grasses, legumes and tree leaves, 1.8-2.5 kg of feed per day, it is important to give it an additional 0.3-0.8 for each liter it gains and clean and safe water at all times.
MILK ANALYSIS CONSIDER THESE:
-The milking area should be clean and quiet.
-The udder should be healthy and washed with clean, warm water.
-The milker should not be changed, should be clean with short nails and should not have infectious diseases.
-The milking equipment should be clean.
The first milk should be expressed in a special container (strip cup) to examine if there is udder disease.
CARE OF A GOOD SEED DOG :-
A seed dog needs good care to be able to produce.
A good dog starts breeding at 8-10 months of age with a male to female ratio of one male to 40-50 females.
Adequate feed and supplementary feed of not less than 0.2-0.7 kg daily and sufficient water.
Feed nutritious trees, legumes and grasses and crop residues also 0.45-0.9 kg of supplementary feed depending on its weight and the number of females it breeds 2 weeks before
When livestock shows these and other unusual symptoms, see a local veterinary officer for assistance ;
- Difficulty breathing
- High fever,
- Coughing·
- To clear the flu
- Rapid spread and high mortality in goats of all ages and both sexes
- Abortion of pregnant goats
- Eating with difficulty
- Feathers falling out
