In this article, we focuses on goat farming.
You may have already read articles like this, but for the sake of the readers of this magazine, we will focus on
- production,
- development
- nutrition.
Production
Healthy goats go into heat regularly, and can have about three kids every two years. Before the breeders start raising goats, it is good to consider the following:
Weight and not age determines the right time for goats to start breeding, generally, goats are already mature in four months.
Goats start breeding when they reach 3/4 of the maturity and weight of that breed of goats. Boar can be bred with 10 to 20 female goats, but if it is bred with more goats, the quality will decrease.
For production, boar must be healthy and not too fat because it reduces the quality of sperm (semen). Female goats that are healthy, mature and not pregnant come into heat on the 17th to 21st day, and should be bred within 24 to 36 hours of coming into heat.
Identifying a female goat in heat
The goat struggles,
It wags its tail when it is touched in the area near the hind legs
When standing near the goat it urinates.
The external genitalia of a goat becomes slightly red and swollen.
Promotion After birth kids must absorb nutritious mother's milk within 24 hours after birth as they have strong immunity against infection. Goats that reject kids should be watched until they start lactating. However, rejecting kids can be a sign of poor health. Removing rejected kids from the placenta can help the mother accept them. Rejected or orphaned kids can be given breast milk by using other goats or from nearby areas. Kids removed from the placenta can help to be accepted by another female goat. Surplus breast milk can be stored at 4 degrees Celsius for up to three months and used to feed orphaned or rejected babies.
Another type of goat's milk, or cow's milk mixed with water or even powdered milk can be used when breast milk is not available.
Steps to start supporting baby goats At the age of two to three months, they should separate the babies from their mothers by starting to feed them grass and grain. Feed children with fresh vegetable broth to reduce the risk of worm infections. Babies should eat in the best pastures with their mothers. Children need clean drinking water. Babies should be weaned and start learning to eat leaves and grains at least two months before their mothers are reborn. Feeding and nutrition Well-fed goats produce more milk and meat. A female goat in the last month before giving birth needs protein and stronger foods than normal goats. Water Dairy goats need at least 3-8 liters of clean water in a proper period Goats that eat dry feed need more water Strong Energy foods such as roots, bananas, molasses, fruit, and oil cake keep goats alive all the time. Soy, cotton, sunflower, peanuts and coconut provide 2-3 times more energy than starchy foods like leaves and tree branches.
Protein
Goats need more protein than they get from feed
- Leafy greens,
- peas and pods,
- soybeans,
- cotton,
- nuts, and l
- eaves from Leucaena,
- Sesbania, and
- Gliciridia are good sources of protein.
Poultry waste is another good source of protein. Minerals Goats need calcium, sodium, phosphorus, iron, copper and iodine.
Green leaves of trees, shrubs, and grain seeds are good sources of phosphorus and calcium. Dark leafy greens are good sources of iron. Goats with a lack of iodine can give birth to weak, malformed children. Vitamins Goats deficient in vitamin A are prone to eye problems, skin infections and respiratory problems and digestive problems.
Vitamin deficient goats give birth to weak kids. When the goats are in the pasture, they get various vitamins from the plants they eat.
Sweet potatoes provide more vitamin A and sweet potato leaves provide vitamin C.