by Lynsey Brewer

Created on: November 27, 2008

Dairy goats are not only some of the most rewarding produce animals, but also some of the most amusing. Raising kids can go one of two ways. It can either be one of the most chaotic undertakings, or one of the most enjoyable. One of the most important things is to make sure that the kids are separated from the doe at birth. There is nothing more heart-wrenching than missing the birth and then having to deal with an overstressed doe and and a fearful kid after they have already bonded. This means being there during the labor and making sure that the doe does not get any contact with the kids at all.

As soon as the kids are dried off and their airways are cleared, we sanitize umbilical cords with Badadine and coat their vulva's with Vaseline to prevent dry skin or rashes as they adapt to their new world. Next, they are each injected with 10 cc of BE-SEE vaccinations and given about a pea size of ProBios. Some newborn animals are prone to diarrhea the first few weeks after birth. Giving the ProBios as a preventative in the beginning is much easier and less time consuming than injecting them with yogurt all the time to fix the problem after it starts. Then of course, it is important that your kids get a sufficient amount of colostrum, fresh out of the doe if preferred or, if she is not CAE tested, to provide powdered colostrum instead. As long as your kids are properly fed and kept as warm as possible, these simple procedures should be all they need to enter their new world healthy and energetic.

Though dairy goats are not large stock animals or house pets, I believe in giving them one-on-one attention at least every other day. There is nothing more frustrating than having a first freshener who is aloof and wants nothing to do with people. My doe kids are all table trained by the time they are four months old and have learned to tolerate me handling their teats and messing with thier feet. One of the best recipes for a well-rounded and very happy goat kid is children. Not only do children make excellent playmates for kids, if they are trained on how to properly treat them, but your goats are less prone to be sensitive, or jumpy animals.

There is nothing more rewarding than walking in the ring with a doe or buck kid who displays confidence and presence. Watching another handler struggle with putting a pack on their whether or trying not to laugh as someones doe repeatedly kicks over her milking bucket because they don't like having their udder touched is a good enough reason for me to avoid the embarrassment and make sure that my goat kids are thoroughly trained before they are taken out in public.

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