Daughters and I will be breeding our 2 ND does in January. Any tips/suggestions on diet, minerals or vitamins to prepare the does. They'll be 13 months old at time of breeding.
We feed daily nutrena show goat grain, local hay, alfalfa pellets as treats, free choice sweetlix minerals and LOH herbs for parasite prevention.
Thanks for the help, alot of pressure on Dad here to make this successful
That’s so exciting for you and your daughters!
Unless they are not at a good weight, I don’t feed grain to dry does. With my ND, I started giving small amounts of grain during her last month of pregnancy.
Also, some does don’t cycle into January.
Good luck!!!!
I personally don't breed my ND's until they're at least 18 months, I've found that earlier can be harder on them physically and if they're not emotionally ready for mothering and you can wind up with bottle babies because they'll reject one. Only you can judge your does readiness but it's something to think about.
Make sure they have free access to a very good quality loose minerals, alfalfa and grass hay, and keep up the monthly selenium and vitamin e gel. I also give an cod liver oil caspsule occasionally and feed a small handful of red raspberry leaves daily the last month of pregnancy. Check ketones the last 3 weeks prior to Kidding too. Too much grain will make for bigger babies so cutting back is something to think about.
It's a very exciting time waiting for kids... I wish you the best of luck.
It's also good to give newborn kids a pea sized drop on the end of your finger as soon as they're born along with squirting a vitamin e capsule in there too.
Vitamin B complex is great to have on hand for emergencies and even when you are suspicious of a problem. I would highly recommend getting some on hand if you don't have it already. You don't need to give it if they are completely healthy, but it's something I know I wouldn't want to be without. Definitely get injectable over paste form if you don't have it. It doesn't work anywhere near as well orally.
Probios and vitamin B complex are my go to’s if a goat even seems a little off. They are usually the first thing I grab along with my thermometer.
Additionally,
I always give 0.5cc orally to newborns to help wake up their brains along with the selenium/vit e Gel and extra e capsule. I also dip their cords and feet in iodine at birth.
It’s indispensable if you have goats. The only time I give it orally though is to newborn kids other than that I always give it sub q.
Hope this helps.
I always give 0.5cc orally to newborns to help wake up their brains along with the selenium/vit e Gel and extra e capsule. I also dip their cords and feet in iodine at birth.
I hadn't thought about newborns, thanks for clarifying that.
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