Goats typically give birth to 1-3 kids. They can be kept under the uterus or bottle-fed. After birth, babies need to be given something to drink immediately. Newborn babies are characterized by an imperfect immune system. Therefore, they often encounter various diseases. As a result, many farmers are interested in the question: the kid does not eat well, what should be done in such a situation?
Why doesn't the baby goat eat?
If your baby goat refuses milk, it is important to determine the cause of the problem. Most often they occur at the birth of weak animals.There are several reasons for this - weakening of the mother’s health, low temperature in the room in which the birth takes place, untimely drinking of colostrum.
A maximum of 1 hour should pass from birth to the first meal. The defenses of the body of a newborn baby are imperfect. Therefore, it is not able to resist bacterial microorganisms and serious viruses. For the active production of antibodies, it is necessary to quickly provide the kid with access to colostrum, which contains useful substances.
If the kid does not drink liquid, dangerous pathologies can be suspected. Common diseases of goat kids include:
- Antenatal malnutrition. This pathology appears in premature kids. At the same time, newborns have a low weight, which does not exceed 2 kilograms. Also, the baby cannot stand on his feet or hold his head up. He needs to be carefully cared for, following the veterinarian's recommendations.
- Diarrhea. This is one of the most common disorders that appears for a number of reasons. It is caused by imperfect digestive system, consumption of stale straw, and excess milk. The baby goat may also lose its appetite. In such a situation, he should be shown to a veterinarian. During the treatment period, instead of milk, it is recommended to give your pet rice water.
- Cysticercosis of the liver. This pathology is caused by tape parasites entering the body. The first symptom of the disease is slow development. In this case, the animal stops growing and does not gain weight. Special drugs are used for treatment.
What to do if a problem occurs?
To nurse an animal, it should be fed colostrum on its own. After which it is recommended to give the kid warm milk.To do this, you should use a regular bottle with a nipple. To feed the baby, he needs to close his eyes and bring the bottle to his mouth. In the dark, he will actively suckle milk. In this case, it is recommended to smoothly stroke the animal’s back and tail. The goat performs such movements to push the babies towards the udder.
The pet needs to be warmed up. To do this, it is permissible to use warm blankets or bottles of hot water. You can also make a nest using a box, bottle or heating pad filled with water. To do this, warm containers need to be wrapped in towels and the animal placed between them. When it warms up, the next feeding is carried out.
In difficult situations, it is worth giving an injection of vitamin E and selenium. The drug can be in 1 ampoule and called “E-selenium”. You should bottle feed your baby for 4-6 weeks. After 2 months, he can be introduced to his diet with hay and grass.
At feeding goats You should follow this pattern:
- 1-3 days feed 30 grams 5-6 times - the daily dose is 180 grams;
- 4-8 days feed 3-4 times 75-80 grams - daily volume is 400 grams;
- from 1 week, feed 3-4 times 150-200 grams - the daily dosage should increase to 600 grams;
- from 2 weeks to 1 month the daily volume is 1 liter;
- from 30 days, the daily amount of milk should be reduced, gradually replacing it with oatmeal jelly.
Prevention measures
To keep healthy offspring and avoid problems with feeding, you should adhere to a number of recommendations.
These include the following:
- Feed the kids 3-5 times a day. They should eat at the same time.By following such a schedule, you will be able to speed up weight gain.
- Prepare hay in advance. It must be made from fresh herbs. The stems that were cut before flowering begin contain much more useful elements than in the fall.
- Before introducing root vegetables into the diet, they need to be chopped. Thanks to this, the kid will be able to chew vegetables (as well as fruits).
- After feeding, it is recommended to wash and dry the dishes. All devices should be kept in a specially designated place.
- To prevent the development of vitamin deficiency, it is recommended to introduce pine branches into the diet of kids. It is also acceptable to use fish oil.
Appetite disturbances in kids are quite common and may indicate dangerous diseases. To cope with the problem, it is recommended to strictly follow the feeding rules. If this does not help, you should contact your veterinarian and conduct diagnostic tests.
