Goats are hardy animals, and keeping them in cold climates is usually not a problem. If a goat lambs in a cold room in winter, it is recommended to prepare a separate pen for it. It is also important to create conditions in the sheepfold for keeping newborn goats. As a rule, kids born in winter have stronger immune systems. Livestock breeders note that winter newborns grow faster and gain weight.
Features of keeping goats in winter
Typically, sheepfolds are not equipped with special heating, since the animals are reliably protected from hypothermia by thick wool.To contain sick individuals or females with newborns, several pens are separated in the sheepfold.
It will be easier to maintain a microclimate in rooms with wooden floors. Or it is advisable to install wooden floorings 20-30 cm high on the concrete surface. Goats are quite clean, so the floor is covered with a layer of straw, which is changed regularly.
It is recommended to maintain a room temperature of 6-7 °C in winter. After lambing, it is advisable to heat the air to 10-12 °C. A separate nuance is watering goats. In winter, the water must be heated. During the lambing period, females drink especially a lot. Therefore, it is better to install special heated drinking bowls in the sheepfold.
Is it possible to milk?
Goats need to be milked gradually after lambing, and you should not count on large milk yields in the first week. It is recommended to express milk for the first time about an hour after birth. To increase the amount of milk, animals are given a “milk ration” consisting of hay, vegetables, feed and silage. Goats will be easier to milk if they massage their udders in the first days.
Typically, peak milk yield is observed 2.5-3 months after lambing. During this period, goats are kept on a high-carbohydrate diet and given a lot of water. But you also need to understand that the milk production of animals depends on the breed. Saanen goats are considered the most dairy.
Subtleties of lambing in winter
Cases of winter lambing are not uncommon. In order for the birth to take place without complications, the premises should be prepared in advance:
- in the sheepfold the temperature should be 10-12 °C;
- if it is severely frosty outside, it is recommended to install heating in the room;
- It is advisable to install a wooden flooring 15-20 cm high in the pen. Or put one and a half to two times more straw on the floor;
- The water must be heated.
Since newborns do not yet have thermoregulation, it is necessary to prevent their bodies from becoming hypothermic. It is recommended to place the kids in a box or box covered with a thick layer of straw. In any case, cover the wet kid with a blanket.
What can they get sick with?
Goats have good immunity. By providing your animals with proper care, you don’t have to worry about their health. However, your health status must be constantly monitored. A sick animal most often exhibits the following symptoms:
- shortness of breath;
- breathing becomes rapid;
- lactation stops, swelling of the udder is observed;
- loss of appetite;
- body temperature rises to 41-42 °C.
After lambing, inflammation of the udder occurs. Causes of the disease: drafts, dirty damp bedding, cold wet floor. For treatment, the affected part of the udder is lubricated with ointments (zinc, lead), warming compresses of camphor oil and ichthyol ointment are applied.
The appearance of cracks in the nipples is caused by inept milking or poor care of the animals, or rough, scratchy bedding. Treating the teats and udder with a boric acid solution helps eliminate cracks. Damaged areas are also lubricated with ghee and Vaseline.
Winter walks
During the cold season, goats are released into the fresh air under good weather conditions and shallow snow cover. It is recommended to feed the animals with silage or hay beforehand. After returning to the stall, the goats are fed a slightly larger portion of food so that they can rest peacefully at night. Winter walks have several advantages:
- the animal’s body is strengthened;
- appetite increases;
- the growth of wool and fluff increases.
Keeping goats in a sheepfold around the clock in winter helps to increase the animals' sensitivity to cold and drafts. As a result, susceptibility to disease increases, appetite decreases and coat quality deteriorates. It must be taken into account that animals should not be allowed out for a walk in icy conditions, with snow cover above 20-25 cm, heavy fog or strong winds.
Goats can withstand cold winters well thanks to their thick fur. However, you need to be careful about animals during the lambing period. To maintain the productivity of goats and newborns, it is important to provide them with protection from drafts and dampness. But you should not completely isolate the sheepfold, since a safe flow of fresh air will only benefit the animals.
