The nutrition of Kid Goats in the first weeks determines their lifelong health and performance. Colostrum intake, proper milk feeding schedule and early transition to solid food are the cornerstones of successful kid rearing.
1. Birth and Colostrum
1.1 Importance of Colostrum
- Immune transfer (IgG antibodies)
- Energy source (high fat and protein)
- intestinal development
- meconium excretion
- Critical for life!
1.2 Colostrum Timing
🚨 Critical: first colostrum within the first 2 hours must be given!
- Intestinal permeability decreases rapidly
- After 6 hours, antibody absorption drops by 50%
- Absorption almost stops after 24 hours
1.3 Amount of Colostrum
- In the first 24 hours: Live weight 10-15%
- 3 kg kid → 300-450 ml colostrum
- It should be divided into 2-3 meals
1.4 Colostrum Quality
- Measurement with Brix refractometer
- Good quality: >22% Brix
- Low-quality supplemental colostrum or colostrum substitute
1.5 Without Colostrum
- Frozen colostrum (goat or cow)
- Colostrum replacement products
- Colostrum from another mother
2. Milk Feeding Period
2.1 Breastfeeding
Advantages:
- Natural, optimal composition
- Immune support continues
- low cost
- little workforce
Disadvantages:
- Milk cannot be sold
- Portion control is difficult
- Risk of disease transmission
2.2 Artificial Feeding (With Bottle)
Advantages:
- Milk can be sold
- Portion control
- disease control
- domestication
Disadvantages:
- Requires labor
- Cost of milk replacer
- Hygiene is critical
2.3 Milk Feeding Program
| Age | Meal/Day | Amount/Meal (ml) | Total (ml/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-3 days | 4-5 | 100-150 | 400-600 |
| 4-14 days | 3-4 | 200-250 | 600-900 |
| 2-4 weeks | 3 | 300-400 | 900-1200 |
| 4-8 weeks | 2 | 400-500 | 800-1000 |
| 8-12 weeks | 1-2 | Decreasing | weaning |
2.4 Milk Replacer Feed (SIF)
Selection criteria:
- Formulated for goat/lamb
- Protein: 22-24%
- Fat: 20-24%
- Milk protein based (not soy)
Preparation:
- Mixing with hot water (50-55°C)
- Thorough dissolution
- Giving at body temperature (38-40°C)
- fresh preparation
2.5 Hygiene
- Cleaning of bottles and pacifiers
- Washing after each use
- Regular disinfection
- Use of fresh milk/SIY
3. Transition to Solid Food
3.1 Early Start
- Offer quality hay from week 1
- Starter food from the 2nd week
- critical for Romanian development
3.2 Kid Goat Starter Food
| feature | Value |
|---|---|
| crude protein | %18-20 |
| Energy (ME) | 2.8-3.0 Mcal/kg |
| Fiber (NDF) | %15-20 |
| calcium | %0.8-1.0 |
| phosphorus | %0.4-0.5 |
3.3 Starter Feed Composition
| raw material | Rate (%) |
|---|---|
| Corn (cracked) | 35-40 |
| Barley (cracked) | 20-25 |
| soybean meal | 20-25 |
| dandruff | 10-15 |
| molasses | 3-5 |
| mineral-vitamin | 2-3 |
3.4 Roughage
- Quality hay (legume preferred)
- Leafy, thin stem
- free access
- Essential for Romanian development
4. Weaning
4.1 Weaning Time
- Age: 8-12 weeks
- Weight: 2.5-3 times birth weight
- Solid feed consumption: 200+ g/day
4.2 Weaning Method
- Gradual: Reducing the amount of milk in 1-2 weeks
- Sudden: If he consumes enough solid feed
- Stress minimization
4.3 Post Weaning
- Quality starter feed
- roughage free
- Clean water unlimited
- Growth tracking
5. Water Management
5.1 Water Need
- Offer clean water from week 1
- They should learn to drink water other than milk
- Water need increases with solid feed consumption
5.2 Water Quality
- clean, fresh
- Easily accessible height
- daily replacement
6. Health Management
6.1 Common Problems
- Diarrhea: The most common hygiene and feeding error
- Pneumonia: Cold, humid environment
- Coccidiosis: parasite, crowd
- White muscle disease: Selenium/vitamin E deficiency
6.2 Diarrhea Management
- electrolyte solution
- Milk is not curdled, it is diluted
- hygiene control
- Veterinary consultation
6.3 Prevention
- sufficient colostrum
- hygienic feeding
- Dry, clean shelter
- Avoiding overcrowding
- Coccidiostat (if necessary)
7. Growth Tracking
7.1 Expected Growth
| Age | Expected Weight (kg) | Daily Increase (g) |
|---|---|---|
| birth | 3-4 | - |
| 1 month | 7-10 | 150-200 |
| 2 months | 12-16 | 150-200 |
| 3 months | 18-24 | 150-200 |
7.2 Weighing Program
- at birth
- Weekly (first month)
- Every 2 weeks (after)
- at weaning
8. Shelter and Environment
8.1 Housing Requirements
- dry ground
- Ventilation (draft-free)
- Temperature: 15-20°C ideal
- Area: 0.5-1 m²/kid
8.2 Cold Stress
- Critical in newborns
- Heat lamp or heater
- dry litter
- wind protection
9. Practical Suggestions
✅ Goat Feeding Checklist
- ☐ Colostrum was given in the first 2 hours
- ☐ Sufficient colostrum was taken in 24 hours
- ☐ Milk feeding program was created
- ☐ Hygiene protocol is applied
- ☐ Dried herb is offered starting from the 1st week
- ☐ Starter food from the 2nd week
- ☐ Unlimited access to clean water
- ☐ Weighing is done regularly
- ☐ Health monitoring is carried out
Conclusion
Success in kid nutrition begins with colostrum management and continues with careful nutrition until weaning.
Basic principles:
- Sufficient colostrum in the first 2 hours
- Regular and hygienic milk feeding
- Early transition to solid food
- Quality starter feed and hay
- Unlimited access to clean water
- Regular growth tracking
- Health monitoring and early intervention
Bibliography
Mellado, M. (2016). Nutrition of goats during gestation and lactation. in Goat Science (pp. 159-188). InTech.
Argüello, A., et al. (2004). Effects of colostrum intake on IgG and total protein concentrations in goat kids. Small Ruminant Research, 54(1-2), 81-89.