How to feed a pregnant goat: features of the diet before and after lambing

The gestation period in goats (pregnancy) lasts, on average, 5 months (140-160 days). The best period for mating is from September to March. This is the time of increased sexual hunting in females. If mating has occurred, then we should expect sucrose, as evidenced by an increase in the udder, weight gain, changes in behavior. Now it's time for the owners to think about how to properly feed a pregnant goat so that there is no miscarriage and there are no complications at the time of lambing.

What to feed a goat in the first half of pregnancy

Succulence is divided into two periods:

• first - 3 months from mating and expected insemination;
• second - 60 days before lambing.

The first period is characterized by hormonal changes in the goat's body and differentiation of tissues and organs of the offspring. The diet at this time should not change much compared to the usual.

It is important to consider whether the goat is being milked or not. Dairy goats need more feed to ensure milk production.

The gradual cessation of milking and preparation for a new period of milking in dairy goats, the so-called start, is recommended during the second period of pregnancy.

At the end of summer and early autumn, the diet of pregnant goats consists of the following components:

• green mass - eaten by animals in the pasture or grass cutting of legumes, cereal grasses;
• compound feed - 800 grams per day;
• cereal mixes (dry and steamed);
• branch fodder.

The last type of food - branches - needs to be prepared for goats in large quantities. Dry thin branches of birch, alder, aspen with green leaves in a straightened state or hanging them in a barn. Juniper branches can be harvested at any time of the year - it contains essential oils that are good for animals.

With the onset of winter, the green mass is replaced with hay, silage, root crops are introduced into the diet, with the exception of beets, as it increases milk production and can cause miscarriage. An approximate diet for a sucrose dairy goat with a milk yield of 2 liters of milk per day:

• grass hay (meadow) - 400 grams;
• legume hay - 400 grams;
• barley straw - 300 grams;
• corn silage - 2 kilograms;
• grain (barley, oats) - 200 grams;
• sunflower meal - 200 grams;
• vitamin-mineral supplement (premix).

For the proper development of the bone tissue of kids in the womb, vitamin and mineral supplements should be added to the diet. They can be purchased ready-made or prepared as a mixture of fodder chalk, bone meal, crushed eggshells.

Diet in the second half

Starting from the fourth month, active growth begins in the offspring, the goat's uterus quickly increases in size and compresses the scar, significantly reducing its volume. Therefore, the grain and feed component of the diet is gradually reduced and completely stopped 21 days before lambing. Grain of rye and wheat can provoke increased growth of offspring, which will seriously impede lambing.

Composition of compound feed in the period from 60 to 30 days before lambing is presented in table 1.

Table 1. Feed composition of female goats 60-30 days before lambing.

Feed component %1Barley grain 302Oat grain 133Fodder wheat grain 124Wheat bran 20 5Sunflower meal 3,06Cotton meal 8.0 3,0 8Grass meal7.0 9Phosphate2.0 10 S alt1,0 11Vitamin & Mineral Supplement1.0

	7	Feed yeast

The volume of bran is gradually increased. This component of the feed is well absorbed and easily digested in the body of goats. The composition of feed 30 days before lambing is presented in Table 2.

Table 2. Feed composition of female goats 30 days before lambing.

Feed component grams Hay from a mixture of herbs2000 2Mixed feed 300 3Crushed vegetables (carrots, boiled potatoes, fodder beets, apples)500 4Branch feed

	1
		300

Features of feeding goats before lambing

With a normal flow of pregnancy in the spring, goats can be released for walking and pasture feed. It is important to exclude ups and downs when moving animals. A week before lambing, bran, crushed vegetables are given, herbal flour from legumes or hay is useful.For several days, up to 50 grams of sugar per day is mixed into the water to increase the energy value of the feed without increasing its mass.

Feeding after lambing

Immediately, as soon as the goats appeared, the goat is given water with sugar. After 1.5 hours they also give sweet water and fresh hay. The watering of the animal is continued every 3-4 hours. For four days, brewed bran is given 2-4 times a day. Starting from the fifth day, hay, crushed root crops, young twigs are added to the diet. Bran also continues to be given.

While the goat feeds the kids with milk, her diet is supported with vitamins, minerals, root crops, fresh food. When the kids are weaned, the animal can be transferred to regular feed.

What to give the kids

After the birth, the mother is given the opportunity to lick the kids, the umbilical cord is tied, a small amount of colostrum is expressed. It should not be given to kids, as it contains a high concentration of dangerous bacteria. After that, the kids can be allowed to feed on colostrum to their mother. Milk feeding can be continued for up to 1 month, and then fresh grass, hay and liquid cereal porridges can be added to the kids' food.

What should not be given?

During pregnancy, a goat should not be fed low-quality feed, dirty root crops. By the second half of pregnancy, sour silage is excluded, since it increases the fermentation processes in the intestines. Feeding rotten or frozen food can lead to miscarriages and serious poisoning.

Goats should be watered at room temperature. To do this, in winter it is necessary to provide for heating water for animals, bring it into a heated room in advance. Responsible treatment of animals will ensure their he alth and high productivity!

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