Vitamins for goats: how to determine the deficiency, from what time to give and doses

Goats are unpretentious animals and rarely get sick. The he alth of goats depends on many factors, including nutrition. Substances that enter the body of animals from feed affect the general condition, development, productivity, and the ability to produce he althy offspring. The value of vitamins for goats is enormous. They are found in regular foods fed to these animals, but they can also be given as a supplement.

Necessary vitamins for domestic goats

In summer, the diet of goats is more complete than in winter, because they eat fresh grass, tree branches, vegetables, fruits, root crops.In the cold season, they mainly receive hay, which does not contain as many vitamins as, however, in other products that are fed to pets at this time. During the stall period, goats do not move much enough, receive less solar radiation, because of this, their he alth deteriorates, their immunity decreases.

Vitamins are needed for goats of any age, both young and adult animals, but pregnant and lactating females especially need them. Substances are spent on the development of the fetus, on the production of milk, as well as on maintaining the life of the mother.

Some vitamins are synthesized in the body of the animals themselves, while others must be constantly supplied with food. For goats, the same substances are important as for humans. These are B vitamins, ascorbic acid, tocopherols, calciferol, retinol and others. They are needed for the normal course of all physiological processes, growth and development of the animal.

Sources of vitamins

The main part of the vitamin substances enters the goat's body from the feed, which is why it is important to choose a complete diet for them. They should receive green grass or good hay, fresh or dried branches, succulent food, root vegetables, legumes, whole and sprouted grains, fish oil. But if animals begin to experience a lack of vitamins, they need to be introduced into the diet additionally: in the form of feed additives or injections.

It is very convenient to use vitamin or vitamin-mineral complexes specially designed for feeding small cattle. Powder in certain quantities is added to the mash and fed to animals. In most cases, this is enough so that they do not lack these vital substances.

Attention! Vitamins in injections are used only if the need for them is very strong, and emergency administration is necessary.

How to determine the lack of nutrients

It is possible to determine that an animal needs a certain vitamin by external signs. The lack of vitamins belonging to group B is manifested by loss of appetite and weight loss due to metabolic disorders, increased excitability, spasms, ataxia.

Vitamin D is necessary for strong bones, its deficiency leads to fragility and brittleness of bone tissue, animals can often be injured. Tocopherol is important for the reproductive system, with a lack of it, goats may not come to hunt, experience difficulties with fertilization, bearing kids, and milk secretion.

Lack of vitamin A in goats is manifested by a deterioration in the condition of the coat, dry skin, dermatitis, tearing, photophobia, sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms. In pregnant females, abortions, the birth of dead kids, retention of the placenta can occur, in males - the formation of stones in the organs of the urinary system, the development of diseases of the gonads, impaired spermagenesis.Lack of vitamin PP is expressed in loss of appetite, indigestion, diarrhea, bad breath due to swelling of the mucous membranes, the formation of skin ulcers, anemia.

Attention! You can understand that goats lack vitamins by their behavior - they begin to gnaw on wooden fences, coal, firebrands.

How to give properly

To ensure a constant supply of vitamins to the body of goats, they can be given chalk, s alt, bone meal, fish oil. Goats are given them after weaning, females - a month before mating, from the 2nd half of pregnancy and after lambing. The amount of the mixture depends on the weight of the animal and its age.

Vitamin supplements have a fully balanced composition, in the household you can use "Eleovit", "Kalfostonik", "Tetravit" and others. From them, animals receive all the vitamins and mineral elements they need in the required amount. Doses and how long the course of application should take are indicated in the instructions for use.

What threatens the lack of vitamins

If vitamin deficiency continues for a long time, the development of hypovitaminosis begins. This condition has a negative effect on the body of animals, there is a violation of the work of many organs and systems. Kids and young goats are stunted, weight gain is reduced, animals develop poorly, lose their appetite, coat becomes dull.

Hypovitaminosis in adult females and males leads to disturbances in reproductive function, problems with pregnancy, gestation and the birth of offspring. All this leads to the fact that the cost of keeping goats rises, and this cannot please any livestock breeder. Timely distribution of vitamin complexes will help prevent many problems.

Vitamin mixtures are stored for a long time in a dark, dry place, you can buy them in agricultural stores. They are packaged in packages of different sizes, for use in the household and on farms.

Vitamins for goats are produced by the industry for feeding animals throughout the year, but especially in the autumn-winter period, when they experience the greatest need for vitamin substances. Mixtures are convenient because you do not need to specifically select a diet taking into account the needs of goats in a particular substance, to calculate how much to give. Just adding a vitamin mixture to the feed is enough to provide the animals with everything they need.

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