Key Points of Dairy Goat Farming Technology and Feeding Management
The dairy goat is a small herbivorous dairy animal. Each lactation period lasts 8 to 10 months, with an average milk yield of 500 to 600 kg, a milk fat rate of 3.9%, and 1 to 3 kids per litter. Dairy goats are lively in temperament and eat a wide range of plants; wild grass, tree leaves, vines, vegetable leaves, melons and beans, and miscellaneous grains can all be fed to them. They reproduce quickly and have strong disease resistance. They can be raised in sheds in front of or behind the house, or grazed. They require little investment, produce quick results, save on feed, and are easy to manage, making them a good way to increase the supply and demand of fresh milk. The key points of dairy goat farming[1] technology are introduced below:
(1) Selection of breeds
Milk yield varies greatly among breeds and individuals, so it is necessary to choose the Saanen breed, the Laoshan breed, or their offspring, which have high milk yield. The body shape and appearance require a long head, long neck, long torso, long legs, and tall body height, with agile movement and a lively, robust constitution.
(2) Feeding of young goats
Newborn lambs must be given enough colostrum. Colostrum has high nutritional value, is easy to digest and absorb, and provides immune disease resistance. It also has a certain influence on the growth and development and production performance of the lambs. For lambs from birth to 4 days of age, whole milk is the main feed, given 4 times a day. From 40 to 80 days of age, milk and forage can be fed with equal emphasis, with a small amount of salt and bone soup added. The forage should be highly palatable, good quality, and easy to digest. From 80 to 120 days of age, forage is the main feed, with a small amount of milk supplemented. After weaning at 120 days of age, the goats are mainly raised on forage, with a small amount of concentrate supplemented.
(3) Breeding
Goat breeding is seasonal, and is most concentrated in autumn. Generally, they can be mated when they grow to 12 to 14 months of age. The gestation period is 114 to 159 days, averaging 150 days.
(4) Feeding of lactating does
In the early lactation period, the doe's feed should be mainly high-quality forage, and she can be allowed to eat freely. On this basis, the amount of concentrate and succulent feed fed can be flexibly controlled according to body condition, degree of udder swelling, changes in appetite, and so on. Dairy goats reach peak milk production 30 to 40 days after giving birth. During the stage when milk yield continues to rise, the various nutrients stored in the body are continuously consumed, and body weight continuously decreases. At this time, the daily ration requirements should be fully met. In addition to feeding 1% to 1.5% of body weight in high-quality hay and a certain amount of concentrate each day, as much green grass, silage, and some tuber and root feeds as possible should be fed. When milk yield declines, the concentrate should be gradually reduced according to body condition. Throughout the entire feeding process of dairy goats, sufficient drinking water and salt supplementation must be ensured. A salt trough can be used to allow them to lick freely.
(5) Milking
Before each milking, the udder should be wiped clean with hot water. The number of milkings should be determined by the amount of milk produced. For a daily milk yield below 3 kg, milk 2 times; for a milk yield of 5 kg, milk 3 times.
(6) Timely drying off
When a dairy goat has been lactating for nearly 10 months, milk production gradually declines. At this time, drying off must be carried out so that the doe can better recover her body condition, ensure the development of the fetus in the doe's body and the milk yield of the next lactation period, and increase the birth weight of the lambs. Drying off can be achieved by reducing concentrate, green and succulent feed, drinking water, and the number of milkings.
(7) Creating a suitable living environment
The goat shed should be warm in winter and cool in summer, with fresh air, and clean and dry. The goat's body should be brushed frequently to promote blood circulation, improve milk production capacity, and maintain milk hygiene. Goats raised in sheds must have 3 hours of outdoor exercise every day, and deformed hooves must be trimmed. Noise should be prevented near the goat shed; in summer, prevent heat and cool down, and in winter, pay attention to keeping warm and preventing cold.