How to raise goats in winter? Remember these four technical points

Raising goats in winter is a heavy task, and the rearing techniques are difficult; a moment of carelessness often leads to the death of goats in large numbers. Among these, maintaining body condition, keeping the animals alive, and protecting the fetuses are the central tasks of rearing. Generally, raising sheep in winter requires attention to the following four technical points:

1. Rational grazing and rearing: For winter grazing, one should generally choose a sunny slope in a low hollow that is sheltered from the wind, faces the sun, has high and dry terrain, and has a relatively good water source. In early winter, some forage grass has not yet withered. At this time, seize the opportunity to graze, letting the goats out late and bringing them back early, and take advantage of the warm noon hours on clear days to graze, so the goats can eat as much green grass as possible, but do not let the goats eat frost-covered grass or drink ice water. If the goats cannot eat their fill during this period, supplementary feeding should be carried out after they return to the pen; by deep winter, the goats should be brought back for barn feeding.

2. Careful barn feeding: The winter climate is cold, and goats consume a great deal of body heat; in addition, the vast majority of ewes are in the gestation stage, so special attention must be paid to strengthening feeding management. Besides ensuring green hay and straw-type feed for the goats, supplementary concentrated feed such as soybeans, corn, and wheat bran must also be provided, and attention must be paid to keeping the pen dry and warm. To increase the sheep's activity, let them eat grass on earthen mounds or wooden raised platforms set up in the pen; on clear days, they should also be let out to move around, so as to strengthen their physique and improve their vitality through the winter.

3. Do a good job of protecting the fetuses and winter mating: In winter, the vast majority of ewes are in the gestation period, so attention must be paid to protecting the fetuses, and rams and ewes must be raised separately. During grazing, do not let pregnant ewes eat frost-covered grass or grass with ice and snow, and prevent miscarriage caused by fighting, collisions, squeezing, and falls. Feed the ewes more concentrated feed and warm water with salt added, and pay attention to the mating of non-pregnant ewes, so as to increase economic returns.

4. Do a good job of pen hygiene and disease prevention and control: Goats dislike dampness and fear drafts. Therefore, winter pens must be windproof and dry, and the goats' body surfaces must be kept clean and hygienic at all times. At the same time, do a good job of goat disease prevention and elimination, and often carry out biological decomposition treatment of manure. Do a good job of goat disease prevention and control and deworming, especially the prevention and control of goat dysentery, colibacillosis, goat streptococcosis, and colds, and frequently use deworming drugs for preventive deworming of goats, ensuring the animals are strong and can resist the invasion of severe cold.