Key Points of Nanjiang Yellow Goat Breeding Technology and a Detailed Guide to Feeding Management
When it comes to the Nanjiang Yellow Goat breed, many people are probably already familiar with it. This goat originates from Nanjiang County, Sichuan. Yes! The Nanjiang Yellow Goat is one of the high-quality meat goat breeds developed in China in recent years. Because the Nanjiang Yellow Goat has long and flexible thin lips, lower incisors that curve outward and are sharp, and a flat, firm upper jaw, it is well suited to grazing and biting off forage grass.
Forage Grass Types for Nanjiang Yellow Goats
The Nanjiang Yellow Goat feeds on a great many kinds of forage grass. According to relevant statistics, among 655 plant species, the Nanjiang Yellow Goat can utilize more than five hundred, accounting for 80%, which is 28% more than the plant utilization rate of cattle. The Nanjiang Yellow Goat's utilization rate of crop straw with high crude fiber content can reach 70%. It most prefers to feed on forage grass and tender branches and leaves of trees that are low in crude fiber and high in protein.
The Nanjiang Yellow Goat's feeding time is mostly concentrated during the day, and the start of feeding is closely related to sunrise. Each day they take in a large amount of food only during a certain period, while spending other times ruminating and resting. According to measurements, the goats' feed intake is very large in the early morning and at dusk each day. In addition, the feeding behavior of the Nanjiang Yellow Goat also changes with the seasons.
In spring, when forage grass has just sprouted and tree branches are turning green, the goats are not picky about what they eat. In summer and autumn, when forage grass is lush, they begin to feed selectively. Farmers can plant some high-yield green fodder to feed them. Green and succulent forage grass with a fragrant smell and good palatability is unmatched by other feeds. Therefore, feeding Nanjiang Yellow Goats with high-quality forage grass can enhance disease resistance and increase production, such as meat yield and kidding rate. To raise Nanjiang Yellow Goats, you can plant: hn-mc Gaodan grass, hn-mc Mexican corn, hn-mc ryegrass, hn-mc alfalfa, and other high-yield grasses.
Storage Methods for Nanjiang Yellow Goat Forage Grass
Surplus green fodder grass for Nanjiang Yellow Goats can be processed and stored. There are roughly two ways:
1. Sun-drying and storage: In summer and autumn, sun-dry the green fodder that the goats cannot finish eating into green hay, for the goats to use during the dry-grass season.
2. Making silage: Ensile high-quality green grass, etc., to replace green feed in feeding the goats during winter.
Nanjiang Yellow Goat Breeding Methods
For goat-raising households with abundant natural forage grass resources for which full pen-feeding is difficult, grazing can be adopted to raise goats. This method of management is relatively extensive, but pregnant goats in late gestation, lactating does, breeding rams and fattening goats should also be supplemented with a certain amount of concentrate after returning from grazing. The remaining goats can have forage grass as their daily ration. The whole flock should be supplied with clean drinking water and supplemented with salt or human urine. If raising households want to achieve high yields from Nanjiang Yellow Goats, they must do a good job in breeding management. We have summarized the following aspects of feeding management for reference by fellow netizens:
1. Cleaning: The surface dirt on the Nanjiang Yellow Goat's body should be cleaned off every day to keep the body surface clean and also avoid pathogens.
2. Exercise: Pen-raised Nanjiang Yellow Goats must have exercise, maintained twice a day, carried out in outdoor and indoor exercise yards, for half an hour to one hour each time.
3. Heat prevention and warmth retention: In winter, prevent cold and keep warm, maintaining a suitable normal temperature of 20-35°C.
4. Regular and quantitative feeding: It is advisable to feed three times a day, giving less but frequently. The amount fed should be determined according to body weight, and sudden changes in feed that cause digestive tract diseases must be prevented.
5. The goat shed should be disinfected regularly: 10% fresh limewater or 3% bleaching powder, etc., can be used for disinfection and sterilization, which can reduce the occurrence of diseases in Nanjiang Yellow Goats.
6. Timely prevention: A “goat pox” vaccine should be injected regularly every year.