A Complete Analysis of the Key Points of Goat Rearing and Management in Autumn
The Mid-Autumn Festival has already passed, and the weather is getting colder and colder. For many farmers, it is time to prepare for autumn management. Goat farming is one of the main livestock industries in our country, and the price of goat meat is also quite substantial, making it a favorite meat for many people. Autumn is the key season for goat breeding, so in order to improve the reproductive rate and body condition of goats, management in autumn is very important. Below, the editor brings you the key points for managing goats in autumn. Let's take a look!
1. Grazing
Although temperatures gradually drop when autumn first arrives, it is still rather muggy at noon, so when grazing we should avoid the midday hours and graze during the cooler morning and evening periods, appropriately extending the grazing time. When taking the goats out to graze, decide based on whether there is frost, and try as much as possible to prevent the goats from eating frosted grass. Once late autumn gradually arrives, pay attention to changes in the weather and provide the flock with appropriate warmth.
2. Supplementary Feeding ⟧7⟧Everyone uses the free-range model for raising goats, and it is actually a fairly good farming model, because it allows the goats to forage for themselves and improves the quality of the goat meat. However, supplementary feeding should be carried out promptly in the evening, and the evening supplement should be mainly concentrated feed, which is rich in nutrients and quite palatable. This is beneficial to the growth and fattening of the goats, and the amount of concentrated feed should be controlled according to the goats' growth stage. Breeding ewes must be strictly managed, as they have different nutritional needs during pregnancy and lactation; do not feed them spoiled forage, ensure sufficient and clean drinking water, and appropriately increase salt.
Most people use free-range grazing for raising goats, which is actually a fairly good farming model, because it lets the goats forage on their own and improves the quality of the goat meat. However, supplementary feeding must be done promptly in the evening, and the evening supplement should be mainly concentrate feed, which is rich in nutrients and quite palatable. This is beneficial to the growth and fattening of the goats, and the amount of concentrate feed given should be controlled according to the goat's growth stage. Breeding does must be strictly managed, as they have different nutritional needs during pregnancy, lactation and other periods. Do not feed them spoiled forage, make sure they have an adequate supply of clean drinking water, and add an appropriate amount of salt.
3. Breeding
Autumn is the estrus period for ewes, and the ewes are also in relatively good body condition, making conception easy and benefiting the development of the fetus. Properly managing the breeding of ewes can promote conception and lambing. Usually, ewes that have grown for a year and a half can begin breeding. When a ewe is in estrus, its appetite decreases, it keeps switching positions, and the reproductive area becomes red and swollen and discharges secretions. The estrus period lasts about two weeks, and breeding should be carried out about one day after the start of estrus.
4. Protecting the Fetus
After a ewe has successfully conceived, good fetal protection work must be done: the ewe must not be startled, and actions unfavorable to conception, such as running and jumping, must be prevented. Pregnant ewes should be raised separately, and care must be taken not to let them be squeezed when they pass through the pen door and when they eat. Moldy or spoiled forage must not be used as feed, and no medication may be injected during pregnancy; however, to prevent congenital miscarriage, an appropriate amount of fetal protection injections should be given.
5. Disease Prevention
As mentioned earlier, medication cannot be injected during pregnancy, so we should inject the flock with levamisole for deworming before breeding. Vaccinate them well to prevent disease, clean the goat shed regularly, promptly remove leftover feed and manure, and keep the goat shed dry. Control the feeding of legume feed to prevent bloating and poisoning, pay attention to keeping them warm, and also ventilate appropriately to create a good growing environment for the flock.
The above is a brief introduction to the key points of autumn goat management. Autumn management directly affects the fattening of goats and the number of lambs. Doing a good job of autumn management ensures the growth of the flock, and everyone should pay special attention to the management of ewes, as most ewes will conceive in autumn, requiring us to take various measures. For ewes that have not been bred, artificial assistance in breeding is necessary. Only by increasing the lambing rate of ewes can you maximize your economic benefits.