By Roelof Bezuidenhout
One thing all goat breeds have in common is that after the morning’s first feed, lactating mothers leave their kids where they were nursed and head out to browse until late afternoon. The kids stay right there, unprotected, making them vulnerable to predators – and even to crows that may peck out their eyes.
Angora ewes typically stay with their newborns a few days longer than meat goat ewes, who often leave their kids too soon.
To improve survival rates and grow their kid crops, many farmers now keep young kids in a pen or small camp near the farmyard, under close observation. They do this by ensuring the ewes give birth nearby, and then marking the mothers and kids for easy identification. They are then moved into the pen, where the mothers and their kids can bond.
After the ewes have fed their kids, they need to be allowed out to browse – unless they are fed in the pen, which is expensive and not good for their health. Managing this movement in and out of the pen can be labour-intensive.
A simple solution is to build an obstacle at the gate: something high enough to keep the kids in, but easy for the ewes to step over. The obstacle in the photograph was built using scrap materials. Once the kids are a little older, they will be able to jump over it.
This allows for a natural flow. The mothers leave in the morning, browse, and return in the afternoon to stay with their kids overnight. After a few weeks, the kids are strong enough to join the ewes in the veld and start learning to forage. Keeping them penned too long can lead to underdeveloped, unhealthy animals.
Also read:
What to feed goats: Small farm guide
This is what you must know about goats
Unlock the potential of Boer goat farming
Farming with Boer goats: A guide to South Africa’s top meat breed
The Blackberry – a new goat breed and new opportunities
Areas suitable for goat farming in South Africa
 | Roelof Bezuidenhout is a fourth-generation wool, mohair, mutton and game farmer and freelance journalist. Attended Free State University, majoring in animal husbandry and pasture science. Other interests include agricultural extension and rural development. |
