CARE OF A NEWBORN KID

The first 24 hours of life of the newborn kid is most critical for survival. Normally, the dam will clean and dry the newborn kid.  If this does not happen naturally, it is important to dry the kid with a towel or dry grass or straw. Drying also stimulates the kids breathing.  In most instances the newborn kids will stand and try to suckle within the first 20 minutes.  Kids that are weak at birth because of a naturally low birth weight or a prolonged delivery may need help and assistance to suckle.

The umbilical cord should be shortened with a pair of scissors if it is excessively long and then dipped in tincture of iodine.  If left untreated the navel is a common route for infections to enter the kid causing ‘navel ill’ or other potentially fatal health problems.

It is also important to check for any abnormality in the doe’s udder. A small amount of the first milk can be stripped from each teat to remove any plug that might interfere with suckling.  If the udder is very dirty then it is an idea to give the area a wash before the kid suckles.

Hypothermia and starvation are the two principal causes of early kid mortality. It is important to be able to recognise the signs of these conditions and to know how to treat them.

Hypothermia occurs when the core body temperature drops below normal (39 - 40°C).  It happens when the kid loses heat to the environment at a rate faster than the body can produce it. Very small kids are more likely to suffer from hypothermia. A difficult birth may exhaust the kid and consequently the kid’s ability to produce heat is greatly reduced. They also loose heat much quicker if they are wet than when they are dry as the evaporation of moisture from the body causes cooling. Making sure the kid is thoroughly dried as soon as possible after birth is important. Use of an artificial heating source – heat lamps or a heating box can also be used to warm the kid up.  Ensuring that the kid suckles as soon as possible after birth will also help to combat hypothermia.  In extreme cases stomach tubing the kid and administering milk or glucose solution may be necessary.  This should be undertaken on the advice of a veterinarian.

Starvation typically occurs during the first few days of life.  A kid suffering from starvation may be too weak to stand or it may stand with its head drooping and the ears flopping backwards. The kid may also shiver or shake and the abdomen will feel empty on palpation. If the kid is too weak to suckle then it may have to be stomach tubed and fed this way. Again, veterinary advice is recommended.

In general, kids require warm, dry conditions. Kidding pens and sheds must be warm, dry and appropriately ventilated. Avoid overcrowding as it increases the risk of infection and spread of disease.  

Kids should be regularly observed for normal health and body functions. They should appear to be playful and alert and have normal bowel movements.  Check a kid closely if it appears to be depressed or sluggish.  Check their temperature and make sure they are suckling properly.

It is best to isolate any sick kids so that any potential disease cannot spread to the rest of the flock.
Kids that have consumed sufficient colostrum during the first 24 hours after birth should have sufficient antibodies to protect them from disease for the first three to four months of their life.

Early Feeding
At birth, the digestive system of a kid is very similar to that of a pig or a human. At birth, a kid is classed as a ‘pre-ruminant’. During these early stages the abomasum (true stomach) and small intestine play an important role in digestion. In kids and other young ruminants, the suckling reflex triggers the ‘oesophageal groove’ to close so that the ingested milk bypasses the rumen and flows directly in to the abomasum, where it clots and some digestion occurs. The protein and lactose in the milk is digested in the small intestine.  If the oesophageal groove does not close, for whatever reason, then the milk goes into the rumen where it 'ferments', causing digestive upsets and other problems.

Kids will continue to feed on their mother’s milk from birth for at least 3 weeks and possibly up to 5 or 6 months of age. It is vitally important that the kid receives an adequate supply of the first milk, which contains the colostrum. Colostrum is very high in energy and contains vital anti-bodies that will help to protect the kid from infection and disease until its own immune system becomes fully functioning (around 3 weeks of age).

If for some reason the kid cannot suckle or the doe does not accept the kid, then bottle feeding may be necessary for the first few weeks. Colostrum can be milked from the doe and given to the kid in a bottle or a commercial colostrum ‘replacer’ can be used.

In some commercial dairy operations, kids are removed from the does at birth and routinely bottle fed, allowing the doe to be milked for commercial purposes.

Bottle feeding is carried out approximately every 2 hours in the first few weeks and goat milk or goat milk replacer is used. Kids will readily accept a variety of types of milk replacers.  As a guide, replacers that give good results for calves are likely to be the most suitable for kids. Current research into kid rearing suggests that it is advisable not to exceed 30% fat in the milk replacer and in the first few weeks of feeding, for the fat content not to exceed 22%. Digestive problems may also occur if replacers contain too much starch or too much plant protein from sources such as soybean. Kids drink approximately 0.5–0.7 L per day in the first week, then 1.0–1.5 L per day in the following weeks.

Depending on the scale of the operation, single bottles or ‘bucket feeders’ with multiple teats can be used to feed the kids.

Weaning
The time of weaning should be based on the amounts of solid food and water that the kid is consuming.  It is important that the kid is eating enough to fulfill its nutrition and growth requirements in the absence of milk. Generally, kids can be weaned once they have reached around 10kg in body weight.