• Strip the dam's teats and make sure the kids are nursed during the first 24 hours of life.
• Submerge the kids navel cords’ in a 7% solution of tincture iodine to prevent infections such as “navel joint” disease.
• Record birth weights
• Identify the new members of the herd (i.e., tagging or tattooing)
• Introduce solids to kids as soon as possible to stimulate rumen development, early weaning and early forage consumption.
• Provide feed that has 14%-16% crude protein “free choice.”
• After weaning, increase feed to ½ pound per head per day or according forage quality and the condition of the animal
• Some producers do not creep feed because of inconvenience, expense or the does are able to produce acceptable kids to meet market goals.
• At 30 and 60 days of age vaccinate with C&D tetanus toxoid.
• The males can also be castrated at this time. However, this procedure can be done as early as 2 days of age.
• Weaning age varies from farm to farm. Some producers may choose to wean their kids 42 days of age or as late as 120 days of age.
Also see Kidding
