This is a calendar recommending general management activities for meat goats related to the time of
year. It comes from the Meat Goat News.
- January
- Evaluate range and forage conditions
- Monitor body condition of does and supplement if necessary
- Prepare for kidding
- February
- Sort pregnant from open does
- Begin feeding pregnant does
- Evaluate does and bucks, sell unsound or inferior animals
- March
- Begin kidding, check teat for milk flow, and identify kids
- Separate singles from twins
- If possible, pen individuals with their kids
- Feed does to maintain milk production
- April
- Finish kidding
- Continue to supplement lactating does
- May
- Consider weaning small, stunted kids
- Discontinue supplemental feeding to does
- Monitor internal parasites through fecal samples
- June
- Begin looking for replacement bucks with good conformation, structural
correctness, muscling and a high weight for age
- July
- Continue selecting replacement bucks
- Monitor internal parasites through fecal samples
- August
- Treat for internal and external parasites
- Wean kids and supplement replacement does and bucks with high protein (%16) high
energy feed
- Select replacement does and bucks
- Evaluate does and bucks
- Sell unsound and inferior animals
- Criteria for culling
- Barren females - missed two seasons in a row
- Bad teat or udders - too big or too small
- Bad mouths
- Structural defects - bad feet, legs, or back
- Bad testicles - too small or infected (epididymides)
- Unthriftiness - due to old age or disease
- September
- Begin flushing does and bucks
- Flush with fresh green pasture or 1/2 lb. fead/head/day for 2-3 weeks before and
after buck turnout
- Treat for lice if necessary
- October
- Turn out bucks with does; breeding ratio of one buck per 20-25 does depending on
pasture size and conditions
- Continue to flush does for 2-3 weeks after buck turnout
- November
- Evaluate range and forage conditions
- Determine does' body condition and plan winter supplemental feeding program
- Monitor internal parasite through fecal samples. If heavy, treat after hard
freeze
- December
- Remove bucks and feed to regain body condition
- Watch body condition of does and supplement feed if needed
- Check for lice and use pour-on lice treatment if needed
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