How to take care of goats

FARMING

Goats are mainly raised under two systems. These include the low input intensive system that is based on free grazing.

On most ranches, goats are reared with cattle on the same available foliage, for example napier and bracharia.

Goats feed on many leaves and plants that other livestock do not. Such include mutuba and acacia leaves, for example.

They are also fed on feeds supplements, including nutrient blocks. Goats should be provided with housing to protect them when they return from grazing.

On free ranging, one can stock 20 goats per acre of land. This means that if one has 10 acres, they can stock as many as 200 goats. Shelters must have adequate ventilation. It can be constructed using either bricks or timber and wood, with iron sheets.

The sides from which rain comes must be covered using either bricks or timber because goats hate wet and damp environments.

The shelter must be located in a dry area and cleared of dung, daily, because it can cause diseases, including foot rot. This means locating it on the driest part of the farm.

It should not be overcrowded, with kids given a separate shelter, so that they are not bullied by older goats.

Older goats commonly attack kids and stop them from feeding. If the goats are permanently inside, make sure that feeding troughs are provided. They must be placed in such way that they cannot be knocked over.

 Goat health Goats are attacked by an array of diseases, some of which are common in Uganda. Kids are attacked by diarrhoea, which is caused mainly by eating and this can be stopped using antibiotics. Coccidiosis is also common among kids.

It is caused by overcrowding and contamination of feeds by dung. It causes stress, weaknesses, diarrhoea and fever.

 Infected kids refuse to eat. It is treated using sulfonamide, amprolium and monensin, which are mixed with drinking water. Dosage is, however, prescribed by a qualified veterinary practitioner. Caprine pneumonia is another dangerous disease for goats.

 This manifests with weakness of the goat, nasal discharge, watery dung and fever. It kills goats in two to three days, if not treated.

 It can be treated using antibiotics, with the assistance of a veterinary officer. Other diseases include foot rot, which presents with rotting feet, rift valley fever, which comes with loss of appetite, general weakness and failure to stand, abortions by the female type and tuberculosis, among others.

PREVENTING DISEASES
To prevent disease outbreaks, keep the goat house clean by removing droppings and urine every day. Give them clean water and grass.

De-worm them at least once every before the rainy season, since goats pick up a lot of worms while grazing. Fenbendazole, Ivermecilin and Levamisole are commonly used in de-worming goats.
Most of the de-wormers are mixed with drinking water.

Feeding goats on supplementary forage, like lucern and acacia, reduces incidences of worms in goats.
Spray them with acaricides to kill ticks. This can be   done once every month.

 Buy acaricides from only certified shops.