What kind of milk should I feed my new baby goat?

[mikey]

What kind of milk should I feed my new baby goat?

Baby goats should be raised on whole goat milk (fresh or frozen). . .PERIOD.
In an emergency, for a short period of time, they can be fed:

1 Powdered goat milk - These products are hard to find. Two kinds are available at Pipestone [see Links page]. The owner should be aware that animals raised on powdered milk formulas have a greater chance of getting diarrhea and, therefore, of dying. Nevertheless, this is the very best option if whole goat milk is not available. You can wean the kids as early as 6 or 8 weeks, but we prefer to have them on milk a little longer. Many people raise babies very succesfully on this substitute.

2 Evaporated milk - As found in the grocery store. Use "as is", but only for first two or three days. Best bet for unexpected emergency if no colostrum available.

3 Powdered lambs’ milk - Use diluted with 10 - 20% water since it is a little too rich for goats; increased chance of diarrhea.

4 Fresh whole cows’ milk - Must be supplemented with powdered lamb or powdered goat milk. Cows milk does NOT have enough fat and nutrition for goats. Not a good choice.

5 Powdered calf replacer, supplemented with lamb replacer or some form of nutrients. Definitely not adequate for goats as is.

6 Canned goat milk (grocery store); expensive. Be careful because some is condensed and will need dilution with water.

7 Any colostrum, such as cow colostrum, can be used for kids.

8 Blends of the above.


(With any of these substitutes, you should feed smaller amounts and more frequently than normal.)