Taking care of your goats this wet season

Rainy season is here and farmers and caretakers must take proper care of their goats as it is the prime condition for higher and profitable production. With right amount of knowledge, taking care of the goats can be quite easy.

In normal circumstance, the typical lifespan of a goat is approximately 12 to 14 years but the life span of a goat is especially at high-risk if certain conditions are not met during the wet season as goats are exposed to a lot dangerous conditions.

During the wet season, goats will need constant care just like a child, when you come in contact with your goats, always be on the lookout for any physical or behavioral changes.

Symptoms you should look out for, but not limited to, are loss of appetite or listlessness or even when they bleat more than usual as this is also a way to communicate when they are in distress.

Rain is very dangerous for goats. Dry shelter is highly important during the wet season .They can easily become sick by standing outside the shelter during heavy rain. You can easily make a simple shelter for them with walls and a roof. This will protect them from rain and wind. Inside the shelter, you can produce smoke that keeps mosquitoes at bay, keep the goats warm, and dry avoiding bacterial infection like Hoof Rot.

Parasites thrive during the wet weather and they are most prevalent health threats to your goats. These parasites have developed resistance to the most common treatments. Regular and strict fecal checks are imperative for your goat herd before and during the wet season.

Increasing the rate of feeding during cold weather is simply the best way to keep the desired weight of your stock. New young grass sprouts up during the wet season which can seem like a good thing as goats nibble more on soft grass but it is not as such grass has a lot of water and little fibre.Goats need more fibre for proper digestion. To increase proper digestion, feed must be stored in moisture-proof stores to avoid contamination, especially with aflatoxins.

Just like humans forget to take water during the wet season as the body does not get thirsty as it does during dry season, you must remember that the goats still need water during this period. The water however should not be cold.

One should be properly prepared to successfully raise goats.