Assisting and monitoring the gestating goat ewe

At the best of times the birthing process is strenuous for female animals, but there are many ways that you can ensure they are prepared for the challenge.

Goats are known for having twins and triplets and they can become pregnant at a relatively young age. Both these factors can contribute to the older and young ewe experiencing birthing challenges. At the best of times the birthing process is strenuous and your female animals thus need to be prepared for this challenge.

An animal that is clearly not in good physical condition or suffering from an internal and/or external parasite burden will more than likely struggle during the birthing process and may give birth to weak offspring that the mother struggles to feed due to a lack of milk. Ewes with trace element or nutrient shortfalls can also be prone to post-birth health conditions and so too may their kids.

PREPARING THE EWE FOR BIRTH

Three to four weeks before kidding, it is wise to vaccinate the ewe with a broad-spectrum vaccination and to deworm her if internal parasites seem to be a challenge. In severe cases of worm infestation a ewe may show signs of bottle jaw (swelling under the lower jaw), may have grey or pale gums rather than a healthy pink colour, or may have pale or white inner eyelids.

About a month before kidding, you should isolate pregnant animals and offer them some added nutrients in the form of good-quality grass or lucerne bales and importantly, a ration that includes added grain that assists in preventing conditions like toxaemia. Grain can go a long way in preventing certain post-birth conditions and these added nutrients will assist in bolstering the foetus to also be ready for the birthing process. I have also found value in offering a mineral licking block that assists with providing essential vitamins and trace elements.

Products that contain vitamins A, D and E can be administered to pregnant goats about six weeks before giving birth. They can be valuable for assisting with kidding stress, increased immunity, and even increasing the foetus weight slightly to bolster the newborn kid. Further to offering a licking block, particularly if farming in arid or poor environmental areas, there are trace element drench/dose products that can be given about six weeks prior to mating and then again six weeks prior to the birth. Always use these remedies as per manufacture instructions and never exceed recommended dosages.

Keeping records of mating dates is therefore important if you wish to offer supplements at the correct stages of pregnancy.

MANAGEMENT DURING KIDDING

Ewes will often lie down just before kidding and may be very vocal – such animals that may show a watery or bloody vaginal discharge should be isolated to a clean space away from other goats and kept in a relatively small enclosure where the mother can bond with her offspring after birth. If about 45 minutes or so has passed after the mother has ‘broken water’ and a kid is not yet born or visible in the birth canal, you may need to probe to ascertain whether the cervix has fully opened.

This should be done after thoroughly disinfecting your hands and ensuring your nails are short in order to prevent lacerations in the birth canal. Undertake this probing procedure with utmost care and use a harmless lubricant or product like unscented glycerine. Feel that the cervix has properly opened and gently probe it, rubbing in circular motions, to encourage it to open properly if not properly dilated.

If the birth canal is not opening you will need to contact a vet, who may need to perform a Caesarean section.

You should gently feel how a kid is lying in the birth canal or whether two kids are trying to pass through simultaneously and have become stuck. Try to concentrate on gently pulling the closest kid to you, head and front limbs first, while manoeuvring the second kid backwards. It is imperative to work carefully and not be careless or boisterous when assisting to pull a kid because this can cause cuts or ruptures in the birth canal that can lead to bleeding or infection.

Newborn kids need to ingest colostrum (the thick yellow milk passed by the mother after birth) as soon as possible and will require your assistance if the ewe is not allowing suckling – this is important for the new kid to build immunity. Do not remove the birth sack from the newborn kid, but you can remove this from the face and nostril area along with mucous. The mother will remove the rest of the birth material by licking and this process allows good bonding with her offspring.

Shane Brody is involved in an outreach programme aimed at transferring skills to communal farmers. Email him at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Communal farming.

A MONTH BEFORE KIDDING, YOU SHOULD ISOLATE GESTATING ANIMALS AND OFFER THEM ADDED NUTRIENTS