Here's an abreviated checklist of tasks and materials to get you through the year's kidding. It comes to us from Mary Blankevoort, DVM, via ADGA (www.adga.org) under the "About Goats" tab.

 Spring

• Have kidding area cleaned and bedded with fresh straw several days before the doe’s due date.
• Get supplies ready:
  • A good light in the delivery area.
  • A clean bucket for water.
  • Surgical scrub such as Nolvosan, or a bottle of mild detergent (Ivory, Joy) for cleaning hands and the vulva of the doe.
  • Obstetrical lubricant (Lubrisept, K-Y) and, if possible, disposable obstetrical gloves for assisted births.
  • Dry towels for cleaning and rubbing kids.
  • Iodine (7% tincture) for dipping navels. A small jar or film canister for individual use is handy. Dip navel immediately after birth, and repeat in 12 hours.
  • Scissors for umbilical cord.
  • Keep frozen colostrum from a safe, CAEV-free source. To heat-treat colostrum, heat colostrum to 135ºF in a double boiler or water bath and maintain temperature for one hour.
  • Clean bottle and nipple for feed­ing colostrum.
  • Feeding tube (12-18 French) and large syringe (35-60 cc, with catheter tip) for giving colostrum to weak kids.

• Tape doe’s teats one week before due date with teat tape. This will prevent kids from possibly nurs­ing a CAE-positive doe.
• Segregate CAE-positive parturient does from the rest of the herd to prevent horizontal transmission from infected genital secretions.
• Remove kids from doe immediately after birth.
• Feed colostrum from a safe source within the first couple hours after birth. Give 10% of kid’s body weight within 18 hours (e.g., 13 oz. for an 8 lb. kid). Then feed pasteurized milk, CAE-free milk, or milk replacer.

• Have pregnant does on a rising plane of nutrition in late gestation, i.e., good quality grass hay, supplement with some leafy alfalfa. Gradually increase grain ration in last few weeks to provide energy.

• Be sure does are boostered for CDT in last 4-6 weeks prior to due date. Consult your veterinarian for advice on selenium supplementation for does and kids in deficient areas.
• Deworm doe 1-2 weeks postpartum.

• Begin Coccidiosis preventive or start monitoring fecals by three weeks of age.
• CDT series at 4, 8, and 12 weeks of age.
• Begin deworming at 6-8 weeks.

Summer

• Be sure kids have gotten their CD-T boosters (e.g., 8 - 12 - 16 weeks).
• Wet weather has given parasites a big boost in many areas. Practice regular helminth (worm) control in all groups of animals. Doses of deworm­ers in goats are usually 2X the cow or sheep dose (4X the cattle dose for Fenbendazole--Panacur^R). In the case of Ivomec, use the oral formulation. Resistance to all dewormers is appearing, so monitor success with quantitive fecal exams.
• Rotate pastures every several weeks, if possible.
• Coccidiostats for kids.
• Check for external parasites; keep animals clipped and clean.