If a baby goat is not being nursed by its mother, you need to bottle it up. This animal needs to be suckled to obtain vitamins and other vital nutrients; you can use natural ingredients and a standard bottle. Be patient, as it may take some time for you to get used to this method; make sure you proceed safely; however, if he refuses the bottle, consult a veterinarian.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Gathering the Needed
Step 1. Assess how much food they need
The amount of milk depends on its weight; as overeating could cause serious health problems, you need to determine its nutritional needs before getting the necessary supplies.
- Weigh the puppy. If you don't have a scale available, you can take it to a veterinarian who specializes in farm animals.
- Consider its weight in grams and calculate 10-12%.
- Divide the number by four and give the goat this amount of milk (in ml) about four times a day.
- For example, if you weigh 2.5kg (2500g), you need about 300ml of milk per day; you must therefore give her 100 ml of milk three times a day.
Step 2. When the goat is very young, provide her with colostrum
This is the milk produced by the mother immediately after giving birth. In case the little creature has been rejected or abandoned by the mother, you must procure the colostrum yourself; the puppy could have big problems surviving without a constant supply of this substance.
- You must get it within the first 24 hours of the baby goat's life. If you have an adult on the farm that has recently given birth, milk it and bottle feed the puppy.
- However, it is not always possible to have real colostrum available; in this case, you can do an online search and purchase it from virtual retailers.
- If you know you need to raise a goat, freeze the milk of mothers who have recently given birth or keep a colostrum substitute on hand; remember that it is vitally important to give it to the puppy as soon as possible.
Step 3. Preferably use natural ingredients
To bottle feed a goat, it is always best to use natural substances whenever possible, to provide the creature with all the vitamins and minerals it needs to grow strong and healthy. Choose goat or cow's milk, which you can find in major grocery stores.
- Never give a baby goat powdered or condensed milk, as it could cause health problems.
- If you have chosen cow's milk, add three tablespoons of corn syrup to every 4 liters of milk.
Step 4. Determine how often to feed
In general, you should try to feed the goat three or four times a day, spreading out meals over the 24 hours, as puppies need to eat during the day as well as at night. If you see that she is looking for food and seems particularly hungry, provide for breastfeeding; however, respect the amount of feeds needed based on their weight.
If she is three weeks old or more, give her water and hay too with no restrictions
Step 5. Put the infant formula in a normal bottle
Pour the correct amount of milk into a normal baby bottle, you don't need a special teat; you can buy one of the models available in supermarkets.
Part 2 of 3: Feeding the Goat
Step 1. During the first day, make several attempts
Try to be patient when you breastfeed her for the first time; some animals suckle from the artificial teat without problems, others are more hesitant. You may need to try again several times throughout the day to make sure your puppy gets all the daily nutrition he needs.
- You have to hold him in your arms and get help from another person to keep his mouth open; squirt some milk in his mouth to let him know he has to suck to get food.
- Some specimens immediately understand what they need to do, while others need more effort on your part; try feeding the pet 8-10 times during the first day (instead of the classic 3-4 feedings) to ensure a good nutritional supply.
Step 2. Hold the bottle in the same position as the mother's breasts
This way, you help your puppy instinctively understand that he should suck. Hang the teat over her head, about the same height as the mother's breasts. If you are caring for a newborn, it may be necessary to hold the baby and bring the bottle close to your chin.
- This technique leads to better results when the goat has already been nursed by the mother.
- Sometimes, it can be helpful to let her suck your finger and then put the teat in her mouth.
Step 3. Let her take the milk naturally
When he understands the purpose of the bottle, get him to suckle it. After a few days of regular feedings, she should accept the bottle without any problem and it should no longer be necessary to forcibly open her mouth and squirt some milk.
Part 3 of 3: Safety Precautions
Step 1. Try to get natural colostrum if possible
Although baby goats can also grow with an artificial product, it is always best to use the natural one. Breast milk contains essential nutrients; therefore, if you can have natural colostrum, don't hesitate to use it.
- Let the mother feed the puppy for the first 24 hours.
- If the creature has been abandoned, provide it with colostrum from another goat that has recently given birth.
Step 2. If she refuses the bottle, call your vet
Goats need to be fed this way if they cannot be nursed by their mother. It is completely normal that it takes a few days to get used to it; however, if the problem persists and your puppy is not getting the nutrition it needs regularly, you should see a veterinarian. You can find a livestock specialist by consulting the yellow pages.
Ask the doctor if there is any special technique to induce the goat to accept the bottle
Step 3. Avoid overfeeding it
Weigh her regularly and adjust the doses of feedings always calculating 10-12% of her body mass. Overeating causes serious health problems; if you feel like he's putting on too much weight, you need to cut back on feedings and see your vet.
