Baby Goats..... Bottle feed KIDS vs Doe raised KIDS what do you think?

[Bedste]

I have always bottle fed the kids from birth to 10 weeks. This year because of unforeseen circumstances I let the Does feed and raise their own kids.

I prefer bottle feeding. Easier to wean.

 

[AshleyFishy]

I like my bucks doe raised, milk goats bottle raised and meat goats doe raised.

 

[BrownSheep]

Nota got person but for my lambs I perfer my lambs dam raised overall. While I enjoy bottle raised lambs and their friendly personalities I find dam raised lambs to be fast growing and larger overall. Even if the bummers eat just as much and/or more than them.

We natural wean 90% of the time so that's not really an issue.

 

[OneFineAcre]

I don't understand why it would be easier to wean bottle raised vs dam raise.

You just seperate the kid from it's dam and they are weaned.

 

[AshleyFishy]

I don't understand why it would be easier to wean bottle raised vs dam raise.

You just seperate the kid from it's dam and they are weaned.

2x

 

[Pearce Pastures]

I suppose some folks think it is easier because a) they have really stubborn babies and softie mommies who go right back to nursing after separation and b) no need to find a place to separate when using bottles because you just stop bottles.

We bottle raise most of our babies because we sell them on the bottle and they can leave our farm faster, it does make for very bonded goats, I can make sure each one is eating adequately, and I enjoy it. However, we have begun venturing into breeding out own meat and I am not bottling those babies. There is substantial evidence that dam raised kids are more cost effective than bottle fed and I don't want to be bonded with the ones that are going in the freezer.

 

[Bedste]

So if I am going to let the mama's do all the work I am going to have to have a separate baby pen . Thats my problem all I have is a small pen 8X4 and my babies are nearly 5 mo old.

 

[Squirrelgirl88]

I had both this year. One dam raised, one bottle raised. The Dam raised has been healthier and grew faster. But I also let the mother wean her naturally, and the little bugger was still sneaking in for a drink at 6 months.

The bottle raised had problems from the start anyway being rejected by mom, but I will say she is sweeter, to the point of being a pest. She is spoiled absolutely rotten, and thinks my only purpose is to hold he,r scratch her, give her attention. Totally my fault I know, but I won't choose to bottle feed again. Let the mom do all the work if possible.

I understand completely why people bottle raise. And maybe if I didn't work long hours and was more worried about milk production I would do the same. But our small herd (4) is more of a hobby. Now next year with breeding two does and the potential of actually getting a decent amount of milk, I may choose to separate the babies.

 

[treeclimber233]

Last year I just let the mothers wean their own babies. This year because one doe may have bred back after having her baby I am trying to wean him. They both have other ideas. If he does not get out of his pen to get with his mother she just gets out of hers. So I finally taped her teats and left them together.

 

[OneFineAcre]

I understand completely why people bottle raise. And maybe if I didn't work long hours and was more worried about milk production I would do the same. But our small herd (4) is more of a hobby. Now next year with breeding two does and the potential of actually getting a decent amount of milk, I may choose to separate the babies.

x2.
We don't have time or need that much milk.

And I will absolutely agree with others, that some can be seperated for over a month and you put them back and the mom will let them start nursing again. I've got a twins right now who we have seperated again. And they are 8 months old.

Some you can seperate for a couple of weeks and they refuse to let their babies nurse. They enjoy the extra feed on the milk stand.