Handling of Goats

Goats are seldom difficult to handle and frequently learn to come for food and milking when called. They dislike being held by horns and ears and care should be taken not to disturb the nostrils. For an ideal handling it is preferable to hold them with neck or head collars.

Castration The Bucks

It is done at the age of 2 to 4 weeks although castration at later stage is successful. For this method the Burdizzo’s castrator is used. Care should be taken to pass the spermatic chord of each testis in two places, half apart. At that time testis should be held by hand in such a way that it never reaches near the hinge of the castrator. After castration there may be swelling of the testis which soon becomes normal within 2 or 3 days.
Advantages of Castration

The palatability of the meat increases.
The body weight increases at a rapid rate.
The quality of the skin becomes superior.
The profit from such castrated goat is always more.

Dehorning The Goats
Dehorning is done to avoid keeping horned and polled goats together. It is practiced within one week of birth by using caustic potash.

Care of the Goat Feet
Goats frequently suffer from overgrown feet, a condition which causes much unnecessary discomfort and even deformity and arthritis old age. These conditions can be prevented by pairing the hooves when they become overgrown.

Marking Goats
Three means for marking goats are ear-tattooing, ear-tagging and ear-notching which should be carried out with-in one week after kidding.