Annual Doe Management

Program

(Winter Kidding)

Kentucky Small Ruminant Production Systems• Winter Kidding/Lambing

• July, August, and September breeding• December, January and February kidding/lambing

• Spring Kidding/Lambing• October, November, and December breeding• March, April, and May kidding/lambing

• Fall Kidding/Lambing• April, May, and June breeding• September, October and November kidding/lambing

Intensity Levels of Kentucky Small Ruminant Operations

• Highly Intensive Management• Higher levels of inputs and labor• Higher returns

• Moderately Intensive Management• Moderate levels of inputs and labor• Moderate returns

• Minimally Intensive Management• Minimal inputs and labor• Lower returns

Highly Intensive Management• Typically breeding/show stock operations and

dairies

• Characteristics:• Relies primarily on stored feeds may even be in

confinement• Above average facilities• Can lamb/kid spring, fall, or winter• Labor intensive• Lambs/kids are jugged at birth and creep fed• Will market top grade lambs and kids

Moderately Intensive Management• Typically commercial meat operations or fiber

animals

• Characteristics:• Relies primarily on forages but stored feeds are

supplemented during certain stages of production• Average facilities• Can lamb/kid spring, fall, or winter• Moderately labor intensive (kidding/lambing to weaning)• Lambs/kids may be jugged at birth or field

lambed/kidded in appropriate weather• Lambs/kids are likely creep fed• Should market quality lambs and kids

Minimally Intensive Management• Commercial meat operations

• Characteristics:• Almost entirely forage based (pasture and hay). May

supplement some concentrates on occasion.• Few facilities• Can only lamb/kid spring or fall • Minimal labor (slightly more intensive at

kidding/lambing)• Lambs/kids are almost entirely field born • Lambs/kids are not creep fed• System is only appropriate for certain breeds• May or may not send quality lambs and kids and kids to

market

I. Doe Production Stages

Flushing:

August 1 to August 15

Breeding:

August 15 to October 7

Early Gestation: September 7 to

December 26

Late Gestation: December 26 to

January 23

Average Kidding Date: January 23

Lactation:

January 23 to April 23

Average Weaning Date: April 23

Post-Weaning: April 23 to

May 2

Maintenance: May 2 to

August 1

II. Nutritional Flushing (14 days)

A. Minimally Intensive.Not recommended

II. Nutritional Flushing (14 days)

A. Moderately Intensive.

1. Turn teasers in.

2. Replace with fertile bucks.

3. Supplement existing pasture.

4. Move to new OG or BG

pasture. No grain.

II. Nutritional Flushing (14 days)

A. Highly Intensive.1. Turn teasers in.2. Replace with fertile bucks.3. Move does to new pasture with or

without white clover.4. Supplement with shelled corn.5. In confinement – 3 to 5 lb

grass/legume or alfalfa hay + 1.0 lb shelled corn.

II. Nutritional Flushing (14 days)

A. Each mgnt. level begins 2 weeks before and continues 3 weeks into breeding.B. ADG = 0.2 to 0.25 lb/hd/d.C. Leave in 2.0 to 2.5 BCS.D. Can’t flush if BCS > 3.0E. Mineral, water, shade.

III. Breeding (53 days)

A. Leave does in same area for 7 to 10 days after ram removal.

B. Leave in 2.0 to 2.5 BCS.C. Doe to buck ratio 1. Mature

buck: 20 to 35 : 1Yearling buck: 15 to 20 : 1

D. Mineral, water, shade.

IV. Early Gestation (110 days)

A. Enter in 2.0 to 2.5 BCS.B. ADG = 0.07 lb/ewe/d.C. Leave in 3.0 or less BCS.D. Check pregnancy.E. Cull opens.F. FAMACHA, trim hooves.

IV. Early Gestation (110 days)

A. Nutrition options.1. Scavengers.2. Stockpiled grasses.3. Turnips.4. No pasture.

(a) 3-5 lb low-quality hay in barn.(b) Big bales (low-quality) in pasture

area.B. Mineral, water, shade.C. Quality of feed unimportant if quantity is

adequate.

V. Late Gestation (28 days)

A. Enter in 3.0 BCS.B. Check FAMACHA and BCS.C. CDT vaccination.D. Begin to feed 1.0 lb grain/doe/d.

1. 1x/d on Dec. 1.2. Pasture, turnips, hay.

V. Late Gestation (28 days)

A. Move does to barn on Jan. 3.B. Ration 1.

OG hay (EV) = 3.3 lb/ewe/d.Grain Mix = 1.2 lb/ewe/d.

C. Ration 2.Alfalfa hay (MB) = 4.1 lb/ewe/d.Grain Mix = 1.0/ewe/d.

D. Mineral, water.E. ADG = 0.5 lb/doe/d.F. BCS at kidding = 3.5 to 4.0.

VI. Kidding

A. “Up close”pens.B. Move to kidding pens.C. Process kids.D. Weigh, record, iodine navel, BoSe.E. Make sure kids nuse.F. Hay, feed and fresh water!

VI. Kidding

A. Check does/kids every 2 hours.B. 3.0 to 5.0 lb grass hay/doe/d.C. Stay 24 hours up to 2 to 5 days.D. Move to nursery pen – process kids.

VII. Lactation (90 days)

A. De-worm as does leave jugs.B. Leave in BCS of 1.5 to 2.0.C. Feed for milk, not BCS.D. Mineral, water.

VIII. Post-weaning (10 days)

A. Remove grain.B. Reduce hay/pasture.C. No feed, mineral or water for 48 hours.D. After 48 hours, provide water and mineral.E. Graze 2 hours/day for 3 days.F. Gradually graze full-time.

IX. Maintenance (118 days)

A. Palpate udders, review records, cull after 1 month.

B. FAMACHA, BCS monthly.C. De-worm 4’s and 5’s.D. Trim feet, foot bath.E. De-worm before flushing.F. Rotate pastures, mineral, water, shade.

Annual Kid Management

Program

(Winter Kidding)

I. Parturition

A. In “up close” pens.

B. Move to kidding pens.

II. Kids Not to be Weaned

A.To be marketed directly off doe to slaughter weighing 40 to 70 pounds.

- Have creep diet available by 7d of age.- Self-feed or hand-feed creep - Vaccinate all kids with Enterotoxemia

Type C/D or Type D at 5, 8, and11 weeks of age.

- Market in uniform groups.

III. Kids Weaned at 90 Days

A. Creep by 7 days of ageB. Self-feed or hand-feed to weaningC.Vaccinate and castrate malesD.Move does away, leave kidsE. Gradually switch to post weaning

diet.