How long goats are raised to get meat, age for castration of kids
Livestock in our country is based on cows, sheep and pigs. Although there are other types of animals that provide equally tasty meat. For example, domestic goats. Unpretentiousness in food, good ability to withstand heat and frost have made goats faithful companions of man since ancient times. To get high-quality meat from an animal, it is important for a farmer to know how long a domestic goat grows and how to provide it with ideal conditions for rapid weight gain.
How much does a goat grow for meat
In good conditions, goats live up to 15 years, and up to this age they can become pregnant and give birth to offspring. If we are talking about breeding animals for meat, then what is taken from animals for up to a year is considered optimal. The best thing is recognized that what gives slightly fat kids aged from one and a half to two months.
The quality of meat depends mainly on the food base of the animal, and only climatic conditions affect the life span. Although meat breeds of goats are considered the most persistent, it is still better to protect the livestock from cold, heat and not to take them out to wet pastures. This is fraught with pneumonia, and, accordingly, a deterioration in the value of meat due to drugs.
Growing features
The low weight of the goats (40 to 50 kg) makes keeping them profitable for the farmer. In addition, animals, thanks to the extended front teeth, can graze in areas where the grass has grown by only 3-5 cm. Cows, for comparison, do not capture plants less than 10 cm. Goats can eat almost any vegetation, which makes their breeding simple and affordable. In case of a shortage of hay and fresh grass, the animal will not give up on woody leaves (aspen, birch, willow, acacia), root crops, carrot tops, burdocks, grain.
When the goat has given birth, it is better to immediately decide which kids will be raised for meat. Males are castrated; females do not need this procedure. The meat of castrates is tender, does not have an unpleasant smell, is juicy and more saturated with microelements.
After birth, the first 3-4 weeks, the kids are given plenty of breast milk. Then, grain, whey, hay and plants are gradually introduced into the diet. Experienced farmers advise feeding the young with bran for quick weight gain. Starting at 3 months, the kids are left with hay overnight so that they do not get hungry.
In addition, animals should have access to clean drinking water around the clock. If livestock live in a building, daily cleaning and bedding replacement is necessary.
From 4-5 months, grain can be introduced into the diet: barley, oats, crushed corn. This will give the meat a fat content. If the kids eat liquid food, whey or mash, they should be given warm. It is recommended to add a little salt to the feed once a week to stimulate the appetite of the young.
Meal plan for fattening meat kids based on the amount of product per day:
| Feed type | 4-8 months | 9-13 months | 13-10 months |
| Serum | 1.1 l | 1.6 l | 2.0 l |
| Corn | 0.16 kg | 0.5KG | 0.35 kg |
| Hay | 0.6 kg | 2 Kg | 1.1 kg |
| Grass | 2.85 kg | – | 3.6 kg |
Goat meat is considered a dietary product, despite its sufficient fat content. It is recommended for people with excess weight and diseases of the cardiovascular system.
At what age are meat kids castrated
Upon reaching the age of 3-4 months, male hormones begin to be released into the blood of males. They degrade the quality of the meat, make it hard and dry. In addition, a specific musky "aroma" is added. To avoid this, males are castrated at 2.5-3 months. This is the optimal period when the kid can easily undergo surgery and quickly recover.
Valukhi gain weight faster and, slaughtered at 4 months of age, produce meat similar to the meat of wild individuals. For industrial sale, it is optimal to slaughter goats at 8-10 months.
