Instructions
Move the first goat-kid pair born at the beginning of the season to the first pasture. The Sandhills system places the goat and kid in a pasture for birthing and the first four weeks of the kid's life, reducing the kid's exposure to pathogens from older kids and protecting the kid from the crowded pathogen-breeding conditions of the barn.
Move pregnant goats into the first pasture where they will give birth for the next two weeks and move any goats that have not given birth at the end of the two weeks to the second pasture. After a week of birthing in pasture two, move any goats that have not given birth to the third pasture. Goat-kid pairs birthed in pasture two will remain in pasture two.
Commingle groups goats and kids after the youngest kid is four weeks of age. After four weeks of age, the incidence of cattle diarrhea goes down significantly, according to Sandhills researchers. Many of the same pathogens that cause diarrhea in calves also affect goats, lambs and modified ruminants such as llamas.
How to Use the Sandhills Calving System for Goats
University of Nebraska researchers working with Nebraska ranchers and their veterinarians created the Sandhills Calving System to prevent calf diarrhea, testing it over five to six calving seasons in two ranch herds. The system enhances sanitation by keeping newborn calves separated from older calves, thereby exposing less pathogens to newborn calves. Due to its universal applicability, ranchers and farmers are implementing this system throughout the United States. Although tested on cattle herds, this system can be implemented on goats and other ruminants as well. With large herds of goats, you will need to fence off areas to create three different pastures.