Description and characteristics of the Don breed goats, keeping rules
Downy goat breeds are bred and bred to obtain mainly down, rather than meat and milk. In terms of popularity, they are inferior to meat and dairy varieties, but their products are in certain demand. Consider the description and characteristics of the Don breed of goats, how to keep animals and feed, how to breed at home, how to treat diseases.
Description and characteristics of the Don goats
The origin of the breed is uncertain. It is believed that coarse-haired local Don and Turkish goats took part in the breeding. At the end of the 19th century, the blood of the Angora breed was infused into the breed. Now the Don goats are bred in the regions of the Don and Volga rivers, mainly on the breeding farms of the Volgograd region.
Representatives of the breed are of medium size, strong build, with a rounded body. The males are decorated with large horns and a thick beard. The color is black, gray and white. The weight of goats is 70 kg, goats weigh 2 times less. The weight of goats at birth is 2 kg, at weaning - 14 kg. By 1.5 years, the weight of young animals reaches 27 kg, by 2.5 years - 30 kg. Females give birth to, on average, 1.5 kid in each lamb. Down productivity of the Don goats depends on the individual characteristics of the animals. The spread of the "crop" is large - more than 1 kg (330-1430 g).
The structure of the down in the Don breed differs from season to season. In autumn and winter in animals it is thick, gray-brown or gray, guard hair is short. After the spring moult, the goats are covered with coarse hair. The milk productivity of the Don breed females is 130-140 liters per 5 months. After weaning the kids, you can milk the uterus for another 6-7 weeks. Fat content of goat milk - 4.6% (maximum - 8.2%). Slaughter meat yield - 60%, but meat productivity is low.
Pros and cons of the breed
If you do not take into account that it is impossible to get a lot of milk and meat from the Don goats, this breed can be considered a good option for breeding in private farms to obtain high-quality down.
Conditions of maintenance and care
The Don goats are known for their unpretentiousness; in the summer they can live in the pasture, in good weather. To spend the night, they must be returned to the goat's house. The room where goats live should be warm, protected from wind and drafts. In winter, you need to turn on the light in the mornings and evenings, bringing the daily lighting up to 10-12 hours. Every day the goat's rue needs to be ventilated or turned on the ventilation system.
It is advisable to change the litter every day, but at least once a month. To prevent diseases and death of livestock, it is necessary to disinfect the premises, equipment and feeders for each individual. Processing frequency - once a week.
Down from goats is collected starting in late spring. Time for clipping is determined by the appearance of the animals. In the largest of them, the coat begins to fall off, this is a sign of incipient molting. Goats are combed out several times per season - with an interval of 2-3 weeks.
A special comb is suitable for combing out, which does not entangle down and wool. The animals are combed out, starting from the neck, then moving to the chest, shoulder blades, sides and ending with the hind legs.
At a time, 0.5-2 kg of fluff and wool can be cut from one animal. 80-90% of the raw material consists of down, wool is chosen from it. High-quality down in a large volume is given by the Don white individuals, which are influenced by the Angora ancestors. However, white animals have lower meat and milk productivity.
How to feed the animals?
The kids are fed with milk for up to 6 months. With two, they begin to gradually give food, which they will eat in adulthood. These are grass, leaves and tree branches, hay, vegetables, root crops. Pedigree animals love to graze in open areas, so it is necessary to keep them as much as possible for grazing.
Breeding features
To obtain individuals with pedigree characteristics, you need to cross purebred goats and goats. If necessary, representatives of downy varieties are allowed, but not dairy or meat. When crossed with meat and dairy breeds, the quality of the down decreases, it coarsens, the volume decreases.
Diseases and methods of their treatment
The Don goats are seriously ill with smallpox. The rash is localized on the head, legs, udder, tail. With a complex course of the disease, there are lesions of the joints, eyes, exhaustion, and abortions in the uterus. In kids, the rash is on the oral mucosa, respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract. Smallpox in animals lasts 3-4 weeks. Diagnosis is by blood test and clinical signs. No treatment has been developed. The main control measures are preventive.
In addition to smallpox, goats of this breed can suffer from infectious, colds and gastrointestinal diseases. These are the consequences of poor living conditions, insufficiently balanced feeding. It is necessary to treat and prevent such diseases by observing the rules of nutrition and keeping of farm animals.
The Pridonskaya breed is old and promising at the same time. Despite the small number of pedigree livestock, pedigree individuals can be purchased for breeding and keeping in a private farm. The main products are excellent white and gray down, soft and light. In addition, these goats provide nutritious milk and meat.
