(a) Discuss the management of goats under the following headings: (i) breeding; (ii) care of kids; (iii) identification; (iv) castration.

Management of goats

(i) Breeding

• Select healthy, fast-growing bucks and does that are free from disease and have good traits.
• Mate the animals at the right age of maturity (about eight to twelve months) and keep a suitable buck-to-doe ratio.
• Detect heat and allow service; gestation lasts about 150 days (five months).
• Avoid inbreeding and keep proper breeding records.

(ii) Care of kids

• Ensure each kid suckles colostrum soon after birth.
• Disinfect the navel and keep the kids warm and dry.
• Introduce creep feeding gradually and provide clean water.
• Deworm, vaccinate and protect them from predators; wean at the proper age.

(iii) Identification

• By ear tagging.
• By ear notching or tattooing.
• By branding, or use of neck chains and colour marking.

(iv) Castration

• Castration is the removal or rendering non-functional of the testes of males not needed for breeding.
• It is done to reduce aggression, improve meat quality and prevent indiscriminate mating.
• Methods include the bloodless burdizzo, the elastrator (rubber ring) and the surgical (open) method.
• It should be done at a young age using clean, hygienic methods.