It is essential that your fences are intact and sturdy because they will be mightily tested as the kids and does try to get back together at weaning and for several days afterwards. High tensile and woven wire fence for pastures is a must. There cannot be gaps under the fence or gates. Pens in barns can be used for a short time, but you need to make sure they are secure as well. The 4x4 woven wire is a good choice for small weaning pens to help prevent any animals getting through. Make sure fences and gates are close to the ground to prevent escape.

Kids should be kept on the same feed and feeders they are familiar with before weaning. Make sure to keep feeders well cleaned to reduce the risk of disease spread. If kids climb or play in feeders, it is important they are cleaned daily to reduce the spread of disease. Provide good quality hay in feeders they can access. It is important to provide at least 8 inches of feeder space per animal if limit feeding during this time so all animals have access to the feeders. Self-feeders do work, but can result in over consumption by some and under consumption by others during this time. Make sure they also have access to water at all times.

The pens for the does must be well secured. Does will try to get back with their kids. The field they go into need to have good gate and fence placement similar to the fencing for the kids. For the does, 12-inch wide field fence is a good option to prevent heads from getting caught as easily in the fence. In both doe and kid pastures, electric fencing or an electric stand-off wire helps discourage fence challenging, but may not be as effective due to the strong desire of does and their kids to get back together.

of feeder space per animal if limit feeding during this time so all animals have access to the feeders. Self-feeders do work, but can result in over consumption by some and under consumption by others during this time. Make sure they also have access to water at all times.

The water source must be clean and low enough for the kids to access it. Some livestock water troughs are too high for kids to utilize. Make sure the drinking height is no more than 12 to 18 inches for weaned kids. To prevent drowning, the kids need to be able to reach the water depth in the tank. If the waterer is not an automatic fill, be sure to check and refill often. Access to clean, abundant water is essential for development.

If you did not castrate your buck kids, you need two pens so you can separate your buck and doe kids after weaning. This will reduce the chance of unwanted breeding. This separation will also prevent the buck kids from not only breeding, but chasing the does, allowing for better growth rates. Rutting activity will depend on time of year but bucks reach puberty at 4-5 months of age. The pens for the does must be well secured. Does will try to get back with their kids. The field they go into need to have good gate and fence placement similar to the fencing for the kids. For the does, 12-inch wide field fence is a good option to prevent heads from getting caught as easily in the fence. In both doe and kid pastures, electric fencing or an electric stand-off wire helps discourage fence challenging, but may not be as effective due to the strong desire of does and their kids to get back together.

Health issues for both the doe and kid can arise at weaning. Health issues that are common during this time include udder trouble for the doe and parasite infections for the kids. There are strategies that help manage these issues. The key is to observe and detect signs of sickness early, and treat them as soon as possible. Watch for kids that are not as energetic, have poor condition, or start to scour. Make sure the kids are vaccinated properly before weaning to decrease risk of disease and improve effectiveness of vaccination.

The major health concern, at weaning, for the doe herd is mastitis. Does with good maternal traits are still producing milk at this time, making them susceptible to mastitis. Mastitis is the inflammation of the mammary gland and is often caused by bacteria that enter the teat from the environment. Until a doe "dries off", meaning she stops producing milk, she is still susceptible to these infections. Signs of mastitis include swollen teat or teats; enlarged half of the udder; uneven size of the udder; and tenderness of the udder to touch. Milk from an affected udder often has clumps or clots in it. Often, mastitis issues that happen at, or around weaning are not noticed until the next kidding season. Because it often starts at weaning, it is crucial to observe does closely for any abnormalities and purposefully manage their nutrition and minerals. To properly dry-off the doe, you should start 4 weeks before your weaning date by reducing supplemental feed to the doe. This will help signal the body to reduce milk production. At weaning, eliminate all supplemental feeding (grain) and place the does on poor quality forage for a week. This, again, triggers the system to stop milk production due to the reduction of nutrient intake. Limiting the intake of water can also help reduce milk production but must be managed closely to avoid dehydration. There are several cautionary measures that must be considered when using this practice. If you plan to restrict water access, you must allow animals to drink as much as they want at least twice a day. Adjust your access to water based on the conditions and forage being provided. Dry forages, such as hay, increase demand for water. Hot temperatures will also increase water demand.

Limiting the intake of water can also help reduce milk production but must be managed closely to avoid dehydration. There are several cautionary measures that must be considered when using this practice. If you plan to restrict water access, you must allow animals to drink as much as they want at least twice a day. Adjust your access to water based on the conditions and forage being provided. Dry forages, such as hay, increase demand for water. Hot temperatures will also increase water demand.

Watch the doe herd closely for signs of abnormally large udders, redness, and signs of pain. These may signal that the doe has started to develop mastitis. The udder should swell in the first day or two after weaning, but start reducing by the 5th day post weaning. If you notice any problems, catch the doe and check her udder. Consult with your veterinarian for recommended treatments for mastitis. You should note these animals and watch them closely next kidding season to ensure they do not have problems with milk quality or availability.

In dairy animals, there are treatments available that are used at dry-off to prevent mastitis. These are not commonly utilized in meat animals. If you have had