The young of the domestic goat, regardless of gender, are referred to as kids. This common term describes the offspring from birth until they reach six months to one year of age. The act of a female goat giving birth is known as “kidding.” This article details the names, physical development, and specific care requirements for baby goats.
Names and Defining Characteristics
While “kid” is the general term for a young goat, specific labels denote gender. A young male goat is called a buckling, and a young female goat is known as a doeling. These terms are used until the animal reaches sexual maturity, often as early as six months of age.
Newborn kids are remarkably precocious, generally weighing between 5 and 10 pounds at birth, though weight varies by breed. A distinctive characteristic is their unique rectangular pupil shape, which provides a wide field of vision to spot predators. Although born with a full coat of hair, they do not yet have prominent adult horns, instead having small, bony horn buds or no horns at all.
Developmental Milestones
A healthy baby goat exhibits rapid development, often standing and attempting to nurse within minutes of birth. This immediate mobility is an evolutionary trait for a prey animal, allowing the kid to keep up with the herd quickly. The initial hours are spent establishing a bond with the mother and consuming the first milk.
By 24 hours old, kids are known for energetic, playful behavior, often running and leaping—an activity called “popcorning.” This play serves an important function, helping them develop the agility and coordination necessary for evading danger. Around one to three weeks of age, they begin sampling solid foods like hay and grain, mimicking their mother’s habits. This introduction to dry feed begins the process of developing a functional rumen, the first chamber of their four-part stomach, essential for digesting forage.
Nutritional Needs and Early Care
The immediate need for a newborn kid is colostrum, the mother’s first milk, packed with antibodies and nutrients. Since kids are born without acquired immunity, it is crucial that they ingest this antibody-rich substance, ideally within the first six to twelve hours of life. Their ability to absorb these large molecules rapidly decreases after that window. The recommended amount of colostrum consumed in the first 24 hours is 10 to 15 percent of the kid’s body weight.
After the initial colostrum period (about two to three days), the kid transitions to regular milk or a commercial milk replacer. Management practices differ: with some kids being dam-raised (left with the mother), while others are bottle-fed, especially in dairy operations to control disease transmission like Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE). Bottle-fed kids require careful attention to feeding schedules, typically receiving three to four feedings daily for the first month. They also benefit from a high-quality starter feed offered freely from the second week onward to stimulate rumen growth.
Weaning, the gradual transition from a liquid to a solid diet, usually begins around six to eight weeks of age, but can extend to 12 to 16 weeks depending on growth rate and management goals. A kid is ready for weaning when it weighs at least 2.5 times its birth weight, consumes a substantial amount of dry feed, and demonstrates proper rumination behavior. Early care includes ensuring the newborn is dried off and kept warm in a clean, dry environment. The umbilical cord must also be dipped in an antiseptic solution, such as iodine, to prevent infection.