Our does are about a month out from kidding now so I will be getting my kidding kit ready as well as trimming hooves and vaccinating pregnant does with CDT. About one or two weeks out from expected due dates, I like to shave our does' udders and rear ends to make it easier for nighttime labor checks and for easier clean up. Nobody wants to be milking does with a messy afterbirth bum or a hairy udder.

 

I like to keep the barn extra clean during kidding season to help keep parasites down to a minimum. I make sure I have the kidding areas set up and a few straw bales, wood shavings, extension cords and heat lamps set up and ready to plug in (and that they are working), bottles and Pritchard nipples, frozen colostrum, lots of towels, betadine, rubber gloves, flashlights, water bottles, people snacks, etc all gathered in a convenient spot. I put all of these materials in a tote or a laundry basket so that I can load the newborn kids up and pack them in the house to warm up if needed, but I just saw a farm that keeps theirs in a large bucket with a lid. It can double as a "chair" when labor gets serious. 

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Here is a "how to" video made by Westi at Twin Pear Farm on how to trim hooves. I like that she has a monthly checklist of who got trimmed and who still needs it done. 

https://youtu.be/DmaQ4exc9ms 

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Here is an article on hoof trimming by Gail Damerow

https://backyardgoats.iamcountryside.com/health/goat-hoof-trimming-made-easy/

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Here is another video by Westi on how to give a subcutaneous shot. Great idea to practice with Vitamin B Complex since you can't overdose your goat with that. 

https://youtu.be/qfuJBk94tyE

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Here is an article by Dr. Niki Whitley about their Goat Vaccination Program. I found the section on vaccinating for CDT very helpful. 

Goat Vaccination Program – Goats (extension.org)

https://goats.extension.org/goat-vaccination-program/

"The vaccine commonly known as “CDT” or “CD&T” is a vaccination for Clostridium perfringens type C + D and tetanus. This is the vaccine that everyone raising goats should use. The label directions should be followed closely, including those for handling and storage. Several companies make CDT vaccines and some of those include vaccines for additional clostridial diseases. Consult with your veterinarian to determine if those other diseases are common in your area or are on your farm before spending the extra money for the multiple combination vaccines.

Does should be vaccinated for CDT approximately 30 days prior to giving birth to provide protection to the kids through the first milk, or colostrum. If the doe has not been given a priming booster of two shots adminstered three to four weeks apart at some time in her life, the pre-kidding annual shot will not really be effective. This priming set of shots is usually given when the doe is a young kid but can be done at any age.

Kids should be vaccinated at 5 to 6 weeks of age and then given a booster three to four weeks later. Vaccination of kids from properly vaccinated does prior to 5 weeks of age may result in kids that are not protected and annual boosters may be ineffective.

Kids born to does with uncertain vaccination history or with questionable colostrum ingestion within the first 24 hours of birth should be vaccinated at 7 to 21 days of age and then given a booster three to four weeks later. Alternately, tetanus antitoxin (150 – 250 units) can be given at birth or at castration.

Breeding bucks, yearlings and other adults should get annual boosters 30 days prior to the breeding season or when others in the herd are given booster vaccines. New breeding bucks and does with unknown vaccination history should get two initial doses, three to six weeks apart, and then annually. Some research has shown that goats might benefit from booster vaccinations twice a year, six months apart." 

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