Grouping animals by age, stage of lactation and reproduction, makes sense, as the nutritional needs for each group are different.  Having animals with the same nutritional needs in the same pen, saves time for the producer.   Some individuals may need special attention, and those can be identified through routine body condition scoring.  Here are some standard goat dairy groupings based on nutritional needs.  

 

Group	Age	Nutritional goals	Pens
Bottle-fed kids	Day 1	Feed colostrum to transfer antibodies on day 1.	Very small pens with heat lamps and/or or heat mats.
	Day 2-7	Feed milk for maintenance and growth
Bucket-fed kids	2nd-8th weeks	Feed for maintenance and growth.	Larger pens with heat lamps. Group together in numbers that correspond to your bucket feeders.  If using  a caprine bucket with ten nipples, put ten babies in the pen.      If using lamb buckets with three nipples, put in groups of 9 and hang three buckets.
Bucklings retained for breeding	8th week - 7 mo. (breeding age)	Feed for maintenance and growth	House according to the pens you have available. See stocking rates in the Building and Planning section of the website.  House males and females separately after 4 months to prevent unwanted pregnancies.    House doelings separate from adult does, and bucklings separate from adult bucks to avoid injury, and to make sure they get enough to eat.
	7 mo.-1 yr	Need extra during breeding season for stamina.
Bucklings retained for meat sales	week 8-selling age depending on market	Feed for maintenance and growth
Doelings	week 8 to 7 mo. (breeding age)	Feed for maintenance and growth.
	7 mo-1 yr.	Breed when they reach at least 70 lbs.  Feed for maintenance, growth, and to support advancing pregnancy,  especially in last month.
	First birthing at one year (or more)	Feed for maintenance, growth and lactation.
Lactating Does  not pregnant	1) Does who have birthed, but who have not been bred back 2)Does not being bred back at all (future cull does)        3)Does  who are being allowed to “milk through.”	Feed for maintenance and lactation.
Lactating Does Pregnant through the third month	Adult	Feed for maintenance, lactation and to support fetal growth
Dry Does Pregnant through the 4th month	Adult	Feed for maintenance and to support fetal growth
Dry Does Pregnant through the 5th month		Feed for maintenance and to support fetal growth.
Bucks	Adult	Feed for maintenance.  Extra for stamina during breeding season.
Quarantine Pen(s)	1) Does new to farm, 2) Sick does 3)Does with mastitis, who must be milked last	Feed according to the needs of individual animals