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Gina is using at her farm surrogate/foster goats for her orphan lambs or for those born in large litters. She is using Carpatina goats, which are hardy and have strong maternal instincts. The doe has to wean her kid(s) before the lambing season starts, and based on the milk yield of the doe, up to 4 lambs can be reared by the surrogate goat. The doe and lambs should be kept in an individual pen, and the goats have to be managed previously in the same flock as the ewes. When introducing a new lamb to be fostered by a doe, the lamb needs to be rubbed on the goat hair coat to imprint the smell of the doe on the young lamb. If the doe does not accept at first the lamb, head restraints can be used.
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