This presentation is part of an educational modular program

designed to provide new and beginning farmers and ranchers

with relevant information to initiate, improve and run their
agricultural operations

This program is funded by the

Beginning Farmer and Rancher
Development Program (BFRDP)

USDA-NIFA-BFRDP 2010-03143
 Goat production

This project is partly sponsored by USDA-NIFA-BFRDP 2010-03143.

 Goat production
 In general goats can be raised for meat, milk or
fiber production

http://www.angoragoat.com/
http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/
breeds/goats/boer/
Angora goats
produce mohair
Boer is a meat http://www.veteriner.cc/keci/saanen.asp
breed Saanens are
among the
highest milk
producers
Goat production
 In addition, of their initial production purpose, raising
goats can be a valuable part of a sustainable farm
 Goats fit well into already established farms because
they do not compete with cattle or other livestock for
feed and usually can use resources that otherwise would
go unused
 However goats are not “little cattle” they need to be
managed as a different type of livestock and not just be
expected to behave and eat like cattle
Goat production
 Goats can also contribute to the farm by cleaning areas
that would otherwise not be accessible to other livestock
 Because of their browsing behavior they can eat and clear
brambles from paddocks
 Also because of their small size, agility and because they
love to climb they can forage in hilly and rocky pastures
 Goats’ manure replaces the soil with important nutrients and
reduces the need for fertilizers

http://news.opb.org/article/goats-
take-some-pain-out-yard-work/
“Goats for hire”
 Because of their unique feeding habits,
goats can be “hired” to clear out thick lots
of invasive plant species from lots, gardens,
pastures. They also help to reduce “fire
fuel” in areas prone to wild fires
 People pay “per acre” of land cleared by
the goats and in some cases the price can http://www.bendbulletin.com/article/20110916/
NEWS0107/109160343/
go up to $1,500 dollars/acre

Fuel reduction of poison oak and pampa grass field (before and after)
http://www.brushgoats4hire.com/photo.htm
Understanding goats

http://www.animalcorner.co.uk/farm/goats/goat_anatomy.html
Goat behavior
 Goats have unique behavior characteristics
that are important to understand before you
decide to raise goats
 They are “matriarchal”, that means that there will be a “herd queen”
or dominant female
 She usually leads the way and decides when to go out to pasture.
She gets the best sleeping spot and the first spot at the feeder, and
if she is a dairy goat, she gets to be milked first
 If another goat tries to change things, you can be sure that the
queen will make it clear who is in charge
 Goat behavior
 Goats sometimes communicate by biting
 Goats butt others to establish their place in the herd, it
can be used in playing, fighting or during rut
 Dehorning is commonly used to reduce damage from butting (to you
and other goats) but that animal will be at a clear disadvantage.
Either all your goats get dehorned or none should

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http://www.fotothing.com/pxlbarrel/ about/around-the-house/ http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-
samsung-dslr/118333-kid-goat-his-friend-lily-
photo/ lamb-bigma.html
0d2de8275934efa8eb493fd16b4d182
0/
Goat handling
 Caring for your goats is easier if your goats are used to
being handled.
 There is nothing worse than having to chase down and
capture a sick goat!
 They need regular handling so that you can do routine
maintenance and care of the animals

Get the goats used to being on the

milking stand, this way you can trim
their hooves, give shots and other
husbandry procedures without
stressing them out
Goat handling
There are some important things to remember when you start
handling a goat:
 Goats duck their heads to get away, so keep the goat’s head up
with one hand under the chin and one on the top of the neck or by
holding the collar up

 To catch a fleeing goat, grab the back leg. The front legs are very
delicate and can be hurt or broken very easily

 To handle a horned goat, firmly grasp the base of the horns to lead
her

 Never push on a goat’s head, pushing stimulates butting and

teaches the goats that butting humans is all right

 Never let a goat kid jump on you or anyone else

 Don’t let children chase or ride the goats. They will become afraid
of people and they can get hurt or break their backs.
Goat handling
Collars are a useful tool for handling, moving
or milking goats
 Remember that collars can get stuck in plants or fences,
so make sure to check the area where your animals are
housed to make sure they are safe
 Only put the collars on when you will be working with
them, or around to keep and eye on them

http://boonedockswilcox.blogspot.com/2009/05/goat-boys.html
 Goat Nutrition

http://www.northrup.org/photos/goat/?page=7
Goats are ruminants
 Ruminants are those animals that have several compartments in their
stomach to digest large quantities of forages
• The ruminants get their name from their rumen, which is the largest
compartment of the stomach and serves as a fermentation vat

http://www.animalcorner.co.uk/farm/goats/goat_anatomy.html

 Ruminants eat quickly and swallow their food and thoroughly chew it and
swallow
 This regurgitated food is called the cud, and healthy ruminants spend as
much time chewing as they do grazing or eating hay
Raising goats
 Goats have the ability to select the more nutritious parts of a plant

 Therefore, they typically will consume a higher quality diet if they have
the opportunity to be selective
 With the exception of dairy goats, goats grazing a high quality pasture
can usually meet their protein requirements without supplemental
feeding
 In some cases an energy supplement (grain) may be necessary

http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/
feedingsmallruminants.html

http://thatlldofarm.com/slideshow/1268
http://migrationbrewing.com/blog/
2011/11/02/brewers-who-talk-to-
goats
Goats are ruminants
 The health and productivity of the goat as with all ruminants depends on
the rumen (as with all ruminants) depends on the rumen function;
microorganisms in the rumen digest fiber and carbohydrates and protein
to supply the animal with nutrients
 Without those microorganisms, the goat will become very sick and may die
 It is very important that the animal is appropriately fed so that the ruminal
organisms stay healthy

 The rumen microorganisms are healthier when goats are eating good-
quality forages, such as vegetative pasture
 However it is difficult (if not impossible) to provide good-quality forages year
round. Thus, supplementation with concentrates may be necessary
Diet
 Goats can be picky eaters and they may not immediately
accept new feeds
 However once they decide to eat something they will try everything
to get it
 Also if there is nothing around that they like they will start to look
around for something to eat

http://ikoupon.com/Funny-Pics/Animal-
World/Goats-Eating-515.html

http://www.123rf.com/
http://www.brusorchards.com/goat.php photo_7699530_goats-eating-round-
a-tree.html
Diet
Feeding is usually the highest expense of any livestock operation
 It is important to remember that goats are not little goats
 Goats have shorter digestive tracts which limits their ability to digest
the cell walls of plants, such as grass or hay, in comparison to cattle
 Then again, their narrow muzzle and highly motile, prehensile lips
allows them to choose the tender leaves and buds from trees and
shrubs that cattle cannot fully use as a food source
 Goats have a perfect feeding strategy as intermediate feeder, eating
grass when it is at its peak and shrubs when those have the best
nutrients available

http://mcaaron.wordpress.com/tag/dylan-mckay/
 Diet
 Feeding good quality hay or pasture is usually
sufficient to sustain your goats, but during
production they will need supplements
The more productive goats should
be fed high quality feed, especially
kids being prepared for market,
young replacement doelings and
does in late gestation and early
lactation. Also, does lactating twins
or triplets have greater nutritional
requirements than does lactating a
http://www.takeawalk.com/catherine-renzi-articles/ single kid
2009/4/2/nubian-dairy-goats-triplets-born.html
Supplemental feeding
 Grain is the concentrate most often fed to goats; cereal grains such as oats, corn,
barley and wheat are high in energy (carbohydrates/fat)
 Less commonplace are grains such as amaranth or buckwheat are also used
sometimes
 Soybean meal and cottonseed meal are high protein supplements

 The choice of concentrate is determined by the composition of the forage available

 High-quality forages usually have adequate or even excess protein, animals eating
these will need a higher-energy concentrate to utilize the protein present in the
pasture
 Lower-quality forages or hays will require a higher protein supplement to meet the
goats’ protein requirement

http://www.flickr.com/photos/baalands/384226152/
http://www.goatworld.com/articles/feeders/feeder.shtml

http://www.tartergate.com/news/bgg_trough.php
Supplemental feeding
 While good quality forages are usually adequate, goats may sometimes need
supplemental feeding, especially during the winter

 Goats need a proper balance of energy in the form of roughage or grain, as well
as protein, vitamins, minerals and clean water

 There is a rule of thumb for all goats:

 Browse and pasture in the summer
 Hay and grain in the winter
 Trace mineralized salts all the time
 The mineral mixture should be fortified with selenium if you live in an area of the country
with selenium-poor soils (Check with your Extension agent or veterinarian)

http://www.bjmanufacturing.com/feeders.htm
 Minerals
 It is very important that you consistently offer this mix
(preferably in a loose form), monitor its consumption and
ensure that all goats are in fact eating adequate amounts of
the mineral supplements

http://www.hippityhooves.com/
HerdManagement.html

http://www.theikga.org/goat_feeders.html

http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/
generalfeedingguidelines.html
Diet
 Goats must consume a more concentrated diet than cattle
 Goats grazing poor quality areas will also have higher
nutritional requirements than goats on better pastures

http://www.organic-gardening-and-homesteading.com/how-to-raise-goats.html
Meat, dairy, hair?
 Adult meat goats should be fed a maximum of 1% of bodyweight in
supplemental grain, with lactating does reaching a maximum of 1.5%

 Dairy goats need both high quality forage and supplemental grain to
reach their full potential, especially during peak lactation or growth

 Fiber goats on the other hand may not do well with supplemental grain,
because feeding too much protein to angora goats can make mohair
fiber coarser and reduce its value and feeding beyond maintenance
requirements will not improve the fiber production of cashmere goats

Angora goat
http://www.theanimalagency.com/animals/
Cashmere goats barnyard/barnyard.htm
http://tsandawesome.com/2010/11/
Most common breeds of goats in the USA

Dairy goats Meat goats Hair/Fiber

Alpine Boer Angora

La Mancha Kiko Cashmere

Nigerian Dwarf Spanish Meat goat Pygora

Nubian Tennessee Fainting goat

Oberhasli

Saanen Pets
Toggenburg
Nigerian Dwarf
Pygmy
Fainting goat
Fencing
 Fencing is the most critical

factor in raising goats on pasture

 There is nothing more frustrating than having to constantly

chase goats back into the pasture

 Fencing will also be the greatest expense, other than the initial
cost of the animals

http://www.louispage.com/blog/?Tag=woven%20wire%20mesh
 Fencing
 There are several different options for fencing
 One of the best permanent fencing solutions is 4-foot woven wire with barbed wire along
the top
 Some producers use four or five strands of high-tensile electric wire

 Electric netting (usually 4x4 inches) is also used as temporary or permanent fencing
options, however some animals can get their horns tangled in the netting
 Electric wires can be used in combination with standard fences, however goats need to be
trained to this
 It is very important to keep electric fences charged to 4,500 volts or more

 Regular checking and testing are necessary and any problems must be fixed promptly, or
goats will escape.

http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/forages/rotational/ http://www.mysouthernheart.com/?cat=28
fencing/wovenwire.htm
Fencing
 Goats are famous scape artists and will definitely try to get
through fences if they can see something good on the other
side

 Here is something that I have seen to teach “scape prone

goats” to stay inside their pens
 This is called the “naughty collar”, they get it on everyday before
they go out to pasture and it is taken off in the afternoon

 It doesn’t hurt them and they learn quickly that they can’t get
through the fence

http://farmlet.co.nz/?p=59
 Shelter
 Goats can tolerate cold weather, but will get chilled by wet cold
conditions
 Buildings used for shelter may be minimal, but they should be well-
ventilated and clean
 The necessary shelter or shelters depend on the producers’ operation
 A dairy operation will usually have extensive barn and pen set-ups while a
large meat goat operation may use only trees in the pasture as shelter
http://goatseeker.com/guides/quonset-
hut-goat-shelters

http://blog.henrymilker.com/
2010/11/alaskan-goat-igloos-
http://www.extension.org/pages/19427/goat-pastures-shelter perfect-winter-home.html

There are portable shelters, moveable shades and even

old hog huts that can be used as shelters for your animals
 http://www.steelmasterusa.com/got-milk-

Shelter steel-buildings-have-it-covered/metal-
goat-shelter

and climbing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/
lucindalunacy/5802777698/
Goats love climbing!
• Add some rocks, ramps,
steps or any structure for
them to climb and they will http://people.tribe.net/themuse/blog/
9f8f9464-333f-4f10-ab1b-14c9d0dc821c
make full use of it
www.logcabinpethouse.com

• If you don’t give them

something to climb, they will http://www.mbfarviewfarm.com/Cross-
Bred-Dairy-Goats.htm
find something

http://www.lostcreekboers.com/
girls.html
http://
http://www.mysouthernheart.com/? www.strangefarmer.com/
cat=28 content/item/111266.html
http://pinoyagribusiness.com/
forum/
small_ruminant_sheep_and_goat/
housing_design-t584.0.html

http://
adrenalinesshadow.wordpress.co
m/2009/10/19/i-dont-care-that-
its-shopped/

http://wilamarfarm.blogspot.com/
http:// 2007_03_01_archive.html
thegoat.backcountry.com/ http://www.lostcreekboers.com/girls.html
2009/06/22/illinois-style-
climbing/
This presentation was prepared by:

USDA-ARS-Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center

Annie Donoghue
Joan Burke

Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and the
Division of Agriculture; University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Dan Donoghue
Ixchel Reyes Herrera

This presentation is part of an educational modular program designed to

provide new and beginning farmers and ranchers with relevant information
to initiate, improve and run their agricultural operations
This program is funded by the
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development
Program (USDA-NIFA-BFRDP)

USDA-NIFA-BFRDP 2010-03143
This project is the result of the collaboration of
these institutions:

USDA-NIFA-BFRDP 2010-03143
 Want more information?
Illustrated guide to sheep and goat production
Goats: sustainable production overview
ATTRA Dairy goats: sustainable production overview
publications Meat goats: sustainable production overview
https://attra.ncat.org/
Managing internal parasites in sheep and
goats
 Want more information?
National Goat Handbook http://members.toast.net/dawog/Goats/national
_goat_handbook.pdf
Breeds of Livestock (goats) http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/goats/

American Dairy Goat Association http://www.adga.org/

Dairy goat journal http://www.dairygoatjournal.com/

Boer Goats Home http://www.boergoatshome.com/

Meat Goat production (Susan http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/meatgoa

Schoenian, University of t.htm
Maryland)