Goats should be kept in clean pens free of dampness, drafts & pests like flies & rodents.
Goats should not be housed in airtight buildings; they need to have ventilation for
optimum health. Pens or houses should be kept clean with fresh hay or straw for bedding.
Many owners find that providing a few "toys" for the goats provides them with hours of
caprine entertainment. Tree stumps, rocks or large cable spools are great for "king of the
mountain" games & jumping. Just be sure to keep them away from the fence to avoid
giving herd escape artists means to roam your neighborhood!
Goats require good fences, such as a four foot high field fence to keep goats in &
predators out. Goats are browsers & love brush pastures. Grain helps improve kidding
percentages. Most breeders feed a 12% - 18% protein goat feed or dairy ration. It most not
contain urea as this is toxic to goats. Many breeders give less grain if good pasture &
browse are available. Hay or pasture should always be provided in abundant supply. Fresh
water in clean containers should also be available at all times. They do need to be
wormed regularly & have their hoofs trimmed. Overall they are hardy creatures & need
only a simple shelter to provide them with a dry place to get out of the wind & rain.
There is evidence that goats were among the first, if not the first, animals to be
domesticated by humans, perhaps as long as 10,000 years ago. There were goats, for
example, aboard the Mayflower on its famous voyage to America in 1620. Even today, in
the world as a whole, more people use goat milk than cow milk. They're more efficient
animals than cattle are in their ability to convert plants into more valuable animal protein.
Our Preferred Goat Breeds
Animal Health Section:
- Sheep & Goat Diseases Part I
- Sheep & Goat Diseases Part II
FUN FACTS
 | | Most goats can only breed from |
| | August - January.
|
| | Kids are normally weaned at around |
| | three months of age.
|
| | Does generally weigh less than 150 |
| | pounds.
|
| | Goats should not de-horned. The horns |
| | disperse body heat, as goats don't
sweat.
|
| | Goats are an excellent source of
|
| | Milk & dairy products
|
| | Cashmere, Mohair & Angora fiber
|
| | Chevon & Cabrito Meat. |
| | |
Articles by Suzanne Gasparotto
for GOAT RANCHER Magazine.
Not necessarily Organic or
Natural.
Harris
Organic
Meat & Fiber
|
