Breeds, Selection, Feeding, and Management of Goats

1. Breeds, Selection, Feeding,
and Management of Goats
Chapter 28

2. Objectives
• Give a brief description of the goat
enterprise
• List and describe the common breeds of
goats
• Select quality breeding stock using
generally accepted criteria

3. Objectives (cont.)
• Discuss feeding and management of goats
• Describe housing and equipment required
for goat production

4. Overview of The Goat Enterprise
• Goat populations in U.S. have increased in
recent years, struggling to keep up with
increased demand
• Market popularity has increased due to
news about positive health benefits of goat
products.
– Less caloric and less fat than in beef or
chicken

5. Classes of Goats
• Goats are classified by their products
– Dairy
– Fiber
– Meat
• Two minor classifications
– Pets/companions
– Goatskins

6. Classes of Goats (cont.)
• Dairy Goats
– Found in every state in the U.S.
– Only seven dairy goat breeds common in U.S.
– Most kept on small farms
– Require less space and are less expensive
than dairy cattle
– Can be used for meat

7. Classes of Goats (cont.)
• Fiber Goats
– Three common in U.S.
• Angora (most popular, most found in Texas)
• Cashmere
• Miniature Silky Fainting Goat
– Can also be used for meat
– Help control weeds
– Can be pastured with cattle

8. Classes of Goats (cont.)
• Meat Goats
– Popularity of goat meat on rise
– About 45 breeds can be classified as meat
type
– Most common in U.S. – Boer, Kiko, Kinder,
Myotonic, Pygmy, Savanna, and Spanish

9. Breeds of Goats
• Dairy Goats
– Alpine
– LaMancha
– Nigerian Dwarf, Nubian
– Oberhasli
– Saanen and Sable
– Toggenburg

10. Breeds of Goats
• Dairy Goats
– Alpine

11. Breeds of Goats (cont.)
• Dairy Goats (cont.)
– LaMancha

12. Breeds of Goats (cont.)
• Dairy Goats (cont.)
– Nigerian Dwarf

13. Breeds of Goats (cont.)
• Dairy Goats (cont.)
– Nubian

14. Breeds of Goats (cont.)
• Dairy Goats (cont.)
– Oberhasli

15. Breeds of Goats (cont.)
• Dairy Goats (cont.)
– Saanen and
Sable

16. Breeds of Goats (cont.)
• Dairy Goats (cont.)
– Toggenburg

17. Breeds of Goats (cont.)
• Fiber Goats
– Angora

18. Breeds of Goats (cont.)
• Fiber Goats (cont.)
– Cashmere
• Soft down or winter undercoat of fiber produced by
most breeds of goats (other than Angora)
• Down is soft furry, fine feathery coat of young
birds and animals, or undercoat of adult birds,
animals
• Most comes from China, Afghanistan, Iran, Outer
Mongolia, India, Australia, and New Zealand

19. Breeds of Goats (cont.)
• Meat Goats
– Boer

20. Breeds of Goats (cont.)
• Meat Goats (cont.)
– Kiko

21. Breeds of Goats (cont.)
• Meat Goats (cont.)
– Kinder

22. Breeds of Goats (cont.)
• Meat Goats (cont.)
– Myotonic

23. Breeds of Goats (cont.)
• Meat Goats (cont.)
– Pygmy

24. Breeds of Goats (cont.)
• Meat Goats (cont.)
– Savanna
– Spanish

25. Selection of Goats
• Selection of Dairy Goats
– Matter of personal preference
– Select goats that indicate good milk
production
– Scorecards are available that indicate
desirable traits for judging dairy goats
– Production records and pedigrees can be
valuable in selection

26. Selection of Goats (cont.)
• Selection of Dairy Goats (cont.)

27. Selection of Goats (cont.)
• Selection of Fiber Goats
– Judged on basis of body and fleece
– Body – breed type, conformation, bone,
constitution and vigor, size, weight, age
– Fleece – fineness, uniformity, completeness of
covering, oil content, luster, density, and
character
– Balance between body and fleece a must

28. Selection of Goats (cont.)
• Selection of Meat Goats
– Examine health, appearance, pedigree, and
performance data
– Evaluation competitions becoming more
popular
– Meat goat evaluation now part of National
FFA Livestock Judging Career Development
Event

29. Feeding Goats
• Feeding Dairy Goats
– Roughages with grains added if needed
– Commercial protein concentrates
– Home-mixed feeds
– Minerals, vitamins, salt, and water are
essential
– Pasture or hay

30. Feeding Goats (cont.)
• Feeding Fiber Goats
– Wide variety of brush, weeds, and grass
– Additional feed in winter
– Guajillo and live oak are excellent
– Pelleted feeds and roughages
– 20 percent protein range cubes
– Shelled yellow corn

31. Feeding Goats (cont.)
• Feeding Meat Goats
– Similar to feeding fiber goats
– Some require more protein and energy
• Best way to add protein is with a protein
supplement
– Most needs are met through pasture or
rangeland

32. Management of Goats
• Managing Dairy Goats
– Seasonal breeders
– Keep buck separate from doe during milking
season
– Bucks need exercise to avoid becoming
sterile
– Gestation period is 5 months

33. Management of Goats (cont.)
• Managing Dairy Goats (cont.)
– Put kids on pasture as soon as possible
– Separate buck kids from doelings at 2 to 3
months
– Castrate bucks at 8 to 12 weeks old
– Dehorn kids when 3 to 5 days old
– Trim hooves from time to time

34. Management of Goats (cont.)
• Managing Dairy Goats (cont.)
– Tattooing or tagging
– Milk on stand by hand or machine
– Feed strong-flavored feeds only after milking
– Clip does on udder and flank area

35. Management of Goats (cont.)
• Managing Dairy Goats (cont.)
– Wash udder
– Milk at intervals of 12 hours
– Strain milk
– Cool milk quickly

36. Management of Goats (cont.)
• Managing Fiber Goats
– Run three or four bucks with each 100 does
– Flush does
– Use yearling or older bucks for breeding
– Kid does in pasture
– Use stakes and kidding boxes

37. Management of Goats (cont.)
• Managing Fiber Goats (cont.)
– Newborn kids should not be handled
– Ear mark and vaccinate kids
– Castration
– Weaned after fall shearing
– Caping to protect from weather
– Spraying and drenching

38. Management of Goats (cont.)
• Managing Meat Goats
– Breed year-round
– Cross Spanish with Boer to increase meat
production
– Overall, similar to managing fiber goats

39. Housing and Equipment
• Housing and Equipment for Dairy Goats
– Depends on size of herd
– Loose pen and tie stalls
– Confinement housing
– Milking area/room
– Woven wire fences
– Feed racks, troughs, and hurdles

40. Housing and Equipment
• Housing and Equipment for Fiber and
Meat Goats
– Similar to those for sheep
– Basic protection from elements, extreme
weather
– Housing varies by herd size, land availability,
and operation type
– If confined, minimum 20 square feet needed

41. Protection from Predators
• Domestic dogs, wolves, coyotes, and
wildcats are serious threats
• Goats are easy prey
• Fencing helps to protect
• Guardian animals (dogs, donkeys, llamas)
can help protect the herd