Raising Organic Goat

1. RAISING
ORGANIC
SMALL
RUMINANTS

2. ELEMENT
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
Italicized terms are elaborated in the Range of Variables
Select healthy breeders and
suitable cages • Bucks and rams are identified according to breed
• Healthy bucks/rams are selected based on industry
acceptable indicator for healthy small ruminants.
• Suitable site for small ruminants are determined based on
PNS recommendations.
• Small ruminants cage design is prepared based on Good
Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP), DENR and zoning
ordinances PNS recommendations.
• Cage equipment installation design is prepared in line with
PNS recommendation and actual farm conditions.
• Cage equipment are set-up in line with housing equipment
installation design.
• Rice straws are placed as bedding materials based on PNS
procedures.
Feed small ruminants • Suitable feed materials are selected based on availability
in the locality, nutrient requirements and PNS standards.
• Feed materials are prepared following PNS procedures.
• Maintenance of forage area are administered in
accordance with PNS procedures.
• Animals are fed based on feeding management program
of PNS.
• Feeding is monitored following PNS procedures.

3. Manage breeding of small
ruminants
• Signs of heat are monitored among sexually mature does and ewes
• Breeding systems are identified based on PNS guidelines.
• Animal pregnancy is monitored and tended based on enterprise
procedures.
• Unproductive buck/ram and doe/ewe are culled based on
enterprise procedures.
Manage does/ewes and
their progenies
• Signs of approaching kidding/lambing are monitored following
established farm procedures.
• Placenta and dead kids/lambs are disposed properly according to
DENR law.
• Assisted kids/lambs to suckle colostrums according to organic
practices.
• Lambs/kids are weaned properly at 3 months from birth based from
established farm procedures.
• Lactating goats and sheep are kept in clean and quiet environment,
and are separated from the breeder males based from established
farm procedures.
• Forage grasses, supplements and adequate water supply are
provided according to PNS recommendations.
Grow and harvest small
ruminants
• Growth rate is monitored based on enterprise procedures.
• Health care program are implemented based on PNS and GAHP
requirements.
• Sanitation and cleanliness program are implemented based on
GAHP requirements and PNS.
• Organic wastes for fertilizer production are collected according to
PNS.
• Suitable small ruminants for harvest are selected based on PNS
guidelines and market demand.
• Production record is accomplished according to enterprise
procedure

4. Selecting healthy breeders
Selection of the breeding Buck
•A healthy and good quality buck (he goat). The buck must be healthy, strong
and should have a well developed body frame. It must be of productive breed. It
must have normal sexual organs and well developed testicles. The buck must be
selected from does that produce a high volume of milk and are prolific.
•Control mating i.e. Limit the number of does per male (the recommended ratio
is 1male for 35 does)
•The Buck must be free of any physical defects e.g. undershot jaws, overshot
jaws
•It should have a strong masculine head and neck and noisy and should seek out
females on heat and mate them. If it’s shy and timid it should be culled.
•Badly worn teeth indicate old age. Males with split, missing or worn teeth should
not be selected for breeding as they are physically unable to browse or graze
properly.
•Legs should be checked for deformities and hooves trimmed.

5. Selecting healthy breeders
Selection of the breeding doe
• Select does with high milk production and high fertility
rate.
•The doe must be well built and healthy.
•Legs should be checked for deformities and hooves
trimmed.
•It should produce kids every 8-10 months
•It should produce twins frequently
•It should produce enough milk to rear the twins and for
the household consumption
•The udder should be soft to touch with two functional
teats

6. Things to do if the breeding objectives are not met
Evaluate the performance and physical characteristics of breeders and the
management practices (breeding, feeding and health of breeders)
Things to do if breeder animals are inadequate
Selection of replacement stocks either within the general herd or buy from
reputable sources through judging based from characteristics of a good breeder.
Precautions when handling breeder bucks
•Apply TLC
•Apply the correct ratio and proportion of male and female

7. Housing Installation
Site Selection
•The location shall conform with the land use plan of the
area.
•The site shall be accessible to service roads, water supply
and electric lines.
•The site shall be well-drained and allows for free air
circulation
•The building shall be contructed in an east –west orientation
and the structure for marketable animals shall be located
near the service road
•The site shall be located where the prevailing winds will not
carry odors to the farmhouse

8. Housing Installation
Types of Housing: Confined housing
Group pens for animals with the same sizes should be contructed and provided with
ample area for exercise. Feeding through should be fenced off with bamboo or wooden
slats providing ample space that will enable animals to insert only its head. Watering
devices should be placed in an area where spilled water will not mess up the pen.

9. Housing Installation
Types of Housing: Shed-type housing
Animals can move freely nin or out of the housing area and into the paddock or feeding
area. Feeding and watering trough, mineral feeders and grain bunks are located on
concrete pads at the center or along the side of the shed.

10. Housing Installation
Types of Housing: Pen-barn type housing
Each animal is confined in a stall. Stalls are provided with individual feeding and
watering trough.

11. Space Requirements
Animal Weight (kg) Floor Space (m2/animal)
Solid Floor Slatted Floor Open Yard
Doe/Ewe 35 0.8 0.7 2
Doe/Ewe 50 1.1 0.9 2.5
Doe/Ewe 70 1.4 1.1 3
Kid/Lamb
Buck/Ram
0.4-0.5
3.0
0.3-0.4
2.5
-
-
•Pregnant small doe or ewe with weight of 50-70 kg has a floor space
requirements of 1.3 sq.m. Animal while the lactating is 2.0 sq.m./animal.
•Pregnant large doe or ewe which weight is over 70 kg has a floor space
requirements of 1.6 sq.m./animal while the lactating is 2.3 sq.m./animal.
•A fenced loafing area of 150 sq.m. Per 50 heads shall be provided adjacent
to the animal housing.

12. Housing Facilities
•Feeding through and forage racks
•Watering facility
•Lambing pen
•Buck housing
•Milking area
•Lighting facilities
•Field fencing

13. Feeding Organic Goats
Feed small ruminants • Suitable feed materials are selected based on availability
in the locality, nutrient requirements and PNS standards.
• Feed materials are prepared following PNS procedures.
• Maintenance of forage area are administered in
accordance with PNS procedures.
• Animals are fed based on feeding management program
of PNS.
• Feeding is monitored following PNS procedures.

14. FLEMINGIA

15. RENSONII

16. INDIGO

17. Caliandra

18. Dwarf Napier Grass

19. King Napier Grass

20. Guatemala

21. Madre de Agua

22. Paragrass

23. Australian Peanut

24. Johnson Grass

25. Mulberry

26. Breeding Management
Inbreeding
This is mating of closely related individuals without the introduction of
new animals from outside. If the process continues animals with undesirable
characteristics are likely to appear e.g. physical deformities, sterility and
reduced body sizes.
Line breeding
This is a mild form of inbreeding designed to concentrate the genes of a
specific ancestor
Crossbreeding
This is system where two different parent breeds are mated. The first
generation crosses are intermediate to the parent breeds. The offspring are
superior to the parental breed in some cases (hybrid vigour). The offspring’s
displays increase in size better live-weight gains fertility and viability

27. Breeding Management
Backcrossing
This involves crossbred offspring’s being bred to one of
the parents
Upgrading
Foundation refers to an F1 (first generation) at 50%,
Intermediate (second generation) is at 75%, an appendix
(third generation) is at 87.5% and pedigree (Fourth
generation) is at 92.5%. The percentage represent the
proportion of the exotic blood in the resultant cross (breed)
Prevention of Inbreeding
Practice recordkeeping strictly including proper identification
of animals.

28. Breeding Management
Signs of a doe on heat
For a doe to come on heat it should be nutritively fed under proper
alongside appropriate supplementary feeding of concentrates and mineral
licks.
A doe on heat will show the following signs
• The vulva appears swollen and reddened
• loosing of appetite and restlessness
• Frequent urination
• Bleating and nervousness
• Wagging of the tail
• Slight mucus discharge from the vulva
The presence of a buck has been shown to induce heat in a doe that
could have been problematic in detection of heat.
Heat can also be induced by rubbing a piece of clothe around the base
of the bucks horn and then taking the clothe to the doe.

29. Breeding Management
Improving breeding efficiency
Proper care and management of breeders (selection of breeders, providing
appropriate nutrients for breeders, providing correct housing requirements
and implementation of effective herd health program).
Alternative breeding system
If the breeder animals are limited, the alternative breeding system a
farmer could adopt is the use of artificial insemination upgrading to
produce offspring with superior quality and traits.

30. Managing Does and Progenies
Care of Pregnant Doe (She-goat)
•Protein supplements are important during the dry period (non lactating
period). This is because the kids are growing faster at this time.
•If you have been feeding legumes which are high in calcium its best to replace
these with high energy feeds (e.g. hay) at least three weeks before kidding to
prevent milk fever. This forces the doe to mobilize its own body stores and
prepare for milking.
•Deworm the doe two weeks prior to kidding
•A goat requires 3% (of its body weight in dry matter approximately 1.5 kg)
per day or 5 kg of fresh materials should be availed to the doe per day. The
complete meal should comprise of both the protein and energy feed.
•Provide the does with salt lick and at least either half a kilo of dairy meal per
day or a mixture of pollard and bran
•Provide adequate clean water all the time.

31. Managing Does and Progenies
Care of lactating doe
At the end of the 5th month, check for the following signs of approaching
birth;
•Reduced feed intake
•Rapid breathing
•Doe will constantly look back unto her sides as if expecting to see young
ones.
•Enlarged udder that may or may not discharging colostrums.
•Swollen vulva
•And thick mucus discharge from the vulva.
•The hair around the tail and the rear should be clipped and fresh
beddings (straw or grass) provided.
•The kid is born after short labour but incase of difficult kidding expert
(Vet doctor) should be consulted.

32. Managing Does and Progenies
Care of the kids
•To prevent naval infection the stump of the umbilical cord should be cleaned and
disinfected with iodine, strong salt solution or traditional herbal remedy.
•The new born kid should be placed in a warm area to protect it from strong
winds (draft) and cold that may expose it to pneumonia.
•Kids are allowed suckle the colostrums in the first three days after birth, the
colostrums is very important to the health and growth of the kid. The colostrums
contain antibodies that protect the new kid against diseases until they are able to
protect themselves.
•The kid should be allowed to suckle the mother enough milk so as to have the
kid as future basis for breeding stock.
•Fostering is advisable if the mother dies or incase of infection of the udder
(mastitis).
•Bottle feeding is also an alternative in the absence of the mother.
•Introduce green chop and water after 1 week.
•Kids can be withdrawn from the mother at night so that the doe can be milked in
the morning.
•Kids should be weaned at 4 months. Weaning before this time should be
compensated with high protein supplements.

33. Other Management Practices
1. Hoof Trimming – Goats’ hooves under confinement are usually overgrown. Trimming is
then required. A rose pruner and a small curved knife are adequate tools. Cut excess hoof
until level with the frog (white-centerpart). Untrimmed hooves will cause lameness and
make it prone to foot rot. Bucks refuse to mount when having sore feet.
2. Dehorning – Especially in milking herds, dehorning is essential. A dehorned animal is
more docile than a horned one. It will also eliminate unnecessary wounds due to fighting.
Dehorn when horn buds appear (2 to 4 mos.) using hot iron cautery. A Y2 inch GI pipe is
an effective and cheap material for cauterizing. Chemical cautery is not preferred because
kids tend to lick one another and may therefore lead to cauterized or burned tongues.
3. Castration – Castration of unwanted male goats is preferable within the first month of
age. The testicles at this age are still not developed; thus there is lesser bleeding and
stress. Castrated males grow faster than uncastrated males and are free of the goaty male
odor.
4. Tattooing, Ear Notching and Other Forms of Identification – In order to keep track of
individual animals, a positive identification are needed. No recording is possible without
this. Ear notching is done more commonly because of permanence and easy
identification. Refrain from using plastic tags. Tattooing causes no deformities but
requires special tools that may be costly.
5. Recording – For a good breeding herd program, a proper and well-kept recording
system is necessary. The record reflects all the essential data of individual animals.

34. Other Management Practices
Treating Bloat
Let the animal walk. Administer orally mineral oil, massage
the rumen and do not let the animal lie down.
Transporting Animals
A permit from the Municipal Veterinarian or Agricultural Officer
must be secured in transporting animals from municipality to
another.