Secrets to raising happy, healthy and profitable goats

RAISING GOATS

Raising Goats
Secrets To Raising Happy, Healthy and Profitable
Goats
David shaw
9/27/2010

You can pass this book around, just do not change the links in it!

Goats History
It is believed that goats first became domesticated about 10,000 years ago in Iran. They were
used for many of the same reasons that they are used for today. These reasons include warmth
(clothing), milk and meat. During this period of time, they were taken care of by herdsman who
where typically kids or young persons. Goats were handled in herds and mostly grazed for food.

The skin of goats in ancient times, were used as parchment (a precursor to paper) and also to
hold and transport wine and water. There were a number of uses for goats while they were alive
and even after they died. In Iran and the surrounding area, goats were used for foodstuffs
including milk, cheese and meat. Today, people in these areas still include goat products in their
diet. The milk and cheese in the Middle East and in some parts of Africa come from goats. This
is not the case in the West, where most cheese and milk product are taken from cows.

Today, goats have many of the same purposes that they did thousands of years ago. Some people
still consume their meat and drink their milk and create cheese from it. Depending on what part
of the world you are in, these foods make up a large part of the daily diet, for instance in the
Middle East. In places such as America, goat cheese and meat is consumed but not in large
quantities. It is considered a delicacy in many parts of the country. Cheese made from cow’s
milk as well as meat taken from this animal is much more common in the United States.
However, you will still find goats, goat farms and goat breeders. You will also find them in the
wild. Mountain goats are found solely in North America. Cashmere is a common use for the
animals in this part of the world. They may also be raised to compete in shows and fairs or kept
as pets.

The history of the domesticated goat, as most people accept it, begins in Iran. Then and now, the
uses for the goat have largely been the same. People drink their milk, eat the cheeses that are
created from this milk and consume their meat. Goats may also become companions and family
pets. Today, they are bred for various purposes, mostly for food production (example: the Boer
goats).

Every breed of goat that exists today did not exist originally. Some were developed and bred for
various purposes, largely for food. The Boer goat was developed in the early 1900’s by
Dutchmen in South Africa. The original purpose was meat. Today, these animals are extremely
popular amongst goat owners. This is partly because they produce lean meat, can live in a variety
of environments, grow and reproduce at a very fast rate.

This is a very brief introduction to the history of the goat. If you are interested in a more detailed
account, you may want to take a visit to your local library.

Click Here To Learn More About Raising Goats

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Different Types of Goats
Not all goats are the same. There are different breeds and types are they are used for different
purposes. Some are bred specifically for meat while others are used mainly for milk production.
Others still are used mainly as show goats or to enter into fairs and contests. The Pygmy goat,
Cashmere goat, Mountain goat, Dairy goat and Boer goats are some of the most well-known
types and breeds. We will discuss each of them below and provide information on each,
specifically what they generally used for, information about their appearance, personality and
temperament.

Pygmy goats: Pygmy Goats are mostly utilized as show goats. People often take them show
them off at fairs and enter them into contests. These goats provide really good companionship
and they may make really good pets especially for kids. They are playful, cuddly and easy to
take care of. They are not as big dairy goats but they are of decent size. They do produce some
milk, though not in huge quantities. These goats can also be used for meat, however meat and
milk production are not typically their primary uses.

Dairy Goats: Dairy goats are bred and raised ways to produce milk. They also make nice
companions and can be used as show goats. There are different types of dairy goats, they
include Saanens, Nubians, Togenburgs, Le Manchas, Oberhaslis and Alpines. The Saanens are
typically white in color and produce a lot of milk. The Nubian dairy goats’ milk generally has a
lot of protein and butterfat. Togenburgs are another type of dairy goat. These are used by many
dairies because they produce a lot of milk which is of high quality. Le Manchas are another
type of Dairy goat that is known for their small ears. Oberhaslis are small to medium-sized. You
can find a lot of them on dairies farms as well. Alpines dairy goats produce a lot of milk and are
fairly large in size.

Cashmere Goats: Cashmere goats are not actually a breed. They are a type of goat. People use
to hair of cashmere producing goats as clothing because it is extremely soft and luxurious. These
types of goats can also produce milk and can be used for meat and so they have many great uses.
A quick note: The coat of most goats can be used for cashmere.

Mountain Goats: Mountain goats are white and sometimes yellow depending on the season.
They have long thick hair in the winter which they shed some in the summer.

Boer Goats: Boer Goats are from South Africa. This is where they were originally developed
and bred. They are light in appearance and have a red head. Boer goats are very costly and can
be priced any where between $10,000 and $50,000. Right now, the demand for them is very
high and they are extremely popular among goat owners.

The Boer goat was developed and bred in the early 1900s for meat. This breed grows very fast, is
able to live in a number of different environments and is very fertile. All of these attributes make

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them very attractive to those who already own goats or who are interesting in purchasing them.
The meat Boer goats produce is red, of distinct quality and very lean.

Common Goat Diseases
There are diseases that goats seem to commonly suffer from. As a goat owner, you need to make
sure that you are aware of them and do what you can to prevent them. If you are not properly
educated on goat health and diseases, you could end up wasting your time and money. If you
can’t keep them healthy and alive, your investment will be largely be wasted. While you will not
be able to prevent every type of illness and/or ailment, if you know what to watch for, you will
be able to recognize serious or even deadly symptoms and get help for your goat(s) before the
situation gets dire.

While the list of common goat disease can get pretty lengthy, below, we will only discuss a few
here. A complete listing is beyond the scope of this webpage. The ones that we will discuss are
Blackleg, Bottle Jaw, Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE), Coccidiosis and Foot and Mouth
Disease. You’ll find information about how each of these can affect the health of your beloved
goats. Some of these conditions are very serious and can lead to rapid death or require that you
put your goat(s) now. Other illness can simply be treated with antibiotics or other medications.

Blackleg: This can be an extremely dangerous ailment for goats. It is caused by Clostridium
Chauvei, a bacteria found in the soil. The animal will get sick really fast and the disease can lead
to rapid death. Many times there are no symptoms at all which makes the condition even more
dangerous and frightening. However, when symptoms do occur, they often include fever,
sadness (by the goat), loss of appetite and swelling. Treatment generally includes penicillin
and/or other antibiotics.

Bottle Jaw: Blood sucking worms can cause Bottle Jaw in goats. When it occurs the goat’s
blood vessels begin leaking into other parts of their body, generally, the lower half. The jaw and
face will swell and the gums may change color. When this occurs, the goat will need to be
wormed. They may also need to be administered vitamins and iron. Antibiotics may also be
necessary.

Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE): Symptoms associated with this disease include swelling
in the knees, weight loss, pneumonia, hard udders and coughing. The goat will need to be
separated from the other animals. They may also need to see a vet.

Coccidiosis: This disease is caused by parasites. Stressed and young goats are most susceptible.
Diarrhea, often with blood, is common. The goat(s) may also suffer from dehydration, lose
weight and develop a fever. Biosol is generally given in order to remedy this disease.

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Foot and Mouth Disease: This is a viral disease. When it occurs, the goat generally develops
blisters on their tongue, hooves, teats and lips. They may also salivate heavily and can become
lame. Animals that are diagnosed with Foot and Mouth Disease are put down.

This is a brief listing of common goat disease. Make sure that you are the look out for any
changes in your goat’s exterior or any changes in their behavior. If you suspect anything, it may
be necessary to call in your vet.


Where to Buy Goats
When you decide to buy a goat or multiple ones, the first point of business will be finding goats
that are available for purchase. If you don’t know where to look, this can make for a very
frustrating and even maddening experience. Fortunately, there are a number of great places to
buy goats from. Depending on your budget, your goals and the number of goats you are looking
to buy some places will obviously make more sense then others. A couple of good options
include auctions, online marketplaces and farmers and breeders.

Buying at Auction

If you decide to buy goats from auctions, you may be able to secure a better deal than purchasing
them online, from a farm or a breeder. Of course, this will depend on who is bidding against you
and how big the auction is. It will be more difficult to compete with large, commercial farms
then it might be other individual buyers or small farmers. Therefore, choose which auctions you
attend wisely. It is important to note that you will need enough cash to cover whatever you are
planning to buy directly following the auction. If this is a problem for you, then you may want to
skip this route. While it is not for everyone, it does work very well for some people.

Buying Online

You will find a large number of online marketplaces or websites that will either sell goats
directly or that will match buyers with sellers. At first glance, this may seem like an excellent,
prospective way to purchase goats and it can be. However, “Buyer Beware.” You won’t truly
know what you are getting until after the goats arrive (if they even arrive at all).

While there are many honest people online, there are a large number of individuals who are not.
You may pay for your goat and never receive it. There may also be defects that aren’t disclosed
in the animal’s description. Again, you may not become aware of them until after they have been
delivered or when you go pick them up. Now, I’m not saying that this type of transaction
(online) is doomed to failure. That is not true. Many people have purchased their goats using this
method with no problem. Just make sure that you understand the risks of this type of transaction

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and do what you can to protect yourself so that you aren’t having to attempt to get your money
refunded after the fact.

Buying From Farmers & Breeders

Another option is to purchase goats from famers and breeders. If you are driving past a farm and
you see goats, consider stopping and asking if they are willing to sale. You may be able to get a
good deal. You also are able to see the goats and this allows you to spot any visible defects. The
farmer should also have pretty good knowledge about the goat(s) and should be able to answer
any questions that you have.

Breeders are probably the best places to buy goats. They will know the most about the goats and
will be able to hand them over in proper form.

Raising Boer Goats
Boer goats were first bred in the early part of the 20th century. Dutchmen in Africa created the
breed mostly for meat production. Since that time, Boer goats have become extremely popular
and one of the most sought after goat breeds in the world. Boer goats have a number of
impressive attributes. They grow exceptionally fast and are a good source of meat. While the
Boer goats are a very good breed, raising them takes a good deal of knowledge. We’ll discuss
some of the most important aspects of raising this goat breed below.

Boer goats most often have white bodies and brown heads. They are very adaptive and are able
to live in a number of different climates. The Boer is able to withstand hot temperatures and dry
climates. They are fertile, grow fast and are submissive. These are all great attributes for a goat.

Raising goats is serious business. It is not for people who are not dedicated and knowledgeable
about caring for the goats. When persons do not fully understand what they are doing, they are in
danger of losing their investment (goats). If not properly cared for these animals can fall ill and
die.

Goats by nature are very social. They need to be around other goats. Therefore, it is never a
good idea to only purchase one goat. You will want at least 2. If you only have one goat, then
you need to make sure that there is another sociable animal to keep him or her company.

If you are going to raise Boer goats, you will need plenty of space for them to roam, pasture and
also for shelter. Make sure that the shelter is never wet or damp. It needs to also be properly
ventilated. These types of goats should always get plenty of fresh air. Proper fencing is also very
important. This will keep your goats from getting out and destroying someone else’s property.
You will also want to keep them safe from predators.

Boer goats will require plenty of water. Typically, they will need about 2-5 gallons a day. If
you live in a hot climate, then make sure that they get water in shorter intervals then normal. All

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of the water that you give to your Boer goats needs to be clean as does the container that you
provide it in.

The food that you provide your goats should not be soiled. Instead, provide them with grain
based foods and hay. They might also require nutritional supplements.

Lastly, make sure that you carefully watch over your goats. This will allow you to determine
more quickly whether or not something is wrong. The sooner that you “catch” a problem, the
sooner you will be able to get the goat help and treat the ailment.

The best way to keep your goats safe and alive is to understand exactly what they need in order
to thrive. This involves knowing what to feed them, ensuring that they have plenty of room to
roam, providing them with adequate shelter and clean water. If you become knowledgeable and
commit to providing your Boer goats what they need, (while you will definitely have
problems it doesn’t matter what breed of goat you have) you should be just fine.


Goat Fence
If you own goats, you will not be able to get away without having a fence. You will need a fence
for three primary reasons. The first reason will be to keep your goats safe from predators, the
second, to prevent them from disturbing other people’s property and lastly to prevent them from
wandering off and getting lost. Your goat(s) will be a major investment and you will want to
protect that investment.

Today, you can have an eco friendly and secure goat fence installed. It is important that you do
so prior to your goats arriving. Being prepared will head off a lot of problems. You won’t have to
worry about trying to corral your goats or protecting them from predators. It is important to plan
ahead and make sure that everything is ready by the time they arrive. It is also a good idea to
have the animal’s shelter ready as well.

You will find that a goat fence is pretty affordable. It should only cost you about $1 per foot
(linear). The material used is typically plastic and goat friendly. Make sure that you call around
and compare prices to ensure that you get the best deal possible.

Many goat fences are designed to blend effortlessly into your property’s background. They are
made to be discreet. For this reason, they often come in the color black. This enables you to keep
your home and property beautiful and prevents you from offending your neighbors.

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A goat fence will typically come in continuous rolls and in smaller squares. This information is
only important if you plan on installing your own fence. If you are going to pay someone to do it,
you may not need this info.

If you are an individual that is pretty good with your hands and don’t mind hard work, you can
install the fence yourself. It will allow you to save some money. However, if you are not the
handy type, simply don’t have the time or don’t mind spending the money, you can outsource the
duties to someone else.

If you take care of your fence, it should last about 20 years. Goat fences are generally very
durable, are impact resistant and high density.

Many people who own goats are unsure of how high a fence they should install or have installed.
In most cases, a fence between 5-7 feet is ideal. Higher fences work well for properties that are
not flat. This is because most people’s fields or acreage will be higher in some places then
others. A higher fence will make sure that no matter where the fence is, it will provide enough
coverage.

If you have goats, you will need a fence. There is no way around it. You will need one in order to
keep them on your property and also to protect them from predators. The last things that you will
want to deal with are run away goats or some animal injuring or even killing your animals.
Therefore, it is imperative that you have proper fencing. One of the best things about goat
fencing is that it is relatively inexpensive and you can put it up yourself pretty easily if you are
inclined to do so. It also tends to blend in well with your property as well which prevents it from
being an eyesore for you or your neighbors.


Raising Meat Goats
In some parts of the world, goat farming for meat is very common. Even though persons in the
United States don’t commonly consume goat meat, many other cultures and countries do. This
does not mean that United States farmers cannot or should not raise goats for meat. There is a
market for it, albeit a much smaller one then say beef. If you decide to raise goats for meat there
are certain things that you must know and adhere to, in order to ensure that the goats stay healthy
and produce good, quality meat.

The first thing that should be noted is that goats, especially goats raised for meat, need a lot of
room to roam around. You should have at least a few acres. Goats that are forced to live in too
close quarters will often suffer from various diseases, stress, crowding and ailments. The goats
have to be to walk and run around to relieve stress and get a proper amount of exercise.
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To ensure that the goats have a big enough grazing area, shoot for 1-2 acres per goat. Obviously,
this may not be possible for everyone, but it is recommended. Goats will eat grass. However, feel
free to supplement their diet with hay (especially during the winter), grain based products made
especially for goats. You should be able to find the latter at a feed store in your area.

It is also very important that you provide your goats with plenty of water. You can use a trough,
bucket or an automatic water station. A water station that is automated will probably be your best
choice if you can afford it because it will ensure that the water is clean and it will mean less work
for you. You won’t have to continually worry about refilling their water.

Providing adequate shelter for your meat producing goats is especially important. You need to
make sure that it is large enough to house all of your animals without overcrowding. Housing
does not have to be fancy. A large barn would work just fine. If you use a barn, it is important
that it has hay and fee rooms as well as stalls.

Salt lick and mineral blocks can be very beneficial for your animals. This helps to improve their
health. You can research and use special recipes if you are interested. Place the block in a shelter
on top of something else to help with clean up.

Fencing is also vitally important. If you are not willing to invest in a fence, you put your goats at
risk for predators and also give them an opportunity to wreak havoc on other people’s property.
You will not want to have to deal with angry neighbors who want you to pay for damages done
to their property by your goats. Although goat fences, tend to be cheaper than other types of
fencing, it still will require a pretty hefty investment especially if you have a lot of land.

Raising meat goats can be quite enjoyable but it does require a lot of work and knowledge. As
long as you are willing to learn what you need to know and apply it, you should find that
experience fairly enjoyable and potentially profitable.

Goat Meat Farming
Besides owning goats as pets, the two most common reasons that people buy goats are for milk
and meat. There are also some people and companies that purchase them for their cashmere.
However, in this article, we will be discussing goat meat farming. Meat and milk goats are raised
very similarly. If you were to peak in on a milk goat farm, and compared it to a goat meat farm,
you would see a lot of the same things going on.

One thing that might be a bit surprising to people who are not familiar with this type of farming
(neither milk or meat) is that goats raised for meat are also milked, usually two times a day. This
allows their owners to get even more benefit from them. They can consume the milk themselves
or sell it for a profit.

Between the months of August and March is when goats are typically bred. A goat stays
pregnant for four months. They are generally bred once a year and often give birth between
January and August. Goats may have twins and will have between 1 and 5 kids.
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Female goats can be mated as early as 7 months but should not be milked until they turn one
year. Goats are one of those animals whose birthing process is pretty drama free. It should not
require anything extra unless complications arise. When it is possible, have the kids nurse from
their mother. If the mother is not available then they will need to be nursed with a bottle. Ideally,
the baby goat will be nursed from the mother, where they are able to receive colostrum.
Colostrum has a number of tremendous benefits. It has antibodies, vitamins and minerals. After a
few days, it is ok to feed them a milk formula or it can continue to get its’ milk from mom. Kids
can be weaned after 8-10 weeks.

Goats raised for meat should be fed hay (high quality), grain and pasture until they gain enough
weight. The “right” weight will differ based on the goat. However, this is often somewhere in the
range of 35 to 90 pounds.

On a goat meat farm fencing is just as important as it is on a dairy farm or even if you only keep
goats as pets for that matter. This will help protect them from predators and keep them from
escaping. I’m quite sure that you want either eat the meat from your goats or sell it. You won’t
be able to do either if they make their way off your property or are attacked and/or killed by
other animals. Fencing for goats is one of the more affordable types. You can even install it
yourself if you are low on cash or simply know what you are doing. On the other hand, you can
always pay someone to put it up.

In general, while there are some differences (primarily what goats bred for meat are fed) you will
raise a goats bred for meat the same way that you would those used for milk. It is important that
you provide them plenty of clean water, adequate fencing, plenty of room to roam and pasture
and good shelter.


Goat Equipment
The particular type of goat equipment that you might need will depend on what kind of goats you
have and what you are using them for. If you are raising goats for milk, then you will obviously
need milking equipment. On the other hand, if you are going to be doing some breeding, you will
also need the right equipment. In this article, we will discuss some common goat equipment that
you might find useful.

An Udder Care Kit: An udder care kit will likely be needed by all goat owners who plan on
milking their animals. A high quality kit can help you keep your goats healthy. An udder care kit
generally comes with udder wipes, teat tape, amongst other useful tools.

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Vacuum Systems: A vacuum source can come in handy when it comes to milking your goats. It
makes it much easier for you. The machine does all of the work for you. It can milk multiple
goats for you.

Barn Cams: Barn cams can be useful if you are interested in knowing what is going on with
your goats all of the time. You will be able to watch them from your home.

Tattoo Kits: Tattoo kits are perfect for keeping track of the kids on your goat farm. Most come
complete with tongs, numbers, letters, holders and paste.

Cheese Presses: If you plan on making cheese from your goats’ milk, you will need to purchase
a cheese press. These help you mold and create delicious cheeses.

If you decide to own goats there will be some basic equipment that will be necessary in order to
keep them healthy and happy. Equipment will also be required to milk the goats and deliver kids.

There are a number of great places to find affordable equipment. You can check online or go to a
local store. However, you will likely find the best deals on the internet. You might also be able to
buy second hand equipment. These pieces would be even more affordable.

The first step in purchasing goat equipment is to figure out what you will need. Decide how you
want to utilize your goats and what yours and their needs are. If you want to milk your goats, you
will need to get the right tools and equipment. If you have female goats, it is important that you
have birthing equipment.

Barn cams, tattoo kits, vacuum systems and cheese presses may all be necessary. Barn cams are
perfect for keeping track of what is going on in your barn. If your goats have been experiencing
problems, then you may want to install a camera. Also, if you just want to keep a careful eye on
your animals, then this might be a good option. Vacuum systems are perfect for those who plan
on doing a lot milking. These will make life so much easier because it will milk the goats for
you. Tattoo kits are great for helping you keep track of your kids. A kit will have everything that
you need. Lastly, cheese presses might also come in handy for persons that want to create great
cheese.

Goat Gifts
Goat gifts are greatly appreciated by individuals who farm goats or who simply admire them.
There are a number of different types of gifts that would be perfect for individuals such as these.
Some might be functional in nature while others more decorative and simple. The internet is a
fantastic place to purchase unique and high quality goat gifts. If you need some ideas, here are a
few. Consider giving the goat lover in your life goat greeting cards, a bookmark, soaps, cookie
cutters, time pieces, jewelry, charms and décor.

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Goat Greetings Cards: There are many quaint greeting cards that have pictures of goats on
them or goat related messages. Individuals that admire goats will likely get a kick out of them. If
you are artistic, you can create a set of cards yourself and give them to your family and friends.

Goat Bookmarks: Goat bookmarks, especially those made from metal or other high quality
materials can make a fantastic gift for the book and animal lovers in your life. You can find some
very nice ones on the internet that will last for a long time and come in handy for book readers.

Goat Soaps: Every one uses soap. It is a very functional gift but one that can be packaged in
such a way that is comes across as a real treat. It can make a fine gift. You can find homemade
and luxurious goat soaps in different scents and sizes. They may be in the shape of a goat or have
images of goats imprinted on them.

Time Pieces: A goat themed sundial can be a very impressive gift, especially for persons who
appreciate both beauty and history. You family or friend (whoever the gift is for), can place it in
their garden of yard.

Goat Jewelry: Who doesn’t love jewelry? Well, at least what woman doesn’t love jewelry? You
can purchase goat earrings, bracelets or charms. These will likely go over really big for other
goat farmers or for those who people who like goats.

Goat Décor: Goat pictures, paintings, statues, picture frames, etc., might also be well received
by gift recipients. Make sure that you take special care to determine that any décor that you
purchase matches the colors and themes of the home of the person you are buying for.
Otherwise, your gorgeous and perhaps even expensive goat gift might end up in someone’s
garage or attic.

Goat Cheese and Meat: If you own goats that you milk or raise for meat, then you have an
opportunity to provide homemade cheeses or fresh meat. If you are giving a gift to a fellow goat
lover (and I am assuming you are) and they enjoy goat milk and/or meat, this would be a
fabulous gift that would be very well appreciated.

There are a good number of goat gift options and styles. If you take some time and look around,
you will likely find something that will please both you, the one doing the gifting, and the person
receiving the gift. If you need some ideas consider goat cheese or meats, goat themed time
pieces, goat jewelry, goat décor, goat soaps or bookmarks. Consider the occasion, who you are
buying for, the price range and then go from there.


Breeding Goats
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Breeding goats can be quite profitable, especially if you are plan on breeding expensive and well
sought out goats such as Boers. However, this is only true if you know what you are doing. Goat
breeding requires a high level of knowledge and special care. You must know what to feed your
goats, how to shelter them, ensure that they get the correct amount of exercise and water. It is
also very important to understand the actual breeding process (i.e, gestation periods, picking a
doe and a buck, getting the doe pregnant, delivery, caring for the kids etc.,)

The first thing that you will to do is choose a good doe. You have to make sure that they are of
good breeding quality. Consider her bloodlines, looks, healthfulness and temperament. Next,
pick a buck. Try to find a buck that is “superior” to your doe. Look to fill in the gaps in your doe,
i.e., look for positive traits that your doe does not have but that the buck does. Before selecting a
buck, look at the females in his family. Do they have good udders? If don’t keep searching until
you find one that does. In order for you to register the kid, the buck and the doe must be the same
breed. Therefore, make sure that you confirm this before you begin the actual breeding process.
If you don’t have buck already on your property, you can check out some goat shows and talk to
buck owners to see if they might make good candidates and if they are willing to allow their
buck and your doe to mate.

You will need to determine how you want to breed your goat. The two most common ways to do
so is to have it done the “old fashioned” (natural) way or by artificial insemination. How much
money you have to spend will be a big determining factor. If you have more money, then you
may opt for artificial insemination. If you have less, then you may have no choice but to go with
the natural way. If you live near a buck, then it might be much more convenient, not to mention
cheaper, to just get the animals together. Of course, you won’t just want to choose any buck.
Remember to go through the selection process outlined earlier in this article.

If the buck that you determine is perfect for your doe but lives in another part of the country, you
may have no choice but to opt for artificial insemination with frozen sperm. However, this
obviously has a number of drawbacks. It is much more expensive and the chances of it taking are
less then natural breeding. Therefore, it is important that you weigh the pros and cons as well as
seriously count the costs because not only will the process be more expensive but it also less
reliable. If you get the chance to mate your doe with a really good buck and you have the money,
then this may be a risk that you are perfectly willing to take.

Boer Goat Meat
Of all of the available goat meats, Boer goat is one of the most popular and delicious. It also has
a number of nutritional benefits. It is lean and low in fat. This makes it fantastic for people who
want to be careful about what they eat but not sacrifice taste.

Boer goats were first produced in South Africa by a group of Dutch men. The literal meaning for
the word Boer is “farmer” in Dutch. This breed was developed specifically for meat. This is

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largely why their meat is well known for having good texture, taste is lean and healthy. Boer
meat is a fantastic source of protein, potassium and iron.

The best Boer meat is often found on farms that feed their goats either an organic diet or one rich
in hay, grains and nutritional supplements. Boer goats that provided plenty of clean water and
have adequate and dry shelter also make the best meat.

If you are purchasing fresh Boer goat meat, make sure that the farm or individuals who raised
them did so in a natural environment where they had plenty of a water, pasture and sun. You can
purchase fresh goat meat at local farms or ranches. You also may be able to find online stores
that will deliver the meat frozen right to your door step.

Again, Boer meat is extremely healthy. It is delicious(depending on your tastes) and it also has
low amounts of saturated fat. The amount of calories that one serving has is also fewer then a
serving of beef at a comparable size. In the United States, beef, chicken, pork and fish are the
primary sources of protein. While chicken and fish are the healthiest of these options, beef and
pork can be a high in saturated fat. Goat meat is an good alternative to these. It is a very lean and
healthy. Also, unlike fish, there are no issues regarding mercury.

If you purchase goat meat in the United States from a butcher, make sure that they are USDA
approved. Again, look for natural cuts of meat that do not contain hormones or steroids.
Depending on where and who you purchase your Boer meat from, you may be able to buy it for
around dollars $3.50 a pound. You might also be able to secure an adult doe for around $180 and
an adult buck for around $250, quartered.

A 3 ounce serving of cooked goat meat will only contain about 122 calories and .79 g of fat. It
will have roughly 23 g of protein and 3.3 mg of iron. Compare that with pork. A piece of cooked
pork of the same size would have about 310 calories, 24 g of fat 8 .7 g saturated fat, 21 g of
protein and 2.7 mg of iron. Three ounces of cooked goat would only have 2.5 g of fat. As you
can see, goat meat is much more healthy and nutritious then pork and other popular meat options
in the United States. To make sure that the Boer meat that you choose is as healthy as possible,
remember to look for farms or sellers that offer naturally raised goat meat.

Raising Milk Goats

Milk goats can be raised for more then just milk. Individuals that own such goats can also breed
their stock for revenue, create goat cheese, skins, candy, sale goat meat or even manure. If there
are a number of young male goats or buck kids in stock, these can be sold for their meat if the
goat owner chooses not to breed them. Four of the most common milk goats, at least in the
United States, are the Alpine, Toggenburg, Nubian and Saanen. The Saanen and Toggenburg
were first bred in Switzerland and make excellent milk goats.
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It is very common for a family in some parts of the world to have a goat specifically for milk.
There are also larger dairies. Dairies that do supply milk to others or make it available first sale,
will have a far different set up and then a single-family who wants to use the goat for personal
purposes.

A large dairy will make sure that their goats or well fed, consume a certain type of diet and are
well taken care of. They must also ensure that the conditions are very clean and hygienic. The
shelter for the goats must be kept very clean. The individuals that work or handle the goats must
undergo a physical examination every week. The goats themselves will be administered blood
tests to check for diseases. Anything that comes in contact with the goats, such as tools, has to be
sterilized. Every time the goat is milked, the udder is cleaned with some type of germicide. The
milk also undergoes tests to make sure that there are no bacteria in it or no foreign particles.

If you are looking to purchase a dairy goat, you can visit local goat farms or ranches and pick
one to your liking. Goat shows are another great place to visit. You will want to take some time
and make sure that you actually taste the milk that was taken from the herd you are considering
buying a goat from. This will give you an idea of how it tastes and if it is of high quality.

Make sure that you're prepared for your dairy goats. They will need to have shelter that is
ventilated and dry. A fence will be necessary for your property. There also needs to be plenty of
space where the goats are able to pasture, run and walk around. It is important that your dogs are
never in the pen or around your goats if you're not around because they can and sometimes do
attack the goats. You will also want to watch out for plants that may be poisonous. Night Shade
and Black Cherry are two examples. You will need to disbud your dairy goats.

Before actually purchasing a dairy goat, ask about CAE testing and those results. You will want
to also do a vet check prior to buying. It does take over 300 days for milk lactation. In this time,
you should be able to get around 1500 pounds of milk. This is the equivalent to about ½ gallon
per day. You can also make cheese from the milk. Some popular ones are Greek Feta, Neufchatel
and French Roquefort.

Goat Book
If you are interested in raising goats or already have goats on your property, one of the best ways
to learn more about them is to purchase a goat book. You can find these types of books in a
number of categories. There are books on goat breeds, basic care, sickness and disease, milking
etc. You can be pretty confident that if you have a question about goats that there is some sort of
available resource out there for you.

Instead of buying a real paper book why not save time and money by buying an ebook here.
After an extensive research we put together an ebook that will answer most of the questions you
might ever have about raising goats.

Below, we will discuss some of the various categories and explain what you might find in each.

Page 15

Goat Book Categories:

Breeds: There are a number of different types of breeds. For example, Boers, Saanen,
Toggenburgs and Nubians are goats that are known for their milk. You will be able to find books
that will provide you with vital information about each breed. This gives you an opportunity to
read more about each and make a good purchasing decision. When you spend some time
researching each breed, you can make an informed decision about which ones will fit in best on
your ranch, farm or home.

Basic Care: If you plan on buying goats, if you have had them in the past or currently are in
ownership of them, you already know how important is to know how to provide basic care for
them. This is information that you must have if you are going to keep your goats healthy and
alive. It is best not to take the trial and error approach. Instead, a studied, well-informed one will
give you the best shot of things going smoothly (or at least as smoothly as possible).

For example, you will need to know what to feed your goats (quality hay, grain products and
nutritional supplements), what they should drink (clean water from a clean source), that they
absolutely require a fence, that is vitally important to never leave your dogs alone with goats and
that you should have about 1-2 acres of property for every goat that you have. The list goes on
and on. If you aren’t aware of these types of things, you run the risk of your goats becoming
injured, diseased or even dying.

Sickness and Disease: There are certain diseases that goats are more prone to. Discovering what
those are and doing what you can to prevent them is very important. It pays to be cautious. You
will also want to know when and how to treat your sick goats so that they have the best chance
possible to recover.

Milking: If you plan to milk your goats, you will want to know how to do it properly. Knowing
how to handle the milk is also important so that it does not get contaminated and cause the
people who drink it to get sick. This is especially true if you plan on selling your milk or milk
products.

Meat Goats: Some goats, while they still may be milked, are bred and used primarily for meat.
One such goat is the Boer goat. If you are interested in these types of animals, a good goat book
can inform you on this topic enough that you can make a knowledgeable decision about which
ones to purchase.


Click Here To Learn How To Raise Boer Goats For a Profit

Page 16

Visit http://www.squidoo.com/raising-meat-goats

Visit http://www.squidoo.com/breeding-boer-goats

Page 17

Secrets to raising happy, healthy and profitable goats

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