Introduction to Goat Keeping
Ryan AndrusHarley Farms Goat Dairy
Hopes & Dreams of the Talk
● Classroom presentation● 20 minute break● Outside hands-on tutorial● Finishing classroom section● Questions....
*Please do not ask questions as we go along. Write them down, and if I don't get to them, bring them up at the end of the day.
*Please do not talk amongst yourselves, there is a lot to cover and not a lot of time, so let's begin....
*This powerpoint will be available on line, don't worry about writing it all down. I do not have rights to many of these images
Who is this random Goat King? Is any of what he says true?
● Farm manager, Harley Farms Goat Dairy in Pescadero, CA
● Focus on herd management, milk quality, animals care, productivity, nutrition
● Mostly dairy focused, but have experience with meat production
as well as clearing
● My information is based on experience. I have read only one goat book. Otherwise I learn it all in person: UC Davis, other farmers, veterinarians, mostly trial and error.
Why goats?
● What are your intentions? ● What are your goals, hopes? ● Why do you want goats in your life?
Possible answers...Milk, meat, pet, companion to other pet(s), lawn mower, land management/weed control, clear neglected pasture.
Not possible answers...They are cute, I am bored, I think I want to have a hobby farm.
Know and evaluate your reasoning before you own any animals.
A Bit of History on Goats
● Originated in the Middle East, Himalayas, Asia Minor, Mediterranean basin
● First domesticated animal● Brought around the world on ships with explorers
Goats in the World Today● Worldwide goat dairy is more predominant than cow dairy
○ More goat milk is consumed than any other milk● Goat is also the most consumed meat on the planet
Why?● Very versatile, very adaptable, very low inputs, very high outputs● The energetics are more sustainable than any other livestock
● America is big, so must be its livestock; but when you don't have vast prairie and range land, goats make more sense.
Goat Speak
Doe, Buck, Dam, Wether, nanny, kid, doeling, buckling, yearling
Dry, freshen, strip, bag-up, let down, pounds, butter fat, naturally-homogenized, lactation, lactation curves
Browser, ruminant
Teat, udder, wattle, hoof
Worm, cull, d-horn / dis-bud
"Goat People"
● Reputation among veterinarians
● Everyone is an expert
● Everyone knows a friend or relative who has/had a goat and will generally be eager to tell you all about it.
● Educate yourself and then do it yourself!
● There are always 101 ways to go about it
Common Types of Goats
Dairy: Alpine, Nubian, La Mancha, Saanen, Toggenburg -all good producers
Meat: Spanish, Boer, Angora
Fiber: Angora
Other: Dwarf, Pygmy
Alpine (French)
● Highest annual milk production
● 2,031 lbs (annually)● 3.5 % butter fat● More color variation● Very manageable
personalities
Nubian
● Most popular in US● Floppy ears● Recognizable vocalization● Less milk, but richer milk● 1,600 lbs● 4.3%● Believed to be harder to
manage in large herds
La Mancha
● Developed in Oregon● No ears● Very loud● Common in Mexico● Docile● 1,700 lbs● 3.9%● Really good production● Strange looking
Saanen
● Swiss breed● Very popular in America
○ but not so much around here.
● Pure white (sables)● 1,900 lbs● 3.5 %
Toggenburg
● Oldest registered breed of any animal in the world
● Herd book created in Switzerland in the 1600's
● Some shade of brown● 1,900 lbs● 3.2 %● Often shaggy
Dairy Genetics: Breed, Production, Luck● They're all good producers● You'll experience more variation from one goat to the next as
much as from one breed to the next● Depends on what you can find at the time of looking, have
patience!● Quality of animals is more important than breed● We'll talk about sourcing later....● Don't let someone brainwash you.
● Milk productivity is genetic
○ successful, productive dairy farms have the best genetics
● Pure bred / mixed breed / misc. ● Do you care?● Milk is milk.● Enough is enough!
MEAT Goats
BOER● Most common meat goat in
the U.S.● Meat marbles well● Very strong eaters● Grow fast● Used for clearing● Very stout● Don't milk well● Don't cross breed well● Don't manage well
Other breeds: Spanish, Angora
Other Meat BreedsSpanish
Angora
Small GoatsNigerian Dwarf
● Dual purpose● Great for small hobby
farmers● Average 1 quart / day● Look like miniature goats● 75 lbs
Pygmy● Stocky, compact, look
wrong● Milk contains more fat● Lactation is short: 4 months● 55 lbs
Sourcing Goats
● Don't buy/take rescue goats unless they are only for brush clearing (be wary)
● Visit farms and try to get to know some farmers, small ones & big ones, to learn how to recognize a well managed farm / herd
● Use Craigslist with skepticism● Don't trust a dairyman
○ Until it is clear you can● Don't be afraid to buy a quality animal● Price range: $0 - $400
○ pregnant does of good genetics might sell for $350○ bucklings might be $5
● Best case scenario: get dairy kids and raise them yourself● It's like buying a used car.
How I judge potential goat owners....
● Confidence● Experience● Description of home / location for animals● Usage: don't like to give them away purely as pets● Capability and responsibility.● "What would you do if you found a goat with its head stuck in a
fence?"
● I'm not your source for goats.● Harley Farms is not your source for goats. ● Headaches, confusion, expectations.
Basic Nutrition● Access to fresh water 24/7 ● Grain, Hay, Forage, mineral salt, sodium bicarb● grain: goat chow, cob, can I get away without it?
○ Milking goats need it. 16% protein○ over twice the therms of good hay
● Hay: grass, oat, wheat, alfalfa. 15% - 5% protein● Forage. Nature vs. Nurture. seasonal components, very hard to
depend upon it. ● 6 lbs of daily intake
○ 3 alfalfa, 3 grain pellet○ or any combination○
Foraging
● Know your land and what is growing● Grazing vs. browsing● Better at flattening than eating● Limited nutrition● Irrigation?● Toxic plants● Watch body condition● 3-4 per acre● Water & minerals● Woody plants● Land/pasture management
Goat Maintenance
● Horns● Hoofs● Worms● Bedding● Feed Display● Troughs
Fencing
● Goats are destructive & curious● Trees will be endangered● If they can get out, they will● Anything they can reach will be tested● Barb wire: no, Electric: yes● Woven wire: yes, but will be destroyed in time● Combo: BEST.● Depends on space and usage and what you have to work with. ● More goats = more fence attention● Staking goats
● We'll check out LAF's fences outside.
Housing
● Shelter: basic but solid● Shade, rain and wind● Must not be edible● Must be spacious and accommodate bullies● Build once: don't limit your future with a tiny structure ● Use recycled materials and design it so you can replace parts
when they've been chewed away○ "Good enough for a goat!"
● Be wary of paint● Orient it intelligently● Mobile?● Storage recommended● Water? Electricity?● Multi-animal?
Spacial Requirements
● Indoor: 10 square feet / goat● Outdoor: as much space as possible!
○ Need to have 'exercise area' with sun and space to "get up some speed"
○ Ideally there is some forage space and plants for them to experiment with
○ Minimum would be comparable to a large dog run: 15 X 20 feet
● Indoor and Outdoor areas must be linked. ● "Bet you can't have just one!"
○ Goats prefer to have companions■ These could be other animals, but preferably you have at
least 2 animals. ■ Wethers are great for this if you only want one goat to
milk. ● Make sure that goats have ample access to food and water and that
your feeding systems can accommodate all your animals at once.
○ At the very least, try to have multiple access points to water. ○ There will be bullying and potentially ruthless herd mentality
● Reserve space for isolation: it will be useful someday.
Common Health Concerns
● Bloat: Excess grain, wet spring pasture.● Abscess: Leave alone, be concerned if it bursts. Get it tested,
containment.● CAE● Coccidiosis. intestinal parasite. in soil, dangerous to kids.● Lice & Mange. external parasites. Seasonal. treatable● Internal parasites. Worms. gums/eyes/hair/clumping
○ Worming schedule. Natural options & prevention.● Poisoning. ● Mastitis
STRESS!
● Very sensitive to internal and external stressors.● Compromises Immune system ● Often brings health issues to light● First effect: milk production
○ Decreases!● Manage your animals with care● Think like a goat....
Goat Mindset
● Prey animals● Constantly scared and frighten easily● Temple Grandin● Sensitivities
Veterinarians
Know your budget● Most vets don't know goats● Use resources yourself, and call for advice● Try to recognize behavioral changes: especially w/r/t food and
water intake ● Get a vet to come out as opposed to trying to move a sick animal
yourself● Large Animal Vet Services in Santa Cruz: http://sites.google.
com/site/largeanimalvetsc/● Kacie & Aron Wells-Hodder
○ Edge water Equine Clinic Santa Cruz (see 'links' slide)
Breeding
● Buck Power● Truths & Myths● Buck ownership?
○ Pro's and Con's● How do I find a stud?
○ Use same approach to finding goats○ Ask around, UC extension, county fairs, show goat people,
web. ● What is a buck rag?● What's the "season" all about?● When is she in heat?● How do I know she is pregnant?● Now what do I do?
Gestation
● 5 months: 150 days● Feeding / nutrition
○ Generally richer diet. ■ Lower in fiber, higher in fat■ Minerals / vitamins■ Alfalfa
● Space & conditions○ Dry, happy, low exercise, don't make her work for food
● Give her extras while she's pregnant = healthy kids in the end & more milk throughout lactation
● Watch for behavioral changes● Make sure she's mobile
○ Watch out for Preg-tox & milk fever
Kidding
● Generally goats are capable on their own.● Try to watch closely as you approach 150 days and as she shows
signs of pre-labor.● Don't get involved unless you have to (95%)● Won't be time to call in help. Don't be afraid and be ready to use
force if needed.● Clear nasal passage and mouth of newborns, make sure mom is
licking and cleaning immediately and meticulously.○ Otherwise you do it!
● Some mom's have it right away, some need help figuring it out, especially yearlings.
Kids● Dairy technique● Backyard technique● Colostrum or death● Runts can make it, but might take extra effort.
○ Less than 5 lbs will be a struggle. ● Replacer? Raw? Pasteurized? ● Weaning? ● D-horning / dis-budding● Where to raise them?● Creep feed. Developing the rumen.● Browsing / hay / roughage● WATER!● Warmth● 101 ways to go!
Lactation Fundamentals
● Lactation Curve
● Natural cycle
● Milking schedule○ Consistency
● Can go longer○ 10 month average○ Lighting, tricks, thinning, quality, cleanliness○ May dry up out of season and then you're out of luck○ Some goats have it, some don't. GENETICS○ If breeding is challenging for you: go for it!
Milking Basics● Cleanliness
○ Gloves?, pre-wash, wipe, teat dip■ 50% of all mastitis cases could be avoided with basic teat
dip usage● Equipment MUST be CLEANED thoroughly. ● Milk barn is like a pre-school nursery: germ trading!
○ It's your responsibility● once, twice / day? Consistency. ● We'll go over more during the hands on section
Milk Taste & Quality
● Fresh Air, Feed, Clean Water, balanced diet● Vitamins & minerals● Good inputs = good outputs● don't plan to get decent milk from weed abatement goats!● Value added products require value added nutrition● Goats left to forage 'generally' won't produce good milk or good
meat, nor much of either
Goat Milk
● Complication of milk sales● Raw / pasteurized● Milk share concept● "Pet grade" goat milk● Value added
○ Cheese, yogurt, whey, kefir, ice cream, butter, soap & lotion
Responsibility
● Milking schedule● Quality of life● Goats aren't plants or cats!● Byproduct of dairy farming
○ Conceptual dilemma: vegetarian livestock owner○ Know your outlet for bucklings○ Don't keep bucklings
■ Unless for meat■ Always castrate bucks
● Be a Good Farmer
Questions?.....
● Goats are good● Get them soon● Contact Love Apple Farms with further questions....● Use links list ● Good Bye!
Upcoming Classes at Love AppleCompost, Vermiculture & Soil Fertility - Sun, June 26
Tomato Masters - Sat, July 9
Home Preserving: Pickling - Sat, July 9
Beer Making Basics - Sun, July 10
Simple Drip Irrigation - Tues, July 12
Backyard Chicken-Keeping - Sat, July 16Backyard Bee-Keeping - Sun, July 17