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