Lesson Structure:  Goat Production BAG223

There are 9 lessons:

1. Nature and Scope of Goat Production
   • Introduction and History
   • Biological Terminology
   • Uses of Goats and Goat Production
   • Goats Breeds Overview
   • Introduction to Farm Systems
   • Keeping a Buck
   • Truths and Myths about Goats
   • Goat Psychology
   • Social Structure
2. Goat Breeds and Breeding
   • Dairy Goats
   • Saanen
   • Toggenburg
   • British Alpine
   • Anglo-Nubian
   • Fleece Goats
   • Angoras
   • Cashmere
   • Meat Goats
   • Boer Goats
   • Spanish Goats
   • Savannas
   • Kiko
   • Myotonic
   • Goat Skin
   • Black Bengal
   • Garganica
   • Pet Goats
   • Australian Miniature
   • Nigerian Dwarf
   • African Pygmy
   • Feral Goats
   • Selection and Breeding General Objectives
   • Reproductive System Anatomy
   • Puberty
   • Breeding Season
   • Flock Mating
   • Pen Mating
   • Hand Mating
   • Reproduction Control Methods
   • Synchronisation of Oestrus
   • Out of Breeding Season
   • Superovulation
   • Artificial Insemination
   • Genetics and Selection
   • Understanding Genes
3. Feeds and Nutrition
   • Dairy Goats
   • Saanen
   • Toggenburg
   • British Alpine
   • Anglo-Nubian
   • Fleece Goats
   • Angoras
   • Cashmere
   • Meat Goats
   • Boer Goats
   • Spanish Goats
   • Savannas
   • Kiko
   • Myotonic
   • Goat Skin
   • Black Bengal
   • Garganica
   • Pet Goats
   • Australian Miniature
   • Nigerian Dwarf
   • African Pygmy
   • Feral Goats
   • Selection and Breeding General Objectives
   • Reproductive System Anatomy
   • Puberty
   • Breeding Season
   • Flock Mating
   • Pen Mating
   • Hand Mating
   • Reproduction Control Methods
   • Synchronisation of Oestrus
   • Out of Breeding Season
   • Superovulation
   • Artificial Insemination
   • Genetics and Selection
   • Understanding Genes
4. Health Management
   • Health Problems
   • Ecopathology
   • Signs of Good Health
   • Bacterial and Viral Diseases
   • Clostridial Diseases
   • Johne’s Disease (Paratuberculosis)
   • Listeriosis
   • Soremouth
   • Slow viruses
   • Parasites
   • Accidents, Emergencies and First Aid
   • Control of Bleeding
   • Tear wounds or lacerations
   • Electric Shock
   • Snake bites
   • Fractures
   • Poisoning
   • Abortion and Genital Processes
   • Chlamidiosis
   • Q Fever
   • Listeriosis
   • Leptospirosis
   • Toxoplasmosis
   • Ketosis
   • Digestive Problems
   • Bloat
   • Choking
   • Acidosis
   • Respiratory problems
   • White Muscle Diseases
   • Pinkeye
   • Urinary Calculi
   • Mastitis
   • Metritis
   • Sanitary Policy of Infectious Goats
   • Choosing a Vet
5. General Husbandry – Housing, Fencing, Grooming
   • Space Requirements
   • Housing and Fencing
   • Grazing and Pasture Management
   • Free Range
   • Intensive Confinement
   • Combination System
   • Grazing Methods
   • How Much Grazing
   • Other Areas That Can Be Utilised For Grazing
   • Hoof care
   • Disbudding
   • Dehorning
   • Tatooing
   • Vaccination
   • Worming
   • Grooming and Hair Care
6. Kids and Kidding
   • Hygiene during delivery
   • The delivery
   • Parturition/Birth
   • Care of a neborn kid
   • Early feeding
   • Weaning
   • Castration
7. Dairy Production
   • Milk Production
   • Lactation Curve
   • Quality and Composition
   • Compositions of goat’s milk
   • Protein
   • Fat
   • Lactose
   • Ash
   • Vitamins
   • Factors of variation
   • Breeds and production systems
   • Age and lactation number
   • Different types of cheese
8. Meat and Fibre Production
   • Fibre Production
   • Mohair
   • Annual Management of Angora Flock
   • Mohair Production
   • Cashmere
   • Annual Management of a cashmere flock
   • Cashmere Production
   • Meat Production
   • Management of meat flock
   • Slaughter terminology
   • Carcass quality and grading
   • Leather production
9. Goat Farm Management
   • On the Farm – Buildings and Structures
   • Goat shelters
   • Farming production systems
   • Keeping records
   • Goat Management
   • Occupational Health and Safety Legislation
   • Farm Safety
   • Duty of care (employer and employer duties)
   • Lifting and manual handling
   • Protective Equipment
   • Dealing with chemicals
   • Storgae and disposal of chemicals
   • Handling tools and machinery
   • Safety Audit
   • Marketing your products
   • Advertising your stock
   • Where you can sell

Please Note:  Each lesson culminates in an assignment, marked by your tutor and returned with tailored feedback,  comments, and extra reading where required.

Learning Goals: Goat Production BAG223

• Discuss the significance of goats, the characteristics that differentiate them from other domesticated animals and the scope and nature of goat industries
• Select appropriate Goat Breeds for specified purposes
• Describe how goats are bred.
• Determine and manage an appropriate diet for a goat
• Identify a sick goat
• Describe common health issues that can affect goats; their prevention and treatment
• Determine facilities needed, and husbandry tasks that need to be undertaken for the management of a goat.
• Describe Kidding and Raising Kids.
• Explain the commercial farming goats for fibre, meat and other products (excluding dairy)
• Determine viable plans for farming goats.

UNDERSTANDING FEEDING STRATEGIES

Any feeding regime should aim to maintain a stable pH. Avoid large meals of concentrates which will lower the rumen pH to less than 6 and reduce fibre digestion.

Instead split the feed into 3-4 meals during the course of the day. Fresh forage should be fed before the concentrates to promote saliva production which will help to buffer the rumen pH.

Feeding for milk production

When feeding dairy goats the following guidelines should be observed.

1. Feed a young animal enough energy for growth, and feed a mature animal enough energy to maintain a fairly constant body weight.

2. Provide enough protein, minerals and vitamins in a balanced feeding program to maintain a healthy animal.

3. Offer does enough extra food during gestation and lactation for fetus development and milk production.

It is best to feed maximum amounts of high quality hay balanced with a grain ration containing enough protein, minerals and vitamins to support production and animal health.

Grass or legume hays are equally acceptable. As the percentage of legumes is increased, the need for protein in the grain mix is reduced.

To determine the amount of grain to feed, consider level of milk production, amount and quality of forages consumed, appetite and body condition of the animal.

Thin, high-producing does should have access to as much hay as they can eat (free feeding) plus grain to the limit of their appetite.

Feeding for meat production

The diet of the meat goat is not too different to that of the milk producing (lactating goat). The stomach and digestive systems is designed to efficiently digest the hard cellulose material of plants.

This forage is best for the design the digestive system of goats. The forage should be high quality.

If feeding protein in the form of bagged grain, this should be kept to a minimum as the body can suffer from the sudden introduction of starch rich feed.

Symptoms of poor adaptation to bagged feed can be bloating, acidosis, listeriosis, laminitis and enterotoxemia. Protein blocks are an alternative for ensuring protein requirements are met without risking health concerns by feeding concentrates.

In addition to protein blocks, mineral blocks can also be used.

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