1. Goats are
social animals - They belong in a herd and they depend on the herd for
their own safety. Never keep just one goat.
2. Goats think
like goats - Learn how to think like a goat to figure out how to keep them
happy in their fencing with easy access to water, food and shelter. If you
think they're being "Stubborn,"
look at things from a goat's perspective. They don't know how to walk down and
around an object to get to something on the other side of a fence. For example,
they will just stand there looking at it, unsure of how to solve the problem.
3. Bucks are males
with a mission - Respect them. When bucks are in rut, they have one
thing on their minds. They can be dangerous when in rut so use care in handling
them and respect that potential. Billy goats smell very strong when they're in
rut. However, you don't have to keep billy goats on your farm. You can just
keep does and avoid the smell by borrowing bucks when you need them; if you can
find them.
4. The grass is
always greener on the other side of the fence - Which is where your goats
want to be. Make your fences strong and secure to combat this natural goat
tendency. Goats can get out of any fence weakness. Your fencing must be kept
secure and free of holes and weaknesses. Inspect it often and repair it
promptly.
5. A big rumen
means healthy digestion, not necessarily a fat goat - Goats are
supposed to be potbellied because they are ruminants.
6. Goats are much
more like deer than they are like cattle - It helps to understand goats if you
think of them more as browsers; animals that eat shrubs and small trees; they
roam and forage much more like deer than cows.
7. Goats can't eat
everything - They're not like their cartoon version, eating tin cans happily.
Keeping their digestion functioning smoothly with good nutrition is harder than
you think. Make sure you have a goat nutritionist review your herd's needs and
formulate a feeding program just for you. Learn about how to feed goats
properly.
8. Goats are farm
animals, not pets - These are herd animals that have a social pecking
order and know how to maintain it. They are not meant to be fully domesticated
like a dog or cat, so don't treat them like pets.
9. Don't try to do
it all - Raising show goats, breeding stock and slaughtering meat goats
are three different goals for raising goats. Pick your main focus because
you'll need to manage your herd differently depending on it.
10. Start small - Just like
with any new species you add to your farm, it's best to start slowly and expand
as you go, but make sure to begin with several goats to satisfy their herding
nature.
Do you have any questions or other forms of contributions, kindly use the comment section below!!
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