Introduction to Raising Goats

If you are thinking about getting into the hobby or business of raising goats there are several things that you will need to take into account.

First of all, you can’t just have a single goat. Goats are herd animals and will only thrive when in a group. You should plan to have a herd of at least 4 to 6 goats unless you have other herd animals, such as cows, sheep or horses in the same pasture. Goats will bond with other grazing herd animals as well as their own kind in most cases.

You will also have to have enough pasture land to allow the goats to roam around. While goats don’t need a huge amount of space, they will be in their best condition when there’s enough space. Confining goats to smaller areas tends to bring out bad habits while allowing them to live comfortably will produce happier animals.

In general, goats will need to reside in a rural area, such as a farm. Few cities or even small towns allow goats within the city limits outside of officially sanctioned petting zoos or temporary displays. Occasionally locales will have areas zoned as agricultural where you can keep a small population of farm animals. You will need to check local zoning regulations before you begin to keep goats.

Goats, while well known for their ability to eat most vegetable materials, will do best when provided with a regular balanced diet provided by a formulated feed especially for goats. They will also need access to fresh water. As their keeper it is up to you to provide this to the animals.

In addition to regular care, goats will also need veterinary care on a regular basis. They are susceptible to various diseases, parasites and illnesses. The animals will need to get regular vaccinations and preventative treatments. Also, should you decide to breed goats, a good relationship with a large animal veterinarian is a must.

Lastly, when purchasing goats, make sure that you obtain them from a breeder who has a well known track record for producing good livestock.

Related posts:

1. Breeding Goats Let’s take a look at the basics of breeding goats. As you may already know, a male goat is called a buck or billy, the female is a doe or nanny and the offspring are usually referred to as kids. In…...