Managing Goat Nutrition What You Need To Know A Simple Guide (Goat Knowledge Book 5)

Goat Farming

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Nothing less than four feet tall will keep a goat in, and even then you may need to go up to six feet. Alfalfa can be good if they have a hard time keeping weight on while milking because it is very high protein. The best way to feed hay is with a net or manger. Our last manger we went all out and built a tall one with 2x4s. Goats also need supplemental minerals , which you can pick up at your feed store, and baking soda.

The baking soda is important for keeping their rumen happy, and without it they could get bloated and possibly die. Originally, I put their baking soda and minerals in a dog food dish. I noticed straw gets kicked into it a lot, so I tried mounting it off the ground slightly. Are you sensing a theme yet? Now I use black rubber dishes because they are easy to dump and wash when they get soiled.

Check out the rubber dishes here. Remembering when your goats are due for each supplement such as copper and selenium or other minerals can sometimes be a pain. Make sure your write it down in one central location. Give your goats things to climb, such as cable spools and plenty of space to move and things to eat! They can be trained to a leash quite easily. They would come running for a back scratch and a snack. Special Issue on Applications of Wealth Ranking. A Farmer's Digest Publication.

Special Issue on Livestock. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Available in English, French, and Spanish. Loosli J K Role in meeting world food supplies. Can be obtained through Heifer Project International, P. Box , Little Rock, Arkansas Stanton Tatiana Introduction and acceptance of goats and their socio-economic importance in the Caribbean and Central America. Urquiza Digna The role of women accepting goats into a goatless society. Their Present and Potential Role.

Whose idea is the project? Do the beneficiaries understand the purpose of the project?

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Does the project meet an expressed need of the beneficiaries? Are the beneficiaries willing to invest the time and resources into the production of goats? Are goats and goat products socially accepted? Do people consume and like the taste of goat milk and meat? Is there a market for goat products? What are the explicit goals of the project? To improve child nutrition, increase income generation, provide women with a source of income, provide a natural manure source, provide a source of traction, increase crop production?

How will the goals be achieved? By increasing milk consumption? How much will milk consumption be increased? By producing marketable products e. Spreading manure on gardens or crop fields to increase production? Training goats as pack or cart animals? How many goats per household will be needed to reach the goals? What is the target population and how will it be defined? The people with the least land? People with no other livestock? The households with the highest malnutrition problems?

Who will have control over the goat products? Do the potential beneficiaries have the required resources? Who controls the required resources men, women? What is the knowledge base regarding goat production? Are training classes needed? From where will the beneficiaries obtain feed for the goats?

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Is there access to grazing land? Is there access to veterinarian supplies or medicinal plants? How many goats need to be purchased? What is the critical number for the community? Are there already some goats in the community?

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What age of goats should be purchased? How soon do the beneficiaries need to see results? What is the knowledge base of the beneficiaries?

What breeds or crossbreeds will best meet the goals of the project? What sources of goats are available? What is the reputation of the seller? How many goats does a seller have? How much do the goats cost? What are the transportation requirements? How healthy are the goats?

Is the seller willing to make any guarantees regarding the health or breeding status of the goats? Are the goats polled? What is the conformation of the goats udder and teat size? Do the goats have CAE, brucellosis, or paratuberculosis? Who will receive goats? How does this relate to the goals and target population of the project? Are the requirements clearly defined?

What types of data will be used to determine if a household qualifies? How will community members apply for a goat? If written applications are used, is there someone available to help fill out the form? If verbal applications are accepted, is it clearly defined who is responsible for submitting the application? Who will accept applications? If applications are accepted through a community run organization, is the organization on good terms with all community members? Are the people responsible for accepting the applications readily available to the community members?

Do community members feel comfortable approaching the people in charge of the applications? Who will determine if a household qualifies for the project? How will favoritism be prevented? How will the application be evaluated? Will potential beneficiaries be required to perform certain tasks before receiving the goat? What types of tasks will be required building a goat house, attending a training class, planting grasses?

Are these tasks feasible given the resource base of the target population? Are there alternatives to the task that may be more feasible for certain households?

Will the beneficiaries be expected to repay the goat? When will the beneficiaries be expected to pay for the goat?

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Will money, doe kids, or buck kids be accepted as payment? If the first doe kid dies or the doe only produces buck kids, will other forms of payment be accepted? Can the beneficiaries sell or slaughter the doe? Under what circumstances will this be allowed? Must the household inform the donor organization first?

If a doe becomes ill or dies shortly after it is distributed, what are the obligations of the donor organization? If the doe never conceives or freshens the first time with bad mastitis, will the organization replace the doe? What types of services will the donor organization provide? Will the organization provide training? Will the organization provide medicines at cost? Does the organization have someone on staff that is trained in goat management?

Will the organization provide bucks for breeding? For how long will the donor organization provide these services? How will the organization enable the beneficiaries to provide these services for themselves in the future? Will a buck exchange program be established? Will a medicine cooperative be established? Where will the goat be kept? Is there a safe, dry, and clean place available? What types of feeds will be used? What energy, protein, and mineral sources are available? Will feed be cut-and-carried? What types of pastures are available?

Will the goats roam free? Will the goats be tethered? Are there fenced pastures? Can the goats be allowed to graze with other animals? What types of parasite programs can be implemented?

How often will the goats be milked? Do the beneficiaries know how to milk a goat? Can the beneficiaries identify mastitis? Will kids be weaned or allowed to suckle until the doe no longer allows it? How long after kidding until does are bred back? What vaccines will be used? What types of medicines will be used? How will the beneficiaries be included in the evaluation process? Dwarf goats are of different colors like black, chocolate, gold, color, etc. Wide variety of colors is a major factor that makes them so popular.

Dairy goats are raised mainly for commercial milk production or for family milk consumption. They can also be displayed at trade shows. According to the association of dairy goats Nubians, Lamanchas, Alper, Oberhasli, Saanen and Togenburgs are the world famous dairy goat breed. Cashmere goats are popular for wool production.

Mountain goats are blunt, square looking covered with soft white, woolly, dense undercoat. Boer goats originated in South Africa and suitable for highly meat production. Some studies say that Boer goats are very expensive and demand exceeds supply which attracts investors. However, choosing the right breeds for commercial goat farming will ensure high profit. Choose proper breed according to your desired production and geographical location.

You can also visit some of your nearest goat farm or livestock training center to learn more about the suitable goat breeds in your area. Housing is an important factor for profitable goat farming business. Small scale farmer generally keep their goats with their other livestock animals.

A good house not only give shelter and protects the goats from predators but also prevent them from various types of goat diseases. Always keep the house neat, clean and dry. Make proper ventilation and drainage system inside the house. Also ensure the availability of sufficient fresh air and light inside the house. Housing and goat farm design are of various types according to the production type and breed. Well goat feed management is also very essential for commercial goat farming business.

Goats are not carnivorous animal. Usually goats prefer to eat grasses, plants, shrubs, weeds and herbs. Besides those feeds, goat also need energy, portion, vitamins, fiber and water for proper growth and for making better profits from this business. It will be better if you have sufficient knowledge about what to feed goats.

Always try to take good care of your goats. Never feed them contaminated food or polluted water. And clean their house on a regular basis.

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