Getting Your Goats Before you purchase a goat, it is important to know why you want it and what you are going to do with it. If you are expecting to have milk, you definitely don’t want a wether (a castrated male). If you don’t want to milk twice a day for 305 days a year, that wether may be just what you need. Some breeds, such as the Nubian, are good meat and milk animals. Like dairy cows, most dairy goats can be used for meat as well as milking purposes. Boer goats, traditionally a heavily muscled meat breed, can produce rich milk in quantities sufficient for a family. There are people who milk Pygmies, traditionally a novelty pet, but most choose the more dairy-oriented Nigerian Dwarf if they want a miniature goat to supply family milk. Rare breeds allow you to help preserve unique bloodlines. Consider the following questions: What do I want from my goats—meat, milk, fiber, or companionship? How many animals do I want to take care of? What space—both housing and pasture— do I have? What goat breeds are available in my area? Applying Ear Tags Select the tag and record which goat you are tagging.Wipe any dirt off the ear with a disinfectant, such as Nolvasan Solution or rubbing alcohol.Load the tag pliers with the tag.Dip the tag and the end of the pliers in a container of disinfectant.Select a location on the ear away from obvious blood vessels and away from the edges to minimize tear losses.Attach the tag to the goat’s ear. It’s best to have at least two pet goats for the sake of the animals. A solitary goat is often an unhappy, noisy, troublesome goat. Shutterstock Other Agility Obstacles Bridge: A small bridge that the goat must cross Tent: A tent the goat and owner must enter Fun Stuff One of the joys of owning goats is their playful manner. Goats love attention, so the tricks and games you can play are limited only by your imagination. Some of these games have become formal competitions at fairs. Agility and costume classes at shows are fun for goat exhibitors and spectators alike. Elaborate or simple playgrounds provide exercise for the goat and keep the owners amused. These are some of the obstacles you might see at an exhibit: Balance beam: A plank suspended a few inches or a foot off the ground that the goat must walk across without stepping off Jump: A raised bar, crossed logs, or other material that the goat must leap over Hanging tire: A tire suspended in the air that the goat must jump through. Slalom: A zigzag course made of poles that the goat must weave through without skipping or knocking any over Teeter-totter: A plank balanced on a central pivot so that the plank tips as the goat crosses Tires: A course made of tractor or truck tires, placed flat on the ground, that the goat must step into and out of as it crosses Tunnel: A vinyl or hoop tunnel that the goat must pass through Water hazard: A child’s wading pool, stream, or large puddle the goat must step into
✔ Author(s): Carol A. Amundson
✔ Title: How to Raise Goats: Third Edition, Everything You Need to Know: Breeds, Housing, Health and Diet, Dairy and Meat, Kid Care (FFA)
✔ Rating : 4.7 out of 5 base on (289 reviews)
✔ ISBN-10: 076036415X
✔ ISBN-13: 9780760364154
✔ Language: English
✔ Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
✔ Device compatibles: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle
Readers' opinions about How to Raise Goats by Carol A. Amundson
Jillian Neel
I'm still in awe of the intricate plot and the way everything seamlessly came together. The twists kept me guessing until the very end. It's one of those rare books that leave a lasting impact.
Aileen Menzie
The author's ability to evoke a wide range of emotions through their words is truly remarkable. I felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster throughout the entire book.
Tasha Cobbett
I'm already planning to reread this book. It's one of those stories that you can revisit again and again, discovering new layers of meaning each time.
