Goat Keeping Basics

ON THIS PAGE

FEEDING

MANAGEMENT

  • Housing
  • Fencing
  • Disbudding
  • Hoof Trimming
  • Neutering
  • Tattooing
  • Milking

REPRODUCTION

  • Basic Doe and Buck Anatomy
  • Estrous (Heat) Cycle
  • Natural Breeding
  • Artificial Insemination
  • Gestation Calendar/Calculator
  • The Kidding (Parturition) Process
  • Kid Rearing Options

 HEALTH

  • Purchasing a Healthy Goat
  • Finding and Choosing a Veterinarian
  • Normal Physiological Values
  • Vaccinations
  • Diseases
    • Chronic
      • Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus (CAEV)
      • Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL)
      • Johnes
      • Mycoplasma
      • Scrapie
    • Enterotoxemia
    • Tetanus
    • Coccidiosis
    • Scrapie
    • Johnes
    • Urinary Calculi
    • Mycoplasma
  • Parasite Prevention and Control
  • First Aid

The Ruminant Digestive System

Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities Extension brochure that describes the digestive system of the goat.

This University of Minnesota extension talks about the structure and function of the ruminant digestive system in terms of cows, the information also applies to goats.

New York 4H Dairy Goat Project Fact Sheet #13

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Body Condition Scoring

ADGA Body Condition Scoring Video

This video was a collaborative effort between ADGA, UC Davis Department of Animal Science and School of Veterinary Medicine.  The ADGA Linear Appraisal committee took the lead on this, providing the script and review along with a subcommittee providing the technical information and development of the scoring range.   Our thanks to the ADGA Linear Committee with special thanks to Jan Carlson and Dr. Joan Dean Rowe of UCD and appraiser Betty Henning who narrates the video.  The project could not have been completed without the UCD videography department and assistance from the California Extension services.  We hope to expand this to other media in the future. Click on this link to view the video:

USING BODY CONDITION SCORE TO EVALUATE FEEDING MANAGEMENT  By Gary Fredricks Washington State University Extension Garyf@wsu.edu

This is a great article that relates body condition scoring to how the dairy goat should be fed during the different phases of her lactation.
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FEEDS FOR GOATS

New York 4H Dairy Goat Project Fact Sheet #12

PASTURE/BROWSE

CONCENTRATES (GRAIN)

HAY

VITAMINS AND MINERALS FOR GOATS

New York State 4H Dairy Goat Project Fact Sheet #14

SUPPLEMENTS

WATER

Management

Fencing

Oklahoma State Extension Video on Fencing
This is an educational presentation on the various types of fencing that can be used in a goat operation. Brain Freking OSU Southeast Area Livestock Specialist discusses the different types of fencing that can be used in a goat operation.

Disbudding

New York State Dairy Goat Project Fact Sheet #9 Disbudding

New York State Dairy Goat Project Disbudding Slide Show

Hoof Trimming

New York State Dairy Goat Project Fact Sheet #8 Hoof Trimming

Neutering

New York 4H Dairy Goat Project Fact Sheet #10 – Castration and Urinary Calculi

Tattooing

New York 4H Dairy Goat Project Slide Show – Tattooing

Reproduction

New York 4H Dairy Goat Project Fact Sheet #17 – Reproductive Problems of the Doe

Health

PURCHASING A HEALTHY GOAT

New York State 4-H Dairy Goat Project Fact Sheet #3, Buying a Goat.


GOAT EMERGENCIES (FIRST AID)

Presentation for the Langston University Goat Field Day by Dr. Susan Kerr, Washington State University – Klickitat County.

The information herein is supplied for educational or reference purposes only and with the understanding that no discrimination is intended. This list is not intended to be comprehensive. Listing of commercial products implies no endorsement by WSU Extension. Criticism of products or equipment not listed is neither implied nor intended. Some medications mentioned herein are available only by prescription, and other drugs are not labeled for use in sheep and/or goats. These drugs can only be used on the advice of a licensed veterinarian when a veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists. Other use violates federal law. Consult your veterinarian about the extra-label use of medications. Store medications according to label directions.

Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL)

Caseous lymphadenitis by Dr. Lionel Dawson DVM

Caseous lymphadenitis of Sheep and Goats – Merck Veterinary Manual

Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL) – Information and Testing for CL