Learn More About Goats and Sheep

Diets are hard. Diets are especially hard when you have soft little muzzles begging you for treats. As difficult as it is, managing your herd so that they don’t become overweight is just as important as managing your herd so that they don’t become underweight. Over conditioning can cause a myriad of issues ranging from poor reproductive health, lameness, and increased susceptibility to disease. Small and Dwarf breeds as well as mature wethers, are most susceptible to reaching an unhealthy body weight. Below are some pointers that will help you feed to your goat’s body condition. Assess Current Body Condition...

Hoof trimming – one of the least favorite jobs to successfully raising goats, but one that is necessary. Without a doubt, hoof trimming is an acquired skill that takes quite a bit of practice to perfect. Hooves that are overgrown will turn under around the sides and grow out in front like elf shoes. A hoof that is trimmed properly looks boxy.   The Importance of Trimming Your Goat’s Hooves   Properly-trimmed hooves allow the goat to move about freely. Like a pair of poorly-fitting shoes, overgrown hooves can cause pain or over time may create some structural deformation. Any time...

While a goat’s diet should be primarily good quality forage and a fortified goat feed or mineral product, treats are something you can use to build a bond with your goat. Watching them enthusiastically munch on treats is also a rewarding experience as a goat owner. Here are a few things that are important to think about when selecting treats for your goat herd. Nutrition Obviously, nutrition should always be the number one goal. If treats aren’t fed in moderation, they can actually decrease the nutrient levels in your goat's overall diet. You wouldn’t want a human kid to fill up on candy bars and not eat a balanced...

Goats are a wonderful addition to any farm. They can help your homestead accomplish several goals – growing sustenance, creating profit, adding grazing diversity, achieving sustainability and even adding entertainment. They are also a cost efficient way to dip your toes into the world of ruminants. Whether you are thinking about raising goats, learning about goat feed, you’re new to raising goats, or you have been raising them for years, here are some basic feeding guidelines to keep in your toolbox. Feeding Goats with Purpose When selecting your feeding program, start by asking yourself, “What am I trying to accomplish?” Are you...

Goats are a wonderful addition to any farm. They are smart, playful, and (we may be biased) absolutely adorable. They make great companion animals and can also be raised for milk or meat production. Breeding goats and kidding newborns is something that requires some thoughtful planning, above and beyond general herd management practices. Here Are Five Tips that can Help You Through a Successful Kidding Season: 1). Kid Care Starts with Mom. Just like with human kids, pre-natal care is important. Making sure that your breeding does have access to goat feeds with adequate vitamin and mineral fortification is the foundation of developing a...