Are you thinking of raising a goat either for meat or milk? This article will help you know better ways you can raise healthy goats for either meat or milk. Goats are easier to raise than sheep or cow and they can be milked easily compared to sheep or cow. A dairy goat can produce nothing less than one gallon of milk/day and goat milk contains protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium and their milk is easily digested to some people.

Goats are majorly raised for meat and their meat contains the necessary nutrients like potassium, and iron and also its cholesterol is low.  

Benefits of raising Goats

Some of the benefits of raising goat include:

• Goats provide access to fresh milk because they can be easily handled on the milk stand. And with goat milk you can produce goat cheese, yoghurt or any other dairy products you want.
• Goats are also a good source of meat. Their meat is healthy to consume with less calories compared to beef.
• Goats love to eat plants (mainly weeds) which makes them a great browser and they help to clear out lands where weeds are.
• Goats are not expensive to keep because they can browse easily, it helps to cut cost on feed.
• Goats skin can be used to make rugs and gloves and goats hide can be used to make drum heads.

How to Raise Healthy Goats for Meat or Milk

Choosing the Right Goat Breed

The following include the essentials steps to take to raise an healthy goats:

It is very important to select the right breed of goat for either meat or milk because it’s not all goats breed that can perform the function of milk and meat together, there are some goats that are best raised for meat alone while some are best raised for milk alone.

If you are considering raising goats for only milk or any dairy products, you will have to choose a dairy goat breed although each breed has a different milk taste. Goats breed to consider for milk production include: Nubian, Oberhasli, Alpines, Saanens, Nigerian Dwarfs, and Toggenburgs, these goats have a high milk yield and top notch milk quality. They are also great for making cheese, yoghurt or butter.

For meat production, you can consider choosing Boer, Kiko or Kinder goats, they are the best and popular choice for goat meat. These goats grows very fast and they produce a top notch meat.

Preparing a Conducive Environment

It is also important to give your goat a conducive shelter for them to remain healthy and safe. Ensure the environment you are preparing for your goat is properly ventilated, free from drafts, and the space can accommodate the goat conveniently and comfortably. They also need to be provided with a shelter they can easily run to anytime it’s raining because they hate getting wet.

The following factors needs to be considered when preparing a conducive environment for your goat:

• You can use either sand or wood shavings for their flooring
• You can also provide them with a good ventilation to prevent respiratory related issues as stale air in their house can cause respiratory problems for the goats.
• It is also important to provide the goat with adequate space for them to move freely
• You can fence their house, you can use a wooden fence, woven wire or electric fence to keep the goats safe and away from predators.
• Dairy goat need a milking stand for proper milking

Feeding and Nutrition

Goats are ruminant animals and they have a complicated digestive system which can cause issues for them when they are not given the right diet of feed and they need the right diet of feed for growth and proper development. The proper diets to consider include:

• Hay: Their feed should consist of a high quality of hay and ensure it is not moldy. For male goats you can feed them orchard grass as that is the best choice for them while for females the best choice of grass is alfalfa hay though it’s expensive but it is great for their milk production.
• Grains: You can feed them with grains in case you don’t have enough grass/hay to feed your goats. Grains include oats, barley or corn for energy and it’s best for milking also. Though there is a need to feed them with grains in limited quantities because too much consumption of it can cause digestive problems like bloat which is not a good sign.
• Minerals: You can purchase minerals for your goat in a feed store but ensure they are in a loose form which is more preferred than block minerals.
• Fresh water: Your goats need to be provided with a fresh water always and it is important to know the amount of minerals in the water you are giving to your goats so it won’t alter the ones you have given them already as a supplement.

Your veterinary doctor can help you with a feeding plan that you can follow for their nutrition

Healthcare

Goats need a regular health check up so as to prevent diseases and keep them healthy. Some disease in goats include:

• Mastitis: It is a swelling of the nipple
• Coccidiosis: It is a parasitic infection and this affects goats of different ages
• Foot rot: It is an infectious foot disease that needs immediate treatment
• Copper & selenium deficiency: It changes the coat colour and causes lameness

Always be on the lookout for any signs or symptoms of disease in your goats and take immediate action when you notice one. You must also have a veterinarian you can always reach out to.

Develop a Care and Management Routine

Goats need proper care and there is a need to always check on them morning, afternoon and night. There is need to take care of their feeding, milking for dairy goats, clean their shelter and monitor their health. There is also a need to trim their feet and keep their hair clipped often.

Breeding and Reproduction

It is important to manage your breeding process effectively and goats reach sexual maturity age early. Also monitor the health of the herds by testing them and ensuring they are free from any form of disease to avoid the spread of diseases. And for your pregnant does ensure they receive proper treatment through the help of your veterinary doctor and feed them with the right nutrition.

Record keeping and Data Management

It is also important to always keep a record of your goat to remain informed and always make the right decision. For your record keeping, have a record of their health, breeding time, and their growth rate.

Conclusion

Knowing the best ways to raise healthy goats for either meat or milk is vital before rearing them. It is important to choose the right breed of goat when considering either meat or milk production to make your goat farming process productive. Getting your breed from a well known source gives you a high quality breed which is productive and profitable. Using an app like “My Goat Manager Farming App” will help you track the health, reproduction and performance of your goats.

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