Our Experience with Goat Breeds
There is much more to know about getting goats than a pet dog or a fish. Each one has characteristics that will best suit your purposes.
As goat owners, we’ve had experience with a lot of goat breeds. Looking back, there are a lot of questions we wished we had asked before we started. Before moving on to essentials like feeding, fencing, and shelter, we recommend considering the long-term goals for goats on your farm.
Identifying the purpose of the goats will be a factor in everything else you do to prepare for goats. Do you want to raise meat goats, dairy goats, brush-clearing goats, wool goats, goats strictly as pets, or a combination?
Take some time to consider your goals. You’ll benefit from this initial time investment to keep focused on researching areas that pertain to your specific situation.
Buying Goats for the Farm
Once you’ve identified your goals, a general understanding of goat breeds will help you determine what you’re looking for when purchasing your goats. When researching breeds, think about characteristics that are important to you.
Here are some goat characteristics to keep in mind.
- Temperament – Is it important to you to have friendly or docile goats?
- Handling – Do you have restrictions that make handling a large animal difficult?
- Resilience – Do you live in harsh climate conditions?
- Genetics – Are the breeds you are considering resistant to parasites and disease?
- Dual-Purpose – Do you need a breed of goat that accomplishes more than one goal on your farm?
Keeping these characteristics in mind will help you as you choose the right breed for you.
Milk Goats
All female goats will lactate to feed their offspring, but not all goat breeds are good for milk production. The goat breed, the goat’s health, and what the goat eats will also impact the flavor profile and nutrition of goat’s milk.
In the past, we tried Nubian and Nigerian Dwarf for dairy goat purposes. The Nubians were our favorites because of their gentle personalities and smaller size. Some popular milk goat breeds are Nubian, Nigerian, LaMancha, and Alpine.
Different breeds will produce different quantities of milk, so be sure to know this before moving forward as well.
Meat Goats
Meat breeds of goats are known for their resilience and heartiness, making them some of the easiest meat to raise. Some popular meat goat breeds are Spanish, Kiko, and Boer.
Dual Purpose Goats
These breeds may not be champions in milk or meat production, but they provide the benefit of both in one breed.
One of the most practical, dual-purpose breeds we have found are Spanish goats. They’re a very hardy meat goat that does well with brush management and serves our purposes well.
Other popular dual-purpose breeds are Pygmy, Nubian, and Nigerian.
Wool Goats
Raising goats for their prized fiber speaks to many. Some popular fiber goat breeds are Pashmina, Angora, and the Altai Mountain Goat.
Pet Goats
It’s no secret that goats are adorable. We love to watch them play in our pasture, and it’s no surprise some enjoy goats strictly for pets. Some popular pet breeds are Pygmy, Nigerian Dwarf, and Mini Alpines.
Where to Buy a Goat
We strongly caution against buying goats at auctions or sale barns. Farmers who have problems with their livestock will try to sell them at such places. Don’t risk bringing home goats that are sick. They will likely infect any healthy animals you have at home.
Search for local, small farms with an excellent reputation for raising goats. Reputable breeders will likely be invaluable in sharing information and answering your questions. Another great resource may be your local veterinarian.
Pro-Tip: If you are starting a hobby farm, don’t worry about getting registered goats. They are more expensive and may come with unnecessary regulations.
Herd Animals
Goats, by nature, are herd animals and need companions to stay healthy and happy. Lone goats become depressed and unhealthy.
Don’t be tempted to bring home only one pet goat. It will instinctively figure out a way to escape and find its friends. Two is acceptable, but starting a herd with four to five goats is recommended.
Fencing Recommendations
Goats are escape artists. When female goats are in heat, male goats will figure out a way to get to them. Even castrated males become masters at escaping. Goats will eat anything they think looks tasty and go to great lengths to get to it.
Proper fencing installation before purchasing goats is so important. We have two different kinds of fencing for our goats. Below is what we recommend and caution against in fencing.
- Field Wire – We have 32” field wire with a few strands of barbed wire on top. This fencing is simple to install, but we don’t recommend it. Goats tend to think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, leading to their little heads getting stuck in the fencing.
- 4″x4″ Square Wire – Our pasture at the back of our property has 4″x4″ square wire. It’s 48” high with 4″x4″ squares. The goats can’t get their heads through the openings in the fence, and unwanted creatures can’t get into the pasture as quickly. This fencing works well as we can’t see the field from our house and wouldn’t know if one of our goats was stuck and needed help.
Water Source
Access to fresh water is essential for goats or any other livestock. Fresh-water ponds are a great option, but we know that isn’t always possible.
As the temperature outside drops, the water in a watering trough will freeze unless you have a heater or some other way to keep it from freezing. You can use a sledgehammer to break the ice, but in some parts of the country, that can be an hourly job.
An automatic waterer will regulate the temperature and keep it flowing without freezing. We recommend running a water line and electricity near your goat’s pasture.
Shelter From Weather
Goats do not need big, expensive barns for housing. If you have a barn to bring them into, it will make your job easier, but it’s not required.
We recommend building a small three-sided shelter for goats to stay warm and dry in wet, cold conditions. A small 6’x10′ shelter turned against the north wind and spread with straw will give adequate cover for four to five goats. The photo above is of our pig shelter, but would also work for goats. You can get the step-by-step instructions for our DIY pig shelter here.
Feed Recommendations
Many goats have sensitive digestive systems and are prone to parasites. An eight-foot elevated feeder helps get the feed off the ground eliminating the continuation of parasite ingestion. Read more about what to feed goats in this post.
- Hay – Supplementing goats’ diet with hay will nourish them when pastures run low in natural grasses. We like to keep a bale of hay in our round feeder inside the barn. The goats can feed on this when they gather in the barn on a cold, rainy day.
- Alfalfa Pellets – If you don’t have room for a large bale of hay, you can feed them alfalfa pellets.
- Loose Minerals – Goats are copper deficient and don’t get enough from their other food sources. Supplementing with loose minerals for goats balances their diet with what they need. These small feeders for minerals are an easy way to give the goats continuous access to minerals.
- Mineral Block – A mineral block for goats is another option for getting necessary minerals into their diet.
Protection From Predators
A vital asset on our farm is our livestock guardian dogs. If you live in a rural area, it’s only a matter of time before a predator attacks your adult or baby goats. These dogs are powerful workhorses, and we strongly recommend getting one for your farm.
Our livestock guardians have chased and fought off many predators, including coyotes and bobcats. We credit a large part of our success in goat farming to our livestock guardian dogs.
