Meat Goat Youth Education Seminar April 18, 2015 St. Onge Livestock Auction Funded by Grant from North Central SARE Funded by Grant from North Central SARE Topics Topics Are Goats Special? Are Goats Special? Doug Pavel Basic Needs Does a Goat Eat Everything? Does a Goat Eat Everything? Doug Hogan, CHS Nutrition Feed, Minerals, Water Feed, Minerals, Water

Meat Goat Youth Education Seminar April 18, 2015 St. Onge Livestock Auction Topics Continued Topics Continued Keeping Them Healthy & Happy Keeping Them Healthy & Happy Dr. James Myers, Belle Fourche Vet Clinic Diseases / Prevention Caring for Their Home Caring for Their Home Carolina Noya, Rancher Sustainable Pasture Management Sustainable Pasture Management

Meat Goat Youth Education Seminar April 18, 2015 St. Onge Livestock Auction Topics Continued Topics Continued Animal Selection Animal Selection Doug Hofer, Rancher & Regional Show Judge What to Look For What to Look For What Can I Do With Them What Can I Do With Them Dave Ollila, SDSU Extension Small Livestock Educator Marketing Options Marketing Options Tour of Pavel’s Farm Tour of Pavel’s Farm

Basic Needs Doug Pavel Butte Vista Farm Whitewood, SD

The Goats at Butte Vista Farm Full Blood Boer Breeding Stock American Pure Bred Stock Boer – X Commercial Stock

Grazing Your Goats Grass is OK, Browse is Most Preferred Grass is OK, Browse is Most Preferred Bushy Plants Bushy Plants Forbs Forbs And Yes – Ornamental Trees, Bushes, Shrubs & Flowers And Yes – Ornamental Trees, Bushes, Shrubs & Flowers SO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHERE THEY GET INTO SO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHERE THEY GET INTO

Goats Work Nicely Into the Stocking Rate of Pastures One Animal Unit is about One Animal Unit is about One Cow/Calf Pair One Cow/Calf Pair One Horse One Horse Six Sheep Six Sheep Six Goats Six Goats A few goats do not increase Stocking Rate because… A few goats do not increase Stocking Rate because…

Goats Prefer to Eat at Head-Height or Higher So Standing Weeds and Brush Left Behind by Other Animals are Ideal

Quick Example Before Before After After

Keeping Your Goats Contained Fencing is a Major Consideration Fencing is a Major Consideration Smooth Horse Fence Wire Is NOT Adequate Unless Electric Wire is Added Smooth Horse Fence Wire Is NOT Adequate Unless Electric Wire is Added Multi-Strand (5 -6 Wires) Barbed is OK Multi-Strand (5 -6 Wires) Barbed is OK Multi-Strand (4 Minimum) Electric is Good Multi-Strand (4 Minimum) Electric is Good

Importance of Fencing (Continued) 2”x4” or 4”x4” No-Climb Horse fence or Woven Wire is Best 2”x4” or 4”x4” No-Climb Horse fence or Woven Wire is Best 6”x6” Woven Wire is problem because of Goat’s Horns can become caught in the fence 6”x6” Woven Wire is problem because of Goat’s Horns can become caught in the fence Fence As If Keeping Chihuahuas In Fence As If Keeping Chihuahuas In

Examples of Fencing

Other Important Considerations When Adding Goats to Your Program Adequate Shelter Is Needed Adequate Shelter Is Needed Goats can deal with hot & cold weather, but Goats can deal with hot & cold weather, but Goats DO NOT like to get wet Goats DO NOT like to get wet

More Important Considerations Predator Control is Essential Predator Control is Essential Especially if Goats are going to be located away from Yard, House or other Buildings Especially if Goats are going to be located away from Yard, House or other Buildings Guard Dogs, Donkeys, and Llamas are all Options Guard Dogs, Donkeys, and Llamas are all Options AND a good Fence – did I mention fencing is important? AND a good Fence – did I mention fencing is important?

Goats are Social Animals – So Keep That In Mind If Adding Them To Your Operation Goats are “herd animals” so more than one is recommended Goats are “herd animals” so more than one is recommended Or they must be with a “Friend” so the Goat can be a companion animal Or they must be with a “Friend” so the Goat can be a companion animal

They Don’t Call Them Kids For Nothing… Goats need to be able to climb and play - otherwise… Goats need to be able to climb and play - otherwise… They will get into trouble

Beyond That… Goats are easy to handle Goats are easy to handle Goats are generally healthy animals Goats are generally healthy animals Goats do require proper mineral & salt supplements Goats do require proper mineral & salt supplements Regular grass hay is fine unless lactating Regular grass hay is fine unless lactating Goats require minimal vaccinations & de- worming Goats require minimal vaccinations & de- worming

AND BESIDES… They’re Cute

QUESTIONS???? Feel free to contact us anytime: Doug and Carol Pavel Butte Vista Farm Crackerjack Road Whitewood, SD (605)