Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Chapter 8 The Goat Industry
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Goat History Among first domesticated animals –Used for milk, meat, and fiber –Hides became clothing and housing materials –Adapted easily to nomadic lifestyle –Survived on sparse vegetation –Were popular on trade ships (continued)
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Goat History Likely brought to America first by Christopher Columbus Today, country has millions
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. U.S. Goat Industry Worldwide, goat meat and milk outpace cow milk or beef –Easier to keep –Cheaper to maintain (continued)
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. U.S. Goat Industry Three categories: –Meat –Dairy –Fiber
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Meat Goats Insignificant in U.S. agriculture, though growing Some religions and cultures use as beef alternatives (continued)
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Meat Goats Goat meat nutritionally desirable –Good source of protein –Very lean –Low in fat and cholesterol
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Milk Goats Goat milk’s benefits make it popular worldwide –Good for people who are lactose intolerant or have allergies –Naturally homogenized and easily digested –Good source of calcium –Complete protein with all amino acids (continued)
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Milk Goats Goat milk’s benefits make it popular worldwide –No heavy fat content –High in some vitamins Goat milk has other applications –Soap and lotion –Moisturizer
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Goat Fiber Some of the finest fabrics come from fiber goats Common fiber goat breeds: –Cashmere –Angora –Pygora (continued)
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Goat Fiber Goat leather –Another by-product of goat industry –Strong and durable –Thinner than cow hide
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Goat Production Commercial –Provide high-quality carcasses for meat industry –Low ratio of fat-to-lean Purebred –Provide high-quality herd sires and replacement does for breeding –Improve breed overall
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Meat Goat Breeds Terminology –Male goat, mature: Billy –Female goat, mature: Nanny –Male, castrated: Wether (continued)
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Meat Goat Breeds Types: –Boer –Kiko –Tennessee Fainting –Savanna –Spanish
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Dual-Purpose Goats Nubian Kinder Spanish Pygmy
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Dairy Goat Breeds Terminology –Male goat, mature: Buck –Female goat, mature: Doe –Male goat, castrated: Wether –Female, young: Doeling –Male, young: Buckling (continued)
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Dairy Goat Breeds Types: –Alpine –Saanen and Sable –Oberhasli –Toggenburg –LaMancha –Nigerian Dwarf
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Anatomy and Physiology Goats closely related to deer, antelope, and sheep Well adapted to varied climates –Agile and maneuver well over rough terrain –Use forages like other ruminants –Strip leaves and grass (continued)
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Anatomy and Physiology Meat and dairy goats have different body types –Dairy: Shaped like triangle from above and thinner, flatter bone –Meat: More rectangular shape and ample bone
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Goat Breeding Can produce one to four offspring after five- month gestation Seasonal For some, optimal goal is 100 percent kidding –Every doe has at least one kid every breeding season –Females that do not should be considered for culling
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Goat Nutrition When fed well, goats do not eat tin cans, clothing, or garbage –Actually picky eaters Commercial feeds available –Meat production –Milk production –Custom blends
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Goat Housing, Fencing, and Protection Southwestern goats require shade –But no buildings Housing varies in other parts of U.S. –Can be enclosed fully or partially –Must be clean, dry, and well ventilated (continued)
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Goat Housing, Fencing, and Protection Good fencing important –Keep goats in –Keep predators out Livestock guardians –One option for predators –Donkeys, mules, llamas, or dogs
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Goat Parasites Susceptible to internal parasites or worm overload due to: –Grazing behavior –Poor immunity Good management practices and dewormers or Anthelmintics help control internal parasites (continued)
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Goat Parasites External parasites can cause production loss and weaken herd –E.g., lice, mites, flies, ticks
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Summary U.S. goat industry should grow in popularity Goats typically categorized by purpose (continued)
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Summary Goats are unique alternative –Provide alternative to cow milk –Produce lean carcasses –Can survive with varied housing and fencing options –Use forage other ruminants do not