Learning to Raise Dairy Goats: A beginners guide Click here to start your learning adventure.

Objectives Without assistance, the students will be able to recall common problems that can occur when a goat gives birth and the best procedures of how to handle these situations appropriately. Without assistance, the students will be able to identify the different dairy goat breeds without error. Goals To offer individualized instruction for anyone interested in beginning to raise dairy goats. Understand general goat care and how to raise a healthy goat. Identify all of the dairy goats recognized by the ADGA and distinguish between the different dairy goat breeds to determine which breed best fits your need. Recognize common problems that can occur when a goat gives birth and understand the best procedures of how to handle these situations. Recognize common health problems that can occur with dairy goats and understand the best procedure of how to handle these situations.

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Home You’re Home! Click on my friends to start learning about that topic. General Care Kidding Breeds Goat Health

General Goat Care & Information

General Care Grain –Usually twice a day. Best to have animals on a schedule. Most feed stores sell sweet feed or a special mix for goats. Hay – Provides added nutrients and is a good alternative in the winter when there is not much pasture Water – Should ALWAYS have clean water Minerals – Provides added supplements to a diet Shelter – Animals should be able to get out of the weather Bedding – Straw is crucial for keeping an animal warm in the winter. Can also help keep animals clean

Hoof Trimming

Deworming Fecal testing- This can help determine the amount and types of worms. Collect a fecal sample and take to your local veterinarian. They can then do a worm count for you. Have a schedule. The key to a keeping worms out of your herd is by deworming regularly. Most dewormers are oral liquids or pastes. Most dewormers are intended for other animals but can be used on goats. You can also purchase injections or pellets. Talk to your vet to find out what is best for your herd.

Famacha Testing – Checking eyelids to see if goat is anemic and needs to be dewormed. The chart for identifying this is to the right. The paler the eyelid then the more important it is to deworm your goat. Also, check out this website for more information on Famacha and deworming. Deworming – Famacha Testing

Vaccines Tetanus, CD&T, and Rabies vaccines are some of the most common annual vaccinations. May also have to administer shots if the goat is sick. Most common injection sites Subcutaneous- under the skin  usually given behind the shoulder or in the neck Intramuscular- deep in the muscle  usually given in shoulder or lower hip Pull back on syringe and look for red to ensure that there is no blood Watch the video below for a chance to see how to administer these shots.

Activity: Complete a schedule for when you will do all of the activities discussed in this section. What times everyday will you feed your goats? What date will you deworm your goats? What will be the next date you deworm your goats? When will you trim your goats’ hooves? What will be the next date you deworm your goats’ hooves? What date will you vaccinate your goats?

Test your knowledge on this section!

Quiz Question #1 How can you identify if a goat needs to be dewormed? a.Famacha & fecal tests b.LaMancha & fecal tests c.He/she will tell you d.LaMancha & stomach test

Quiz Question #2 What 2 ways can you administer a shot on a goat? a. Under the skin & in the vein b. In the muscle & in the vein c. Under the skin & in the muscle d. Anywhere

I’m sorry! This is not the correct answer. Please return to the question and try again. You many also return to the home page to review the information again.

I’m Sorry! This is not the correct answer. Please return to the question and try again. You many also return to the home page to review the information again.

Great Job!!! Famacha and fecal testing are 2 ways to determine if your goat needs to be dewormed. Fecal testing provides a worm count and can be done by your vet. Famacha testing is when you look at the goat’s eyelid color. LaManchas do have something to do with goats, but they are actually a breed of dairy goat.

Great Job!!! The two ways to administer shots are in the muscle and under the skin.

Goat Breeds & ADGA

Nubian Long, pendulous ears Roman-shaped nose Can be any color High butterfat content in their milk but less in quantity Larger in size Originally from the Middle East so better in hot areas with a longer breeding season Out-going personality, considered very vocal

LaMancha Originated in the Untied States Small, almost non-visible ears Elf ears- max 2 in. Gopher ears- max 1 in. Can be any color Produces well in terms of both quantity and butterfat content Is a strong milk producer even during difficult times

Saanen White in color with no markings Large in size Produces large quantities of milk Dish-shaped or straight face Erect, forward-facing ears Originated in Switzerland Feminine frame Docile and easy to manage Not great in hot, sunny areas due to pink skin Related to Sables

Oberhasli Nicknamed “the refined deer” Color is known as chamoisee Bay to deep red bay Does can be all black Specific markings Black dorsal stripe Black belly and legs below knee Black forehead and muzzle with 2 black eye stripes Straight face and erect ears Originated in Switzerland Docile but strong  can make good pack animals.

Alpine Only breed with upright ears that can be any color, but all-white and Toggenburg colors are discriminated against Many terms to describe color combinations Hardy animals that are good in any climate Good milk producers whose milk is often made into cheeses, butter, ice cream, etc. Originated in French Alps Medium to large in size Straight face

Toggenburg Color is fawn to dark chocolate with distinct markings White ears with dark spot in middle 2 white stripes on face White area on each side of the tail Legs white from knee/hock down Originated in Switzerland and was one of the oldest registered breeds Moderate production with low butterfat May arguably be the hardiest dairy goats Upright ears Medium in size Straight or dished face

Nigerian Dwarf Miniature goat breed  height restrictions according to associations Any color Popular pets due to size, but they also have decent butterfat and milk quantity compared to size Upright ears Originated in Africa

American Dairy Goat Association Think about joining ADGA for: Member registration Herd Name registration Registering a goat Transferring ownership of a goat

Activity: Answer the following questions to consider which breed may be best for your herd. Do you want a dairy goat that produces large qualities of milk? Do you want a dairy goat that produces milk with high butterfat? What climate do you live in? Do you want a dairy goat that can be used as a pack animal?

Quiz Question #3 Which breed is the Nubian? a. b. c. d.

Quiz Question #4 Which breed is the Saanen? a. b. c. d.

Great Job!!! An easy way to spot a Nubian is those big ears!

Great Job!!! Saanens are the big, white goats.

Dairy Goat Health

The Healthy Goat Temperature 102-104⁰F First thing you should do Pulse 70-90 beats per minute Full Gestation 5 months (about 150 days) Know Your Goat Not off feed No diarrhea No runny nose Not lethargic

Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus (CAEV) Hard udders and arthritic knees are signs of CAEV. Encephalitis tends to affect younger animals. To learn more about CAEV, you can check out the link provided at the end of the module.

More Disease… Bloat Caseous Lynmpahdenitis (CL)

…And More Disease Sore Mouth Foot Rot These are some of the common diseases a goat can get. If you would like to learn more about the diseases shown in these pictures as well as other problems, check out the link at the end of the module.

Other Problems… Coccidiosis Bronchitis Tetanus Rabies Pink Eye Urinary Blockage (males) Lameness Heat Stress Mange Pneumonia Ring Worm Warts

REMEMBER: ALWAYS CALL YOUR VET IF YOU NEED HELP!

Activity: You have noticed that over time your doe has large knees that appear to be almost swollen. As she becomes older, it is harder for her to move around until one day she is completely unable to stand or even fully extend her arthritic knees. What is wrong, and how do you handle it?

Activity Response: While there is really no correct or incorrect response to how you would handle this. The problem is CAEV. The goat will be fine until his or her quality of life starts to deteriorate, and at that point the animal will probably have to be put to sleep.

Quiz Question #5 What is a goat’s normal temperature? a.102-104⁰F b.100⁰F c.106⁰F d.98.6⁰F

Quiz Question #6 When in doubt, what should you always do? a.Wait and see if your goat improves in the next 24 hours. b.Do nothing c.Call your friend d.Call the veterinarian

Great Job!!! A healthy goat’s temperature should be between 102-104 ⁰ F. If it is too high or too low, then there may be something seriously wrong with the goat, and you should call the vet.

Great Job!!! When in doubt, you should always call the vet. Although the vet may be pricy, it might save your goat’s life!

Kidding & Raising the Kids

Signs Your Doe is Ready to Kid Mucus discharge Enlarged and swollen vulva Softening of the tail ligaments Begins to bag up Change in behavior Becomes very restless May paw at the ground or make a bed Loss of appetite

Problems While Pregnant Ketosis/Pregnancy Toxemia, Milk Fever, etc. Learn more about these problems at the end of the module. During the Kidding Breech birth Problems with the doe Once the Kids Are Here Mastitis – See picture to the right No milk Problems with the kids

Tattooing Tattoos go in ears except for LaManchas who are tattooed in the tail web. Your tattoo ID in one ear and the year ID in the other ear.

Disbudding Burn at an early age Have wood to test the iron and cool rags

Activity: Your doe has started to kid. She has been doing some heavy pushing for close to an hour, but there is no sign of the kid. In fact, there has been little increase even in the expansion of her vulva. What do you do?

Activity Response: At this point, you may need to help the doe. Wash your hands, add lubricant if needed, and insert your hands into the vulva. See if you can feel a nose or rear. Begin pulling. If you feel uncomfortable with this, then call the vet.

Quiz Question #7 What is a sign that your doe is ready to kid? a.She will eat more than she usually does b.A discharge and pawing at the ground c.She will tell you d.There is no way of telling

Quiz Question #7 What is tattooed on a goat? a.A cute picture b. The goat’s registration number c. The year id and the person’s individual id d. The farm name

Great Job!!! There are a number of ways to know if your goat is ready to kid. These include a mucus discharge, an enlarged and swollen vulva, softening of the tail ligaments, beginning to bag up, a change in behavior, becoming very restless, pawing at the ground or making a bed, and a loss of appetite.

Great Job!!! Always tattoo the year ID in one ear and your personal ID in the other ear. Unless you have LaManchas, then you will do it on their tails.

Congratulations! You are ready to start the quiz!!!