Goat Flashcards
Kidding
the act of giving birth in goats
Why do goats adapt to a greater environment than other ruminants?
- Their size allows them to be housed in tighter quarters
- Able to conserve body water and can reabsorb fluid in large intestine
- Fat deposits are from the inside out and it allows for energy stores
- Hair coat can insulate them or shed for the heat or cold
What is a goats digestive system?
ruminant
Puberty
120 days to 1 year (depends on breed but around 4 months)
Estrous cycle of goats
21 days
Estrus cycle of goats
36 hours
Gestation period of goats
133 days or 5 months
Do goats have high forage diets?
Yes
High Forage Diets
rotational grazing or subtle feilds; corn, wheat, fodder, winter rye
Shelter for goats
minimum amount needed, just a natural shade and wind breaks
Parasite control for goats
Long range medication
Long Range Medication
destroys parasite cells by killing the worms reproduction abilities
Protection for goats
need a livestock or guardian dog
Types of goats
dairy, meat, fiber
Dairy goats
- selected for milk production traits
- seasonal breeders in fall and winter
- 2-3 kids per goat
Meat goats
- polyestrous (can breed throughout the year)
- selected and bred for their muscle tissue
- high twinning rate
Fiber goats
- smaller framed
- Angora goats (8-12 lbs. of fiber/year)
- single births
- polyestrous (can breed throughout the year)
- need a dry environment
Angora Goats
8-12 lbs. of fiber per year
Non-selective browsers
- goats prefer a wide spectrum of plants and other small ruminants
- eat top to down so they’re an effective control for undesirable plants and shrubs
head of goat in 2020
2.09 million
average herd size of goats
28-30 because of marketing issues due to small farm sizes, and the non-traditional nature of goat production
Top meat got states
texas, tennessee
top dairy goat states
california, wisconsin
top all uses of goats states
texas, california
when are meat goats marketed
fall for showings and religious holidays
What livestock industry is the fastest growing?
goats
how many goats heads were slaughtered in 2018
479.14 million
How much of the total population eat goat meat?
3/4
What is the most frequently consumed meat worldwide
goat
What percentage of worldwide meat consumption?
5%
Percent of red meat consumption?
8%
Chevon
goat meat (48-60 lbs, 6-9 months of age)C
Cabrito
only milk fed goats, paler pink and more tender (4-8 weeks of age)
Market weight of goats
50-60 lbs.
Market age of goats
6-10 months
Is there a formal meat grading for goats?
no, but 98% are choice if there was one
Selections in goat meat
what they use to describe the carcass size and characteristics
Selection 1
thick muscling, bulging legs, full loin and rack, thick shoulder
Selection 2
moderate muscling, full leg, loin, rack, and shoulder
Selection 3
skinnier and doesn’t have much muscle
Meat goat breeds
Kiko, Boer, Texmaster
- hard, fast growing and high survivability
- gained popularity in recent years in humid areas due to good parasite resistance and motherly ability
Kiko
- developed early 1900’s by Dutch farmers in South Africa
- rapid growth, excellent carcass qualities
- most popular in US
- highly adaptable in different environments
- first full-blooded boers were brought into the US in 1993
- traditional color pattern is a white body or a red head, but can also be solid red or white, paints or dapples
- docile, high fertility rate and fast growing
- mature does are 190-230 lbs.
- mature bucks 200-340 lbs.
Boer
- good mothering
- hardy and parasite resistant
- kids have high survivability rate
Texmaster
Dairy goat breeds
- small farms where products are mostly used for home consumption or small scale dairy products
- Alpine, LaMancha, Nubian, Saanen, Oberhasli, Toggenburg,
Large Scale Dairies
commercial focused milk and cheese production
Goat Cheese
used in fine dining
- medium to large framed
- alert erect ears
- all colors and combinations except Saanen or Toggenburg
- straight face
- roman nose is discriminate against
- high milk production
Alpine (French Alpine)
- developed in the US
- any color or color combination
- excellent temperament and easy keeping
- milk has a high butterfat content
- straight face w the ears being a distinctive characteristic
- Gopher Ears and Elf Ears
LaMancha
Gopher Ears
max on one inch; end up or down
Elf Ear
max of two inches; ends up or down
- larger framed
- mix between Asian, African, and European origin
- known for high quality, high butterfat, and milk
- head is a distinctive breed characteristic
- strong roman nose
- ears are long, wide, and pendulous
- ears lie close to the head and flare slightly out, rounded at the tip
- hair is short, fine, and glossy
- any color or patterns except Saanen or Toggenburg
Nubian
- originated in switzerland
- medium to large framed
- white to cream colored
- ears should be erect and alert, pointing forward
- face is stright and dished
- greatest amount of milk (3 gallons a day)
Saanen
- swiss breed
- low milk production
- medium sized
- erect ears
- face is straight or dished
- can be black but chamoisee (light to deep red) color preferred
- black markings
- bucks have more white hairs
Oberhasli
- swiss breed
- medium sized
- medium milk production
- short and fine hair
- solid colored varying from light fawn to dark chocolate
- distinct white marking (nose, stocking, belly, tail)
- ears are erect
- face is dished or straight, never roman-nosed
Toggenburg
