Goat husbandry Flashcards
(EXAM) Teeth number and corresponding age for goats
Deciduous: 0-1 yr 2 teeth: 1 yr 4 teeth: 1.5 yr 6 teeth: 2.0 yr Full mouth: 2.5 yr
(EXAM) What is the most practical way of determining health and nutritional status of adult breeding goats?
Body condition score (BCS)
(EXAM) Describe the recommended management of pregnant does
1) Vaccinated and worming prior to birthing
2) Move to paddock with plenty of feed and water and minimal egg burden from other animals
3) Shelter
3 main uses for goats
1) Meat
2) Dairy
3) Fibre (Cashmere)
Important notes on goat meat production in Australia
- Small producer but larger meat exporter in the world
- 2.2M goats slaughtered per year
- Used for dairy, meat, genetics
- Small amount of cashmere and goats milk produced
What are the main breeds of goat that are used for meat in Australia? (2)
1) Rangeland (bush) goat
2) Boer goat
Identification features of a Boer Goat
- White body
- White tail
- White hooves
- White top of the head
- Brown face/neck/ears
Which goat breed is specifically only bred for meat production?
Birth weight?
Mature weight?
Boer goat - commonly used in cross-breeding
Birth weight: 3.4-3.7kg
Mature weight: 80-130kg
General Info on Rangeland Goats
- Major source of meat
- Highly adapted to survival in low rainfall regions
- Produce some cashmere (50g/yr)
- 45-80kgs
- Suitable for low-input farming systems
The Australian Cashmere Goat
- produces 300g/yr of premium Cashmere (undercoat)
Angora Goats
- Produce Mohair (silk-like fabric)
- Australia has 5% of worlds mohair
- 60-80kgs
Types of dairy goats (4)
Which is most common*
1) Anglo Nubian
2) Saanen*
3) British Alpine
4) Toggenburg
Numerical figures of Saanen milk production
Common weight 90-100kgs
Most common dairy goat
Lactate for 300 days
Average of 2-3L/doe/day
Who are more prone to handling stress, sheep or goats?
Goats
Will jump when stressed -> This can cause injury and fractures
There is a strong relationship between (a) and (b) and can be assessed by BCS
a) Nutrition
b) Welfare of animals
Nutrition management of goats
1) adapted to live in different environments
2) flexible and selective feeders
3) browse more than sheep
4) will select highly digestible grasses over clover
What are the typical percentages of grass, non-woody broad leaf plants, and woody species goats eat?
grass 30%
non-woody broad leaf plants 40%
woody species 30%
What percentage of bodyweight do goats need to eat in dry matter?
1.5-2% bodyweight
If pregnant, 2.5-3.0%
Overview of goat reproduction
Gestation: 150 days
Duration of oestrus: 26 hours
Frequency of oestrus: 21 days
How many times can a doe kid when conditions are good?
3 times in 2 years
When should breeding start in goats?
When does are 60% of mature body weight
How many bucks need to be run with 100 does for optimal reproduction management?
5%
5 bucks per 100 does
Depends on age and conditions of bucks
Four common husbandry procedures with goats
1) Shearing
2) Hoof trimming
3) Castration
4) Weaning of kids - 4 months of age
Common health problems in goats (5)
1) Gastrointestinal parasites
2) Lice infestation
3) Pregnancy toxemia (last 6wks of pregnancy - last 1/3 of pregnancy)
4) Clostridial disease - tetanus
5) Foot rot
What is one example of a congenital disease in goats
CAE - Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis
Polyarthritis - more than one joint
Management around kidding time
Kidding usually occurs in daylight
1) Shelter
2) Predation
3) Doe nutrition and health
Management of lactating doe and young kid
1) Nutrition
2) Clostridial disease
3) Monitoring of kids birth weight
*Strong link between nutrition and immunity (particularly parasites
What is the vaccinaiton schedule of kids?
Vaccinate at 6-8 weeks with a booster 4-6 weeks later
