Goat husbandry and breeding Flashcards
Give the names for a male goat and a castrated goat
Male = Buck, billie Castrated = Wether
What is the name of a female goat?
Doe, nanny
What is the name of a weaned and unweaned goat?
Weaned = Goatling, doeling Unweaned = Kid
What is the lifespan of a goat?
20 years
What are some relevant behaviours of goats?
- Form strong social bonds - groups should be kept stable and goats shouldn’t be isolated
- They are inquisitive and should have enrichment
- Known escape artists
- Headbutting used as a sign of dominance
How old should goats be when disbudded?
Less than one week old
Which vaccination should goat have?
Clostridial vaccine, with 6-8 month booster
Why are they required to have an ear tag?
They are classed as food producing animals so need identification
How should goats be housed?
- Similar to sheep
- Susceptible to cold/draughts due to thin coat
- Provide shelter
- Need a warmer environmental temperature
How must goats be appropriately fed to meet their large energy requirements?
- Browsing animals
- Need a variety of food choices
- High sword height when grazing
Why is BCS harder in goats?
- Most fat is deposited internally
- Use lumbar area and sternum to BCS
- will look and feel thinner externally
What type of breeders are goats?
Seasonal polyoestrus
How long is the gestation period of a goat?
When would you want them to breed/kid?
150 day
Breed: September - Nov
Kid: Feb-March
How long is a goats oestrus cycle?
19-21 days
How long does oestrus last and how long after oestrus does ovulation occur?
Oestrus = 24 - 36h Ovulate = 24 - 36 after start
