Goat Production

Question 1

What are the main reasons for farming goats?

Answer 1

• fibre (mohair, cashmere, cashgora)
• meat (chevon)
• milk
• weed/scrub control
• hobby/pet

Question 2

What are the fibre goats and their characteristics?

Answer 2

Angora goats
- produce mohair (luxury fibre)
- two shearings per year (Jan and July)

Cashmere goats
- principally from feral goats
- short fibre (<19 microns)
- 50g, once per winter / 400g/year if specially bred

Question 3

What goat breeds are used on commercial meat farms?

Answer 3

• Boer goats — males
• Boer x Saanen (dairy) — females

But 90% of goats processed for meat are feral

Question 4

What is the preferred goat for weed control?

Answer 4

• 18 months old
• mature liveweight
• preferably a castrated make (wether)

Question 5

What are the milking goat breeds?

Answer 5

• Saanen (most common)
• Anglo-Nubian
• Sable — NZ colored Saanen
• Alpine
• Toggenburg

Question 6

When is seasonal milking for goats? How long does it last?

Answer 6

• July/Aug to April/May
• lactation ~300 days

Question 7

When does mating in goats occur?

Answer 7

Starts in Feb

Question 8

How long does gestation last for goats?

Answer 8

150 days (3 pregnancies in 2 years)

Question 9

What is the doe to buck ration for goats?

Answer 9

22 does to 1 buck

Question 10

When is the first kidding for goats?

Answer 10

~ 13 months old

Question 11

How long do goats stay in the herd?

Answer 11

5-8 years (kid every year in commercial herds)

Question 12

How are goats housed?

Answer 12

• open sided barns with woodchip
• 0.3 m^2 per doe

Question 13

Explain goat diet

Answer 13

• provide varied diet: broad range of weed/scrub species
• will eat some weeds without forcing (thistles, blackberry)