Breedinggoat Essentials

Breeding Goat Essentials(Angora, Meat, Dairy)

Texas 4-H and Youth Development

Topics to Discuss

The following topics will be discussed:

• Selection

• Facilities and Equipment

• Nutrition

• Health

• Fitting and Showing


Selection

Breeds• Types of breeding goats – fiber (Angora,

cashmere), meat (Boer, Kiko, pygmy, etc) and dairy (Alpine, LaMancha, Nubian, Oberhasli, Saanen, and Toggenburg)

• Most major shows have Angora, Boer, and Dairy goat shows, however Dairy will not be discussed.

• For information on Dairy goats contact Dr. Lou Nuti & Scott Horner - Prairie View A&M University (979/857 -3916)


Selection• Breeds

Shows Breeds

Dallas (junior & open) Junior – DairyOpen – Angora, Boer, Cashmere, Dairy, Meat Goat

Fort Worth (open) Boer and Dairy

San Antonio (junior & open) Angora and Boer

San Angelo (junior & open) Junior – Angora, Boer, Angora Wether FuturityOpen – Boer and Pygmy

Houston (open) Boer and Dairy

Austin (open) Boer


Selection cont.Quality Considerations• The following considerations should be taken when selecting a

goats:– Structural correctness– Growth – Muscle– Breed and sex characteristics

• Approx. 50% of evaluation of Angora is evaluated on body conformation and 50% on fleece

• Important mohair traits – lbs of mohair, grade and uniformity of grade, length, density, style and character, luster, completeness of cover, absence of kemp, absence of sheepy fleeces

• Angora and Boer evaluated on structural correctness, growth, muscling, volume and capacity, and breed and sex character.

• Disqualifications for Boer goats include: jaw defects, folder ears, blue eyes, wry tail, too little pigmentation, split testicles, teat and udder problems.


Selection cont.

Ownership• All goats must be registered in the

Handbook of their Association in the name of the Junior owner before they enter the ring.

• Most shows will use November 1st as deadline.

• Open shows require ownership in Handbook of Association 30 days prior to the show.


Selection cont.

Age

• Angora and Boer divided into classes based on age on registration papers.

• Angora: kid, yearling, aged

• Boer: kid, yearling, aged subdivided into more classes


Selection cont.

Shearing guidelines

• Angora goats must be machine shorn to the skin on or after August 1st of the calendar year preceding the show

Health Papers

• Most major shows require breeding goats to have health papers upon entering the show grounds.


Facilities and Equipment

• Minimum space of 400 ft2 of pen space and 25ft2 of shelter space per goat is recommended

• Should be well drained.• Pen height should be at least 42 inches to

discourage jumping and predators• Can be hand-fed or self-fed• If hand-feeding allow for 12-18 inches of trough

space per goat• If self-feeding allow for 6 inches of trough space

per goat• Access to clean water most important when

feeding.


Nutrition

• No particular feed that should be fed

• Goats must have basic daily nutritional requirements:– Water– Protein– Energy– Minerals – Vitamins


Nutrition cont.• If raising own lambs important to not only feed does

but also creep feed young kids• Good creep feed contains 16-18% crude protein,

proper mineral balance, not too much roughage or fiber, contain antibiotics (coccidiostat and ammonium chloride), palatable and be pelleted

• After buying or weaning goats put on growing ration (14-16% protein), proper mineral balance, roughage, and antibiotics if necessary, palatable, and pelleted

• Can either be self-fed or hand-fed• Recommended to hand-feed breeding goats to allow

more accurate evaluation, however growing kids usually self-fed

• Feed should be fresh and consistent• Should gain 3-4% of their body weight a day.


Health• Keeping breeding goats healthy is very

important!• Prevention is the key to a successful health

program.• Administer vaccination program

recommended by local veterinarian– Vaccinate for enterotoxemia and soremouth and

treated for internal parasites• Other diseases: urinary calculi, coccidiosis,

polioencephalomalcia, ring worm, and pinkeye

• Regular hoof trimming is also necessaryTexas 4-H and Youth Development

Health cont.

• When administering drugs follow all directions on drug labels to Quality Assurance.

• The use of drugs in manner unintended violates laws set by the Food and Drug Administration

• Texas livestock shows have strict laws for illegal drug use and will disqualify animals if illegal drugs are used


Fitting and Showing

• Angora goats are shown in their natural state, never washed.

• Important that fleece contamination by hay, dirt, etc. be kept to a minimum

• When mohair gets long Angora goats tend to urinate on themselves, trimming prevents this.

• Mohair can be worked so it will open easier when being evaluated.

• Important to do properly otherwise can cause more harm than good.


Fitting and Showing cont.

• No set rules for fitting Boer goats

• Shorn slick a month or two before show

• Boer goats generally washed before show

• Both Angora and Boer should be halter broken and taught to lead.


Additional questions to address with Exhibitors

• What are the goals of the 4-H member and family?

• What breeds of goats do you and your family have an interest in showing?

• Do you need assistance in locating and selecting your project?


Additional Resources for Breeding Goats

Meat Goat Production Handbook

By Langston University


Conclusions• All aspects of the selection process

should be understood. (breeds, quality, ownership, age, shearing guidelines)

• Proper facilities should be available.• Proper diets and nutritional information

about feeding goats should be identified.• Health is one of the most important

aspects of raising breeding goats.• All rules should be followed in regards to

fitting prior to show.Texas 4-H and Youth Development

Breedinggoat Essentials

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Transcript of Breedinggoat Essentials