Beginning to think goats

am1too · #1 11/12/10, 05:37 PM

There are more and more of them around here. How much pasture would I need per goat. What is a minimum number of goats I might need for all around purposes. I take it that they are very social creatures that might not do well by themselves. I think a cow would be to much for me. I have bout 5 acres in native grass with a little fescue. Working on soil improvenemt at the moment. HOw much of a fence would I need. Does it have to be special goat fencing. Will a 4ft fence contain them?

Would you buy them at a livestock auction or what source should I consider buying from?

HappyFarmer · #2 11/12/10, 06:04 PM

How much pasture would I need per goat.
**How much depends on your pasture yield & rainfall, if you'll be supplementing.
Our lush 2-acre pasture is enough for 18 goats, while another 2-acre parcel won't support 1. Also FYI certain types of Fescue can cause abortion, but that's another issue.

What is a minimum number of goats I might need for all around purposes.
**Depends on your purposes & number in household. 2 milk goats should support a small family fairly well most of the year, couple kids in the freezer couple times a year...2 goats won't keep 5 acres of lush pasture mowed.

I take it that they are very social creatures that might not do well by themselves. **Yes they prefer company, and do better with company, though 1 goat is not unheard of.

I think a cow would be to much for me.
**If it's just you, probably would be too much unless you like a LOT of milk & cheese. A mini would be more appropriate but perhaps a bit much on the milk.
HOw much of a fence would I need. Will a 4ft fence contain them
**Depends on the breed & size of the goat. Some breeds are contained easier than others, some goats are trained to fences and others are not. Electric with back up goat fencing is ideal for both goats & predator deterrant.

Does it have to be special goat fencing
**Better if so.

Would you buy them at a livestock auction or what source should I consider buying from?
**Absolutely NOT. Find a reputable breeder in your area, one who tests for disease. You will probably save yourself a lot of hassles & heartache in the long run.

HF

Alice In TX/MO · #3 11/12/10, 07:52 PM

How much pasture would I need per goat?
Goats are not pasture animals, as they prefer NOT to graze. They are browsers like deer, eating brush, twigs, leaves, and other vegetation that is above ground level.

What is a minimum number of goats I might need for all around purposes?
Depends on your goals and the size of your family!

I take it that they are very social creatures that might not do well by themselves.
YES! You should get at least two.

HOw much of a fence would I need. Does it have to be special goat fencing. Will a 4ft fence contain them?
A four foot field fence (woven wire) or electric net fencing will keep them in. Barbed wire will NOT keep them in. Electric strands will most likely not work unless they are carefully trained.

Would you buy them at a livestock auction or what source should I consider buying from?
NEVER EVER buy goats from a livestock auction. You can bring home disease that you won't be able to clean from your property.

Here's an excellent site to start reading and learning from!
http://www.fiascofarm.com/goats/gett...r-goat.htm#why

Oat Bucket Farm · #4 11/12/10, 08:00 PM

What they said

Goat Servant · #5 11/12/10, 08:06 PM

4ft field fence keeps my big ol white whales in but it's not going to keep predators out.
Part of having goats is good livestock guardian dogs.

The Tin Mom · #6 11/12/10, 08:23 PM

What they said...

But - I think the fencing might depend on the breed of goat. We have a std. chain link around our pens (moved it from another area) and the only time I have had a goat jump is when my buck jumped it last year during rut and the girls were on the other side.... We put 4 ft cattle panels around his pen and this year - so far so good....

My neighbors with a different breed - several jail breaks even with electric wire....

We don't have a livestock guardian dog but the goats are in the center of our property and we do have a couple protective dogs that are territorial....

am1too · #7 11/12/10, 08:36 PM

Very encouraging so far. How do I find out what fescue is a problem KY 31 is very predominate here.

Wags · #8 11/12/10, 08:42 PM

What exactly are you wanting the goats for? Meat, dairy, both? If dairy, how many people are you wanting to provide for?

We have Nigerians and have never had the adults escape from standard 47" field fencing. The babies can go through the fence to start with, but usually don't go far from their dam.

RoaminRoanAcres · #9 11/12/10, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by am1too

Very encouraging so far. How do I find out what fescue is a problem KY 31 is very predominate here.

Call your local extension office. They can advise you with specific grasses and problems.

NEVER get from an auction! Get from a reputable breeder and read up on CAE and CL. Don't take their word- ask for test results.

Learn about worms and worming in your area. What works for me here might not work for you there. This is something the local extension office OR the local university should be able to help with. Worms are the top thing to take out a goat-especially kids.

Fencing-we have Nubians and we use the standard "field fence" on t posts with braided electric up top. The nubians don't mess with the fence much other then rubbing on it sometimes, but if you're wanting pygmies, they need level 4 security lol.

motdaugrnds · #10 11/13/10, 09:39 AM

am1too, What do you want to do with your goats (milk, use as brooder for table meat, show, just clean off acreage, etc.)? This will determine what kind of goats to purchase. (We raise Nubians for milk & meat; however, there are other breeds that will work as well.)

I certainly would "not" buy goats at any livestock auction as what is sold there is often unhealthy. Instead, you might get some brochures from the various goat owners to see what they are offering and what condition their herd is in.

You are correct in that goats are "social" creatures. They do not do well alone; so get at least 2-3 goats (One doe and one buck or 2 does and one buck or 2 does "if" you know of a healthy buck nearby to breed your does to).

The 5 acres is certainly large enough for a small herd. (We have 3 does with 2 bucks and 3 "browsing" acres is doing well for them. Since there are only 2 in my family, this size of goat herd provides well.) The fencing for goats is not the same as fencing for cows as some goats are climbers. Do "not" put up a "welded" fence as they will put their hooves on it and it will easily come apart. We used a woven fence and it works well. Also 4' high is plenty high (6" off ground") as long as you have enough posts to keep it firm and there is nothing near it that permit a goat to use as a jumping-off place to get over that fence.

"Native" grasses around our place has endophytes in it if permitted to mature and I discovered the hard way that this will cause hard knots to develop in udders (Fescue 31 is notorious for this around these parts.); so it is best to have a pasture of "endophyte-free" grasses unless you keep the local grasses mowed enough so they don't mature. (This can be done with a little extra attention.)

Oat Bucket Farm · #11 11/13/10, 09:53 AM

I have LaManchas and their fencing is partial standard chain link and partial cattle panels. I have never had a jail break. Even the Nubians we used to have stayed put.

The Tin Mom · #12 11/13/10, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oat Bucket Farm

I have LaManchas and their fencing is partial standard chain link and partial cattle panels. I have never had a jail break. Even the Nubians we used to have stayed put.

My LaManchas are the same. That is part of the reason I chose that breed. They all seem pretty content just to jump on the "toys" I put in the pen and stay put.

LOL! Although one of them did figure out how to undo the latch on the gate and all of them were in the garden when I went out to milk yesterday! It was the first time in a year & a half that I have had them break out of jail like that! It was easy to get them back to the pen - I grabbed a bucket of feed and the whole crew just followed me right in...

Oat Bucket Farm · #13 11/13/10, 03:28 PM

Ours like to jump on the toys we put out for them too. And we have special secondary latches on all of the gates because they are too smart for their own good. One doe even twisted her head around while on the milk stand and tried bumping the latch loose. Thankfully she can't quite reach it,lol.

am1too · #14 11/16/10, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Tin Mom

My LaManchas are the same. That is part of the reason I chose that breed. They all seem pretty content just to jump on the "toys" I put in the pen and stay put.

LOL! Although one of them did figure out how to undo the latch on the gate and all of them were in the garden when I went out to milk yesterday! It was the first time in a year & a half that I have had them break out of jail like that! It was easy to get them back to the pen - I grabbed a bucket of feed and the whole crew just followed me right in...

Tad off topic but I have a neighbor who has a dog that jumps the fence, one that digs under it and one who can open the gate. He ask me what can a guy do? We both laughed a little.

am1too · #15 11/16/10, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wags

What exactly are you wanting the goats for? Meat, dairy, both? If dairy, how many people are you wanting to provide for?

We have Nigerians and have never had the adults escape from standard 47" field fencing. The babies can go through the fence to start with, but usually don't go far from their dam.

I am thinking a little milk instead of a lot of milk (cow).

If you were planting pasture what would you plant?

I have native grass and KY31 fescue is the major player here.

am1too · #16 11/16/10, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Tin Mom

My LaManchas are the same. That is part of the reason I chose that breed. They all seem pretty content just to jump on the "toys" I put in the pen and stay put.

LOL! Although one of them did figure out how to undo the latch on the gate and all of them were in the garden when I went out to milk yesterday! It was the first time in a year & a half that I have had them break out of jail like that! It was easy to get them back to the pen - I grabbed a bucket of feed and the whole crew just followed me right in...

Now that is a thought. What are your goats toys?

am1too · #17 11/16/10, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motdaugrnds

am1too, What do you want to do with your goats (milk, use as brooder for table meat, show, just clean off acreage, etc.)? This will determine what kind of goats to purchase. (We raise Nubians for milk & meat; however, there are other breeds that will work as well.)

I certainly would "not" buy goats at any livestock auction as what is sold there is often unhealthy. Instead, you might get some brochures from the various goat owners to see what they are offering and what condition their herd is in.

You are correct in that goats are "social" creatures. They do not do well alone; so get at least 2-3 goats (One doe and one buck or 2 does and one buck or 2 does "if" you know of a healthy buck nearby to breed your does to).

The 5 acres is certainly large enough for a small herd. (We have 3 does with 2 bucks and 3 "browsing" acres is doing well for them. Since there are only 2 in my family, this size of goat herd provides well.) The fencing for goats is not the same as fencing for cows as some goats are climbers. Do "not" put up a "welded" fence as they will put their hooves on it and it will easily come apart. We used a woven fence and it works well. Also 4' high is plenty high (6" off ground") as long as you have enough posts to keep it firm and there is nothing near it that permit a goat to use as a jumping-off place to get over that fence.

"Native" grasses around our place has endophytes in it if permitted to mature and I discovered the hard way that this will cause hard knots to develop in udders (Fescue 31 is notorious for this around these parts.); so it is best to have a pasture of "endophyte-free" grasses unless you keep the local grasses mowed enough so they don't mature. (This can be done with a little extra attention.)

So what would you plant for pasture? I am interested in pasture improvement.

am1too · #18 11/16/10, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goat Servant

4ft field fence keeps my big ol white whales in but it's not going to keep predators out.
Part of having goats is good livestock guardian dogs.

How are labs in this department? Can any dog be trained? My pooch is very protective.

Alice In TX/MO · #19 11/16/10, 10:03 PM

Deer browse. It's a seed mix available at feed stores now.

am1too · #20 11/16/10, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Tin Mom

What they said...

But - I think the fencing might depend on the breed of goat. We have a std. chain link around our pens (moved it from another area) and the only time I have had a goat jump is when my buck jumped it last year during rut and the girls were on the other side.... We put 4 ft cattle panels around his pen and this year - so far so good....

My neighbors with a different breed - several jail breaks even with electric wire....

We don't have a livestock guardian dog but the goats are in the center of our property and we do have a couple protective dogs that are territorial....

I think I might barn them at night for extra security. The wonderful state wildlife folks have turned loose a mountian lion or panther loose in our area to help control deer. I have seen 5 does together. Currently am down to 3 on 2 are older larger deer.

What enviornment measures do you practice. Some seem to think you almost have to be sterile.