RAISING GOATS MY WAY (IF I COULD DO IT OVER AGAIN) : PART I

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by Randy Kidd

MOM's vet takes dead aim at his own advice on goat keeping published in issue 65.

How often-especially when you're talking about livestock-have you heard the lament, "If I had it to do all over again, here's what I'd do"? I know I've listened to such statements more times than I can count! That's not surprising, though, because I've been in and out of the goat "business" several times . . . given numerous seminars and classes on the beasties (while listening to the comments, complaints, and questions of the goat keeping folks in attendance) . . . and-as a veterinarian -shared in the trials and tribulations of many local goat breeders.

Well, now it's my turn. Having been awarded a certified degree in goats by the school of hard knocks, I'm ready to stand before MOM's readers and recite my own mistakes . . . and how I'd correct them if I were starting with a clean slate. You should understand that in some instances my advice is a far cry from what I used to say a few years ago (my article "How to Raise Healthy Goats", in MOTHER NO. 65, page 74, is a case in point). And naturally, since we caprinekeepers do tend to be a strongly opinionated lot, not all goatherds will agree with all (or possibly any) of my revised counsel.

This piece will contain a collection of random tips on getting started . . . selecting and buying stock . . . and providing shelter for the herd. Part II will go into some other facets of taking care of these fascinating-and friendly small livestock. So lend an ear while I list what I'd do now.

FOR BEGINNERS

I used to tell novices to buy one goat (absolutely no more than two) . . . but now I think it's a better idea to start with five or six youngsters. Here's why: To my way of thinking, three (or maybe four) goats are a practical number for a person to milk twice a day. If I'm working any fewer than three animals, I've found that the time spent setting up to milk-cleaning utensils, hauling grain and hay, and so forth-really isn't economically used. On the other hand, if I've got five or more goats to milk, I'm plumb tuckered out by the time the task is finished.

With a starter herd of five or six doelings, I can select the three best producers of that first year to keep, and still have a couple of young does to sell . . . ladies that'll bring a premium because they're "in milk" and have their kids at their sides. I'll then keep the very best of my unsold female kids until the next year, to see how she turns out. If she look so as if she'll be a better milk maker than an animal I already own, I'll keep her. If not, I'll sell the doe to someone who is less critical than I am.

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