How to raise Goats

Goat Raising 101
Goats

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Goat Raising Basics – Introduction to Goat Farming

Similarly to any other crop or livestock activity, if you possess the triangle “Land – Time – Energy”, then you can feel the joy of raising your own goats in your backyard. Regardless of whether you raise goats for their milk, for their meat or as pets, goat farming can be a major source of enthusiasm. It can also provide excellent dairy products and income, if done rationally and on a scalable basis. The first year of involvement is always introductory and one can make the necessary first steps as well as projections for a bigger investment (in time and money) for the following years to come. In 3-4 years, if you really enjoy keeping goats and you see results, you can extend your livestock activity and do it semiprofessionally, maybe at a more proper establishment than your backyard.

Needless to say that commitment is the number one skill you must have. Goat or any other livestock cannot be left unattended for over a day. Thus, if you consider leaving let’s say for a weekend, you must find a reliable farm sitter to take care of your livestock. Managing livestock means caring, monitoring, feeding, cleaning, and troubleshooting 365 days a year. Furthermore, especially the dairy goats (on the milk side) must be milked twice a day; otherwise you put their health in danger. The average goat lives 10-13 years, but can reproduce (and produce milk) from 1-1,5 until 7-9 years old. There are -of course- striking exceptions to these age limits.

1.) How to raise Goats

2.) Housing Goats – Building the Goat Farm

3.) How to select Goats for milk or meat

4.) How to feed Goats

5.) Milking Goats and Dairy Goats Management

6.) Taking Care of Goats

7.) Goats Manure Production and Waste Management

8.) Q&As on Goats

Do you have experience in Goat Farming? Please share your experience, methods and practices in the comments below. All the content you add will be soon reviewed by our agronomists. Once approved, it will be added to Wikifarmer.com and it will influence positively thousands of new and experienced farmers across the world.

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