Don’t overlook the easiest way to learn quickly about raising goats. You will most likely find goat farmers in your local community. (Your county extension agent can probably help you identify the other farmers in your area.) Most goat farmers are friendly and will gladly show you around their farm if you call ahead to set up an appointment. By visiting a commercial goat farm, you will get a sense if breeding goats as a business is right for you. For example: How much work is it? How much money do I need to invest? What are the best kinds of goats for my particular situation? Where will I find sources of feed and hay? Can I make money doing this? Seeing for yourself is an excellent way to begin.

Participating in the activities of goat associations is an extremely effective way to learn. The IKGA (and other associations) have a concentration of people who are very interested in all aspects of raising meat goats. You will have ready access to years and years of experience that would be impossible to obtain in any other way. Most associations are inexpensive to join and offer many services and events from which you would benefit. For instance:

There is no more important item than fences when getting your farm ready for goats. Goats are smart and curious. They are known for their ability as escape artists. Whether you plan to fix up old fences, or build new ones, be careful to verify that you have indeed made your fence goat-proof. When refitting an older fence you will want to check for stumps or rocks that may be close to the fence line. Predators can climb on a stump or rock and jump in and conversely goats can jump out.

Many types of fencing can be successfully used for goats, but it must be installed and maintained correctly. Woven wire and/or high-tensile electric fencing, with spacing suitable for goats, usually work well. Many farm supply stores have brochures to help you plan and install your fencing. There are also sources of fencing information on the internet.

Heavy-duty combination cattle panels or panels especially designed for goats can be really handy around barns and other shelters. They are an economical way to build small separation pens or other needed enclosures.

The careful planning and the time spent on your fences will be among the best investments you make.

Kiko goats, and other meat goats, can be managed with only a minimum of shelter from the rain, wind and snow. A three-sided shed works well. The open side should face toward the south to take advantage of maximum sunlight and the prevailing winds in many areas. Make sure there is adequate, dry floor space for the goats to lie down during long bouts of inclement weather.

Existing barns can be "fitted" to work well with goats also. Allow an open area for the goats to gather since they are herd animals. Other types of areas may include a private place for kidding, storage for feed and hay, and a secure storage space for your supplies and special equipment.

Adequate ventilation in new or old barns should always be a consideration. Water condensation on the ceiling or walls of the barn after the goats have spent a night in the barn may indicate there is insufficient ventilation in the building. These conditions can contribute to poor respiratory health in goats.

Barns and shelters should be cleaned periodically to reduce the build up of ammonia (from urine) and to help control parasites and insect populations. The frequency of cleaning will vary based on ventilation, the type of flooring, and the degree to which surface water can and does enter your building. For new barns, place them to avoid any excess water in or near the barn. "Dense pack" gravel floors are good for use in a barn and are also inexpensive.

Typically a goat business will be profitable or not based on how many dollars are spent on feeding the herd. If you buy large quantities of commercial feed and specialty supplements, you will likely compromise your ability to make a profit. If, on the other hand, you strive to have your goats forage for the bulk of their food (and you manage your other expenses) a profit may be returned for your efforts.

The key factors in choosing how to feed your goats is to make sure they get enough protein, salt, and trace minerals at the lowest possible cost.

The old saying "if you don’t know where you are going, any road will do" is certainly true in the raising of goats. Are you trying to make money or just have some fun? Is your business selling breeding stock, selling goats for the commercial meat market, or some combination of both? How much time and money do you want to invest? Take a few minutes to write down what you believe your goals are. It is recommended that you start out with a small number of goats while you’re learning about the goat business and actually experience goat farming. You can add additional stock and modify your goals as needed to suit your situation. It will help if you set goals that are measurable otherwise you will not be able to chart your progress.

Understanding what is standing in the way of achieving your goals will be very helpful in planning for success. Typical obstacles might include limited amounts of money to invest, poor fencing, not enough land, or a lack of knowledge. By identifying obstacles, you have automatically determined the areas where your energy needs to be focused.

Vaccinations can be given for a variety of diseases. Local conditions and your individual preference will play a big role in your decision on what to give on a regular basis. There are not many vaccines that have been specifically approved for use in goats. Some companies, however, are starting to realize that there are market opportunities with goat vaccines. Expect to see more product offerings in the future. Some vaccines (and other medications) are given "off label" which means they have been approved for use in other livestock (perhaps cattle), but studies have not been done to show effectiveness in goats. Learn what other successful goat breeders are doing. Remember any "off-label" use is at your own risk.

A typical vaccination program for a goat farmer will likely include CD/T (Clostridium perfringens Type C&D and Tetanus Toxoid). This goat vaccine can be purchased over-the-counter to provide long-term protection against overeating disease and tetanus.

Parasite control

The biggest health problem you will face raising goats is control of parasites, especially stomach worms. Some goats (Kikos in particular) have been selected and bred to be parasite resistant, but that does not mean parasite free. Parasites can debilitate and even kill a goat quickly. Regular worming is used by most goat farmers (perhaps in the spring and the fall). Additional worming of any particular goat is best done on an "as needed’ basis. The overuse of worming medications can promote the development of resistant parasites on your farm - a severe management situation you definitely want to avoid!

You can test for the presence of parasites by doing fecal smears and examining the feces for the presence of worm eggs under a microscope. This test can indicate the relative quantity and type of parasites present (worm load). Another easy test you can do on your own is the FAMACHA test that requires looking at the membranes under the eyelids of goats. The degree of anemia is estimated by observing the degree of redness in the membranes. A website describing this test and the color scale is: http://www.new-agri.co.uk/03-2/develop/dev04.html. Please remember, no "test" is foolproof. Careful judgment is also required. Seeking professional training in workshops for performing the above tests is strongly recommended.

A primary preventive measure against worms (other than genetic selection) is rotating pastures so goats are always eating in a significantly worm-free environment. A rotational strategy may range from daily to 3-4 week intervals depending upon the size of the paddocks. Browsed paddocks should stand dormant for 12 days to 6 weeks or more before the goats are rotated through again. Appropriate dormancy periods depend upon the size of the paddocks and the frequency of rotation. Your county extension agent may be a good source of information regarding rotational grazing strategies for your area.

Worming medication can be given orally or by injection. Most breeders periodically rotate wormers to decrease the chances of developing resistant strains of parasites. Talk to, or access information, from other successful breeders regarding the various types of wormers used and the appropriate dosages. Not many worming medications are formally approved for use in goats, so several "off label" uses have been developed. Your local vet may also be helpful regarding parasite control. Be sure, however, to ask about his or her level of experience with goats. Many vets have not worked much with goats, but this is slowly changing as the interest in goat farming increases.

Other parasite problems are skin related. Some conditions to look out for in your herd are lice, mange mites, and ringworm.

Observation

Probably the most effective and efficient method of identifying a goat that is sick or in need of medical treatment is the human eye. If your goat is acting differently than it typically does (not eating well, standing off by itself, etc.) then something is probably wrong. If you notice this, then act quickly to identify the problem. Goats are sturdy, but not indestructible. They frequently don’t show many signs or symptoms at the early stages of illness, so by the time you see something is wrong, the situation has already progressed significantly.

Signs of a healthy goat include:

Goats are very susceptible to attacks from predators such as coyotes or a pack of local dogs out on the loose. A good fence will help keep predators away from the goats (especially an electric fence), but many goat farmers choose to also have some form of livestock guardian animal. Livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) live full time with the goats and usually do an excellent job of protecting their herd from intruders. There are many types of dogs used for this purpose including Great Pyrenees, Anatolians, and others. Most farmers try not to turn their livestock guard dogs into pets, as this is a distraction from the dog’s "work." Llamas and female donkeys (jennys) have also been used successfully in certain settings as guard animals.

One of the most exciting times of the year is when your does are kidding. This miracle is a wonder to see and typically you need do nothing (or very little) to help the process. Kiko does have a reputation as excellent mothers requiring very little attention. Kids are often up and about in a matter of seconds. Standing, walking, and suckling within a few minutes is not unusual.

Although birthing problems are infrequent, you need to decide how much intervention you’re willing to do if problems do arise. Some things you may want to learn how to do are tube feeding a weak newborn kid and raising a kid on a bottle if the mother cannot provide enough milk or has rejected the kid. If a doe in labor has been pushing very hard for thirty minutes and has produced nothing, it may necessary to go in and move or reposition a kid so the birth can proceed normally. This is a specialized skill requiring additional learning on your part. Work with someone who already knows how to do this or in many cases, your veterinarian will be glad to teach you these skills. Before your goats have kids you should do some reading in more detail about pregnancy and kidding. The more prepared you are, the better things will go if intervention is needed. See the referenced web sites and books for more information.

Choose your breeding time so you are having kids when you want to have them. The length of gestation for a goat is about 155 days. Many breeders deliberately schedule their breeding program to avoid kidding during months of extreme cold or extreme heat. Of course, if you choose to have your buck run with the does all year round, then scheduling is not an issue.

There is no substitute for quality, experience, and integrity. The guidance of an experienced breeder can easily make the difference in whether the start-up of your goat business is a success or failure. Learning by trial and error when buying goats can be expensive and even fatal when resources are limited. After you learn the basics of breed conformation and production traits, you will feel more confident about buying goats from sources that may be more "risky," such as a local sale/auction. By then you will be able to determine if the animal for sale "looks" right, appears to be disease free, and is worth the asking price. Many people buy goats only from proven breeders since it dramatically lowers their investment risk.

Obviously you need good financial records for tax purposes, but that is only the beginning of the information that will be useful to record and organize. Good records will allow you to make informed decisions about which animals should be culled and which animals are producing well. Good records to keep include: