Intro to Goats
I spend a lot of time mentoring people so I decided to create a resource those people could reference any time they want. I will likely add to this as time goes by but it will start as a basic guide for people new to goats. Goats can be very rewarding - if you go about things the right way. I am here to share the things that work for me and my herd.
First, I will tell you why you might want to consider my advice. I have a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Missouri State University. I have interned with veterinarians and taken Vet Science courses. I have owned goats for decades; first a mixed herd of all different breeds and then my current purebred Nubian herd. I am a Certified Dairy Goat Quality Producer through Langston University and I have had my current active uninterrupted membership with American Dairy Goat Association since 2010. I have bred and raised some of the top appraising and top ranking Nubian dairy goats in the world with Top Ten Breed Leaders, Elites and Superior Genetics awards. I have exported my breeding stock to other countries and all over the United States as well. I have been selling goat milk and goat milk soaps in addition to Nubian breeding stock for many years. In a nutshell, I have a lot of experience in what it takes to breed, raise and manage dairy goats.
Now, on to the advice. I have put together a brief introduction about facilities, supplies and how to find the right goats when you’re ready. Keep in mind this just an introduction so it doesn’t dive into the specifics of diet and nutrition, milking, detailed management, etc. I have included a list of supplies that I think are necessary to have on hand. I do include links to a few products on this page and I may earn a small amount at no extra cost to you when you purchase from clicking those links.
Facilities
Goats require a three sided shelter that will allow them to stay out of the wind and stay dry. You will need enough space for the number of animals you will want (plan on more than you think because you WILL want to collect them) without fighting for space or stepping on one another. You will need a good system for feeding hay without too much competition. Goats need to have their feed, hay and minerals up off of the ground and where they don’t stand or poop in it. Our feed troughs are homemade but something like this would work similarly: Feed Trough. My does have homemade hay feeders but for my bucks I use some similar to these: Hay Feeders. I absolutely love these for my kids: Hay Bags. I use several of these Mineral Feeders in all my pens for bucks, does and kids alike. They will also need a clean, fresh source of water. You will want to make sure to have appropriate fencing for the breed you choose. For example, Nigerian Dwarfs require much tighter fencing than Nubians.
Supplies
Items I feel are vital to have on hand at all times:
MOST IMPORTANT: Find and develop a working relationship with a reputable, knowledgeable goat veterinarian – this is harder than it should be but they are out there! Now, on to the items:
Thermometer — getting a temperature is the first step to knowing how to treat a sick or injured animal. A temperature will also likely be the first thing a vet will want to know. You can use one you already have (just make sure you label it as animal use only afterwards!) or you can get one specifically for animals like this one: Thermometer.
C&D antitoxin — a definite life saver for enterotoxemia cases. This is a MUST HAVE especially if you have kids. Enterotoxemia kills kids fast so I give treatment dose in any situation that a kid stops drinking their milk. *Note: This is NOT the same as the CDT toxoid vaccine…it is an antitoxin that will treat the toxins building up in their gut.
Penicillin — another must have in the case of enterotoxemia. Penicillin will treat the bacteria overgrowth in their gut. Penicillin can also be paired with Excede, a great broad spectrum antibiotic.
Hair dryer or warming box — yes, just a normal hair dryer will work wonders. I used one for decades until I finally got a warming box which is a huge time saver when I am doing kidding season alone. However, a simple hair dryer can save newborn kids from hypothermia and keep them from losing ears, tails, or feet to frostbite in cold weather. *Note: it does not have to be necessarily cold outside for an animal to become hypothermic so, again, getting a body temperature is important. Use just any hair dryer, or if you want to make a warming box like mine (which is better than sliced bread - see picture below), get yourself a big tote like these: Totes and then cut a hole in one end to fit a small heater like this: Small Space Heater. Add a small ventilation hole on the opposite end and you have a kid warming box! You can put shavings or a towel down in the bottom and set the fan and heat settings where you want them, put wet or chilled kids in and place the lid on top. The circulating warm air will warm and dry kids in the box faster than any other method and it's hands free!
Quality probiotic supplement — given to anything under stress, illness, off feed, scours, etc. Achieve Pro is great for kids, especially with scours. My mature goats love the taste of Probios Plus and will eat it like a treat.
Quality electrolytes — treatment/prevention of acidosis and dehydration. Entrolyte HE and Diaque are both good electrolytes. I like Diaque Electrolytes best for kids because you can mix one kid-sized bottle at a time rather than having to mix a whole half gallon at a time like with the Entrolyte HE.
Syringes and needles in assorted sizes for injections, oral meds, and enemas. I keep assorted sizes of syringes (here are some useful sizes: 3 cc Syringes, 5 cc Syringes, 10 cc Syringes, 20 cc Syringes, 60 cc Syringes) and I keep 18g x ⅝” and 18g x 1” needles on hand as well. The larger syringes (20-60 cc) are especially useful for lactated ringers, kid tubing and dosing oral medicines. These Insulin Syringes are good for checking ketones and giving small doses of meds to young kids.
Good coccidiostat — I have used Sulmet and Toltrazuril in the past but I like Pro Bac C the best. I use it as a daily preventative in my kids. The dose I use for Pro Bac C is double the calf dose per lb (i.e. ⅛ oz for 110 lb calf = ⅛ oz for 55 lb goat) so the dose is small and easily mixed into their milk.
Ketone Meter and test strips — invaluable for heavy bred does or just freshened does who are “off” so that pregnancy toxemia or ketosis can be caught early enough to treat and have a good outcome. This is the ketone meter that I have and use: Ketone Testing Kit. And here are just the strips when you need more: Ketone Test Strips.
Keto gel — we use Keto-Nia-Fresh which is a high energy and vitamin supplement and given when ketones are high (you want ketone levels to be below 1 on your ketone meter). Here is the goat version of Keto-Nia-Fresh: Goat's Prefer Keto Nia Drench, however, I have always used the cattle version, given 2 to 3 times per day with the total daily amount being around 120 cc. I typically give about 60 cc at a time twice a day until ketones are normal. The cattle version is available from Valley Vet Supply but you will need a tube cartridge gun as well to administer which is sold separately.
There are also items that are nice to have on hand but that you can probably get from your vet or OTC if they are needed:
Dewormers from at least two different classes. The three classes available in the United States are Macrolides (ivermectin and moxidectin), Benzimidazoles (fenbendazole and albendazole), and Imidothiazoles (levamisole and morantel tartrate). Make sure the dewormers you have are effective in your area with your goats. I have used Quest gel, Quest Plus, and Cydectin Sheep Drench (Moxidectin), Ivomec Plus or Noromectin Plus injectable (Ivermectin), and Valbazen (albendazole). *Note: Fenbendazoles (Safeguard and Panacur) are largely ineffective in many areas of the United States. Parasites are the number one killer of goats but do not deworm indiscriminately. Fecals will help determine when to deworm and with what. The only time I routinely deworm is immediately after a doe kids as the stress of kidding can cause a parasite bloom.
Lactated ringers — can be given subcutaneously in dehydrated or sick animals that are not drinking to prevent dehydration and acidosis. Life saving in many situations. I keep at least a couple of bags of Lactated Ringers on hand at all times and while not necessary, an Infusion Set is nice for ease of administering fluids.
Kid tubing kit (tube, syringe, lubricating gel) — for tubing colostrum, milk, or electrolytes into weak, dehydrated, or sick kids if necessary. *Note: do not tube colostrum or milk into a kid unless their body temperature is above 100*F. This is what I keep on hand: Kid Tube Feeding Kit.
Surgical-type gloves — we buy these in bulk. Medical Gloves like these are useful for milking, doctoring, assisting with kidding, etc.
Banamine — pain killer and anti-inflammatory.
Fortified Vitamin B Complex — a great supportive therapy for anything that is ‘off’ or under stress. It is also a good appetite stimulant. I keep the injectable on hand at all times but I have also used this Oral Vitamin B Complex for long-term use mixed into a kid's bottle once a day.
Broad spectrum antibiotic such as Excede or Biomycin — these two antibiotics can treat most of the common issues you might see in goats from uterine infection to respiratory infection, mastitis, joint ill, and most abortion causing organisms as well.
Molasses — dissolved in warm water for does post kidding and can also be rubbed on newborn kid’s gums to provide a boost of energy and interest if they don’t have much of a sucking response. Grandma's Original Molasses is the kind I keep on hand.
Tetanus antitoxin — given at disbudding/castration/tattooing or if an unvaccinated goat suffers a deep wound.
CDT Toxoid — given to kids at least twice around 8 and 12 weeks of age and annually thereafter to protect against clostridium perfringens (enterotoxemia) and tetanus.
Bottle feeding supplies -- I vastly prefer Pritchard Style Nipples. I find them the most easily accepted by all newborn kids and they can either be used on a soda bottle or on a homemade bucket feeder like mine (pictured below) by pulling the nipples out of the caps and inserting into drilled holes in a bucket like this: Square bucket (or a washed out repurposed bucket from cat litter works great!) and then make straws with this Tubing. The bucket feeder can then be set down inside another, weighted, bucket to give it some height and keep it from tipping over or it can be hung up on a panel using a clip like this: Stainless Steel Clips. With very enthusiastic buckling groups, I often put a weighted bucket (another square bucket with gravel in the bottom) AND snap it to the fence panel to keep them from knocking it over.
Finding the Right Goats
So you have your facilities and your supplies. Now you’re ready for goats. Where you get your goats is very important. If you have done just a little bit of research you will be aware that there are several terrible, chronic diseases that run rampant in untested goat populations. CAE (Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis), Johnes (Paratuberculosis) and CL (Caseous Lymphadenitis) are the three biggies that are contagious and incurable. There are other diseases as well which aren’t quite as bad but you definitely want to avoid such as sore mouth (Orf), Brucellosis, Q fever, pink eye, etc.
The best way to ensure you start off your goat venture with healthy goats is to buy from a reputable breeder who has a tested, clean herd. You will also want to look into breed specific genetic issues such as G6S in Nubians and buy only animals free of genetic defects. You will likely pay more initially for goats from a tested clean herd free of genetic defects but it will mean less money in the long run. Instead of money spent on vet bills and potentially heartache from losing a beloved goat, you will be starting with the best chance of the great experience of having happy, healthy goats for years to come.
Another advantage to buying from a reputable breeder besides the health factor is that most reputable breeders will be happy to help their buyers with their new goats. Having an experienced mentor who is invested in your success with your goats is second only to having a relationship with a good goat veterinarian. Reputable breeders want their goats to thrive in their new homes and want you to succeed in whatever your goat goals are. When you buy their genetics, you are buying a piece of their legacy and they want to watch their goats and legacy flourish, even outside of their own herd.
I hope you find this brief introduction helpful in your goat adventures.