Goats

Goats are a great addition to any hobby farm, especially if you are looking for land management or for a profit. An interesting fact about goats is that they were among the earliest animals domesticated by humans, more than 10,000 years ago. Goats don’t need a large amount of land – two to ten goats can reside peacefully together on one acre of land. These top-down grazers will eat weeds, leaves, and grass depending on what they require. Goats are ruminants, meaning they have a four-compartmented stomach and chew their cud like cattle.

Goats are known for being naturally curious. They are quite agile and can climb and balance in unwarranted places. They are actually the only ruminant to regularly climb trees. Due to these traits, a very sturdy and secure fence is necessary. If a goat finds a hole or weakness in the fence, they will continually try and get out of it. Other goats will catch on and quickly start doing the same thing.

Because they were domesticated so long ago, goats try to communicate with people similar to domesticated animals like dogs or horses. They often look to human guidance when presented with an obstacle.

Female goats are called “does” or “nannies”. Non-neutered males are called “billies” or “bucks”. Neutered males are called “wethers”.

Goats can provide milk as well. Goat milk has risen in popularity thanks to its health benefits like reducing inflammation, acting as a metabolic agent, and is high in calcium. If you’re looking to keep goats on your hobby farm for producing milk, some good breeds are: Alpine, Kinder, LaMancha, Nubian, Oberhasil, Pygmy, Saanen, Spanish (Brush), and Toggenburg.

If you are looking to use your goats for meat purposes, consider breeds like the Boer, Kiko, Kinder, Savanna, or Spanish. The mean from young goats is known as “kid” or “cabrito” (in Spanish). Adult goat meat is known as “chevon” or just simply “goat”.

Not only are goats useful when they are alive, they also are needed when they have passed. Goat intestine is often used to make “catgut”, which is used as material for internal human stitches as well as musical instrument strings.

Goats are an absolutely wonderful addition to any hobby farm!

Picture:Breed:
alpine-goatAlpine:
Origin: France
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Milk
Breed Note: Their milk can be used in as many forms as the cow milk we use today
angora-goatAngora:
Origin: Turkey
Coloring: Cream, white
Production: Hair
Breed Note: Single goat produces 4 to 5 kilograms of hair per year
boer-goatBoer:
Origin: South Africa
Coloring: Brown, white
Production: Meat, breeding
Breed Note: Noted for being fast growing
myotonic-goatFainting (Myotonic):
Origin: Unknown
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Pets, exhinbition
Breed Note: Muscles freeze for about 10 second when the goat feels pain or panic
kiko-goatKiko:
Origin: New Zeland
Coloring: White, cream, brown, black
Production: Meat
Breed Note: Recognized for their superior maternal instincts
kinder-goatKinder:
Origin: U.S.
Coloring: Brown, white, black
Production: milk, meat
Breed Note: More muscular than other goat its size
lamancha-goatLaMancha:
Origin: U.S.
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Milk, pets
Breed Note: Easily recognized by their short hair unlike others
nigerian-dwarf-goatNigerian Dwarf:
Origin: Nigeria
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Milk, pets
Breed Note: Gentle and easily trainable
nubian-goatsNubian:
Origin: Great Britan
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Milk
Breed Note: Able to live in extreme hot climates
oberhasli-goatOberhasli:
Origin: Switzerland
Coloring: Brown, black
Production: Milk
Breed Note: Mature goats weigh between 100 to 150 pounds
pygmy-goatPygmy:
Origin: West Aftrica
Coloring: White, brown, black, gray
Production: Milk, work
Breed Note: Able to live in most climates
pygora-goatPygora:
Origin: U.S.
Coloring: White, cream, brown, black
Production: hair, milk
Breed Note: With good heath can live up to 14 years on average
saanen-goatSaanen:
Origin: Switzerland
Coloring: White, cream
Production: milk
Breed Note: Largest of the goat dairy breeds
savanna-goatSavanna:
Origin: South Africa
Coloring: White, shades of red and blue, black
Production: Meat
Breed Note: Noted for easy birthing
spanish-goatSpanish (Brush):
Origin: Spain
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Meat, milk
Breed Note: Can range from 50 to 200 pounds
toggenburger-goatToggenburg:
Origin: Switzerland
Coloring: Shades of red and brown, white
Production: Milk
Breed Note: Calm, quiet, and gentile; great as pets

16 thoughts on “Goats

  1. Searching for angora goats in or near Oklahoma.

  2. i interesting ur pig,chicken and goats for sale…

  3. Looking for Nigerian dwarf dueling

  4. Anybody know anyone in the US that would have a “Poitou goat”?

  5. Checking what I have to do to list Goats for sale?

  6. I’m trying to find out what kind of goats would be good to clear brush and then process them for meat.

  7. Tabatha gravell

    I’m looking for a brown and white doe Pygmy goat

  8. Freddy Rieger

    I would also know what I have to do to list goats for sale. I have two 100% New Zealand Kiko bucklings (not registered), 7 months old now, Kikos are a hardy goat, that are known for their high quality meat, are parasite resistant, and they will eat just about anything. $125 each. Located in Carthage, NC 28327 Please email for pictures.
    Thank you,
    Freddy Rieger
    [email protected]

  9. David at Goat Land

    Weare looking for someone with a Kalahari red goats very serious about finding and buying must in the USA already they will be shipped to Hawaii for private party

  10. William Cornell

    Looking for Toggenburg doe kids in Southern Oregon or Northern California…
    thanks for offering such a great site

  11. I need a Nubian buck to breed with a doe in Bessemer Alabama will pay stud fee for his service

  12. Pamela Barrows

    Looking for Nubian doe

  13. Pamela Barrows

    I’ve moved back to NH from the west coast and had to leave all my horses, peacocks and goats behind, the product of decades of breeding Nubians. so I’m looking for new ones, preferably close to Raymond NH

  14. sherlynka Jones

    American LaMancha Goats how much for a male and female

  15. looking for registered savanna buckling in Fl

  16. looking for a male and a female pgymy Not for milk or meat just for pet on my 4 acres Near florida panhandle, bay, walton, okaloosa counties. budget top $200 each

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