{"id":72503,"date":"2020-06-29T07:00:24","date_gmt":"2020-06-29T11:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/?p=72503"},"modified":"2020-11-03T02:29:02","modified_gmt":"2020-11-03T07:29:02","slug":"start-keeping-goats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/start-keeping-goats\/","title":{"rendered":"What You Need To Know To Start Keeping Goats"},"content":{"rendered":"

G<\/span>oats have rapidly become America\u2019s sweetheart of small livestock, and it\u2019s not difficult to see why<\/a>. Their general disposition can be described as clever, curious, personable and affectionate.<\/p>\n

Even among breed and individual goats, their personalities are most comparable to the family dog than any other livestock species.<\/p>\n

Most goat keepers will agree that they learn their <\/span>names quickly and respond when they are called. <\/span>They become greatly attached to their people\u2014making them ideal companions\u2014while their child\u00ad<\/span>like antics are especially charming in a petting zoo setting. <\/span><\/p>\n

Aside from companionship, goats can also offer brush clearing, milk, meat, fiber and packing. <\/span><\/p>\n

Goats Need Other Goats<\/h2>\n

The No. 1 thing that all goat people want you to know is that goats are herd animals. They create social rankings within their group, which is important to their mental well-being.<\/p>\n

Sometimes people translate \u201cherd animal\u201d to mean that goats are found hanging out in groups. What it really means is that goats need other goats in order to be secure, happy and healthy.<\/p>\n

Please don\u2019t let someone gift you with a single goat and leave it at that!<\/p>\n

Yes, there are stories of goats living just fine on their own or with a pony or sheep companion. But the truth is that they need a companion (or two) of the same species to truly be happy and thrive.<\/p>\n

Let your significant other know that, yes, it\u2019s entirely necessary to bring home at least two goats!<\/p>\n

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Learn everything you need to know about keeping goats in Goats 101!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Right Goat for the Job<\/h2>\n

Are you interested in goats for a specific purpose? Do you desire farm-fresh milk? Do you want to raise your own meat? Are you dreaming of homegrown fiber?<\/p>\n

Goats are extremely versatile, and choosing the appropriate breed can easily fill more than one need.<\/p>\n

Weed Eaters<\/h3>\n

Grazing animals such as sheep and horses are low-foragers, which focus more on tender grasses that are close to the ground. Goats are browsers (like deer) as opposed to grazers and prefer leaves, shrubs, weeds, trees, twigs, your roses, etc.<\/p>\n

If not offered their preferred food, a hungry goat will certainly eat whatever is available.<\/p>\n

One of the best things about goats is that any breed can be useful for weed abatement on your property. In California where I raise goats, we enjoy this perk immensely as defensible space practices against fires are paramount.<\/p>\n

In terms of Angora goats, you must consider the types of weeds and shrubs in your pasture and the potential damage those plants could do to the breed\u2019s fleece.<\/p>\n

Recently shorn Angoras do fine in this situation as long as the goats can clear it out quickly. Once the fiber begins to grow, however, it can become snagged, torn, matted or downright ruined by burrs and other seed heads that become entangled in the fleece.<\/p>\n

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Liliya Kulianionak\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Milk<\/h3>\n

Dairy goats are a tremendously efficient source of milk, cream, buttermilk, cheese, yogurt and sour cream for you and your family.<\/p>\n

If you want to keep goats for milking, you should know that your does will have to be bred every year. You should be prepared to either grow your herd or eventually find homes for the kids once they are weaned.<\/p>\n

Yes, dairy goats make enough milk for you and her growing kids both. You should also know from the get-go that milking is a commitment and can be time-consuming.<\/p>\n

Popular dairy goat breeds include:<\/p>\n