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Starting with Goats
By Katie Thear
An Extract from Starting with Goats.
Introduction
Capricorn, the goat, a sign of the Zodiac between the Archer and the Waterman, fought with Jupiter against the Titans. (Signs of the Zodiac).
Goats are intelligent and sensitive creatures, quick to respond to individual attention and affection. They do best in relatively small herds and are ideal for the small family farm. They are sociable animals and should always have the company of their own kind.
There are many reasons for keeping goats. In my own case, the main reason was because my daughter was allergic to cow’s milk. At the time, it was rare to find shops that sold goat’s milk and it was obvious that we would have to produce it ourselves. Now, it is more easily available, but even so, it cannot compare in freshness with the home-produced variety.
Once we had our goats, we soon appreciated the other positive reasons for keeping them. They are real characters, and they became firm family pets. Goats soon learn their names and come when called. They are also much easier than cows to hand-milk, and their smaller size makes them generally easy to handle. All our children became proficient at helping to care for them.
The amount of milk the goats produced was just right for our family of five. It was enough for all our daily needs, as well as for the occasional production of yoghurt and cheese. Our past experience with keeping a house-cow was that there was just too much milk. It could not be stored for long without having to be processed on a regular basis, and there are only so many hours in the day. Goat’s milk has smaller butterfat particles that are dispersed throughout the volume of liquid so that it is naturally homogenised . Because of this it can be frozen and stored in the freezer until ready for use.
People have different requirements from their goats. A dairy breed such as the Saanen or Anglo-Nubian may be providing the family milk supply while a fibre breed such as the Angora may be a source of fibres for spinning. Pygmy goats are often kept as pets, while the large Boer goat provides meat. They may be kept as a commercial enterprise or for the household. Exhibiting good examples of their type is also popular, but whatever the scale or nature of the activity, the basic standards of good husbandry are the same: the need for proper housing, feeding, grazing and browsing, health care and a level of management that is appropriate to their innate needs.
There are drawbacks, of course! Keeping animals carries responsibilities. They must be looked after and fed every day. Milk producers must be milked twice a day and regular mucking out of their housing is necessary. Arrangements need to be made for their care during holiday periods and if they fall ill, veterinary attention is essential. Although goats can be kept in relatively small areas, they are at their happiest when they have the freedom to browse larger areas of meadows and fields.
Goats are naturally inquisitive, so gardens and orchards will need to be protected against them. It is a popular misconception that goats will eat anything. In fact, they are highly selective eaters, choosing broad-leaved, fibrous plants such as weeds and branches from trees and shrubs as a source of dietary minerals. It is also a misconception that goats will act as lawnmowers, and keep down the grass. They are browsers rather than grazers. They eat grass but will not crop it short in the way that sheep will.
Where to start
Joining a local goat club is an excellent way of acquiring experience before buying. Goatkeepers in such societies are usually only too willing to help novices by showing them their livestock and offering a fund of good advice. The local library usually has details of local organisations or they may be had from the British Goat Society. Local societies are usually affiliated to the BGS.
You can also go on a course at one of various levels of management, from the basic introductory standard to full-blown commercial training. These are usually organised by agricultural colleges and other training organisations. At such courses it is possible to gain a great deal of experience in activities such as milking, giving worming preparations, foot trimming and so on. A potential buyer is then in a realistic position to take charge of goats. Other essentials are to have all the buildings ready for occupation before the goats arrive, including all the necessary equipment.Are there any regulations?
Anyone who keeps goats, regardless of the number, must register with the local DEFRA Animal Health Divisional Office (AHDO). They will issue the keeper with a County, Parish, Holding (CPH) Number for the site on which the goats are resident. After registration, the owner is issued with a Herd Registration Document (HRD) that allocates a unique herd mark to the owner.
All animals born after 9 July 2005 must have an identifying ear tag. Since December 2005, these are allocated according to the Ear Tag Allocation System (ETAS). The tags indicate the country, the herd mark and a number that is unique to the individual animal.
The owner must fill in a Movement Document whenever an animal is moved from one site to another, and send it to the local AHDO within three days. A pad of movement forms for future use is available from them. A Herd Register must be kept that identifies the holding, the herd number, the individual ear tag information of the animals, and any movements to or from the holding.
A Record of Medicines should be kept, indicating what veterinary treatments have been given, the dates when commenced and finished and the identifying numbers of the treated animals. Any goat over 18 months that dies or is slaughtered (except for human consumption) must be reported to DEFRA. Those selling milk and dairy produce are required to meet the requirements of the Dairy Products (Hygiene) Regulations.
Are Goats For You!
If you are interested in goats but have not yet come to a decision about whether or not to keep them, the following information may be useful.
For They are sensitive, intelligent animals and readily respond to kind owners. They are easy to tame and make good pets. They need less land than larger animals such as cattle. They are cheaper to buy and feed compared with larger stock. They are browsers rather than grazers and eat a wide range of fibrous plants such as weeds and shrubs. Their small size makes them easier to milk than larger dairy animals. Their milk is more like human milk than cow’s milk, making it suitable for those who are allergic to cow’s milk. The milk is ‘naturally homogenised’ so that it can be frozen until used. The quantity of milk is right for the family, without producing a huge surplus. Unlike cows, they do not need to give birth every year in order to produce milk. There are breed societies and local goat clubs to provide help and support. |
Against They are herd not solitary animals and need another of their own kind. All owners of goats must register them with DEFRA. They must have identification tags. Their movements on and off the site must be recorded. All veterinary treatments need to be recorded. Appropriate housing, exercising and milking areas are necessary. Dairy goats need to be milked twice a day, while all goats need daily feeding and general care. Food and hay/straw storage facilities are needed. Goats will cause damage to trees and plants; gardens and orchards must be protected against them. Regular foot trimming and health protection routines are required. Regular ‘mucking out’ is necessary. They are a permanent ‘tie’ and provision must be made in order to take holidays. Although milk and dairy produce can be used at home, they cannot be sold without registration with the Environmental Health authority and meeting the requirements of the Milk and Dairying Regulations. |
An extract from Starting with Goats by Katie Thear
© Copyright 2006. Katie Thear
STARTING WITH GOATS - £7.95 |
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