Transcript Goat Selection, Prep, and Care

Goat Prep and Care 101
Nicholas Moody
Michael Berry
2011 GVATA Conference
Excellent SAE
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Small
Small amount of space
Easy to work with
Short term project
The Formula For Success
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Genotype + Environment = Phenotype
Facilities and Equipment
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Barn or shed
Adequate fencing
Feeder
Water container
Barn or Shed
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25 square feet of space per goat
Open east to west
– Close off one end during winter
– Heat lamps
– Fans
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Goat panels ( 4in squares)
Show Goat Pens
Show Goat Pens
Feeders & Water
Container
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Self-feeders
– At least 6 inches off the ground
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Hanging Feeders
– No higher or lower than point of shoulder
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Water bucket
– If possible get off the ground
– Keep clean, fresh, cool
Additional Equipment
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Stiff brush to clean water troughs
Shovel or pick to clean stalls
Trimming table
Syringes & Needles
Goat blankets or socks
Halters, collars, & show chains
Extension cords
Show box
Blower
Scales
Muzzles
Fans
Clippers
Show Information
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Research the shows you plan on
attending. Most of the time one goat
will not be successful at all shows.
Pick a target show and work towards
that date.
Information to be aware of
– Entry dates, weight limits, weigh backs,
horn rules, muzzles, and drenching.
Selection
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Most goats on the circuit are Boer or
Boer cross breeds
Age
– Most goats that win are 8-10 months old
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Structure should be the first thing you
consider
– You can not improve structure with a feed
bucket or exercise
Selection ( Ground Up)
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Travel Wide
Feet pointed forward
Legs straight out of body
Pay attention to whether they are
green or real bloomy
Selection (Ground Up)
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Handle all goats the same
– Rack
– Loin
– Hip/Loin junction
– Length of hind saddle
– Width through center stifle
– Long neck/ tall fronted
– Level topped and rump
Look For Balance !!!!!!
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Everything must fit together!!
Health Care
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CDT Shot- Overeating & Tetanus
– After getting them home from a sale
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Worming
– Once every 21 days for 2 months and then once
every 45 days
– Rotate wormers- Ivomec, Tramisal, Cydectin,
Safeguard, Valbason, Prohibit
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Lice in Winter
– Spray prolate cattle spray
Health Care
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Trim feet every 30-45 days
– Trimmers, plane, pocket knife, or small grinder
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Castration
– 10 days to 3 months of age
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Disbudding
– 10 days to 2 weeks of age
– Hot iron on wethers
– Full blood does and bucks shouldn’t be
disbudded
Health Care
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Not eating
– B 12 vitamin shot and probios
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Scours
– Pepto Bismal, Spectrum, or Sustian III
boluses.
– Feed, coccidia, worms, or stress
– Fecal sample
Health Care
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Kidney Stones or urinary calculi
symptoms
– Kicking at stomach
– Laying down & straining
– Treatment includes ammonium chloride
and the vet
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Ringworm
– Fungo is a preventive and treatment
– Nolvasan, Captan
Feeds and Feeding
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Feeding schedule
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Self feed or feed twice a day
Same time everyday
Approximately 12 hours apart
Don’t switch feed unless you have to
Amount
– Approximately 2lbs/day (depends of goat)
– Feed should contain a coccidastat & kidney
stone prevention additive.
Feeds and Feeding
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Brands of feed (14%-16% protein)
– N-Timidator, Showrite, Moormans, Goat Power,
Impulse
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.15-.20 of external fat
– Fatten inside to outside
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Small framed early maturing goats
– Require less feed to finish
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Larger framed later maturing goats
– Require more feed to finish
Supplements & Additives
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Contain minerals, vitamins, electrolytes,
some protein and fat
– Ex.: Calf Manna, Show Shake, Firewater, Grand
Goat, Power Fuel, Grand Drive, Cellerator
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Expensive, and not needed if a good quality
feed is used
Goats are good at sorting feed, so its hard
to add
Exercise
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Treadmill
Running with dogs
Oval track
– 12ft wide by 50 to 100 yards long
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Walking along does not work
Never decrease feed & increase
exercise
Exercise Schedule
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4-7 times per week
When first starting
– Run them 100 yards then rest
– You want a total of 400-500 yards with rest in
between
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After 20-30 days
– You should be running the goat 600-800 yards
– Rest the goat every 100-200 yards
Shearing
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Equipment
– Stablemates, Star, Legends, & Premier with a
covercoat, medium or fine blade.
– Small brush
– Recondition or revive
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Always start with a clean goat
– Mild soap
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Dawn, joy, ivory or a blueing shampoo
Dry thoroughly
Shearing
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Always start on the front left side
Never go below the knee or hock
Always clip against grain of the hair on
the body and head of the goat
On the tail you go with the hair, and
clip everything off a 1/8 to ¼ inch
past the tailbone .
Blade Guide
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Fine
– Up to two weeks, 1 week is ideal
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Medium
– Up to two weeks, 1 week is ideal
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Covercoat
– Up to one week, 3-4 days is ideal
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Never show your goats with more than
3/8” of hair
Useful Websites
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www.outbacklabs.com
www.sullivansupply.com
www.georgiashowring.com
www.breedersworld.com
www.showgoatpage.com