Meat Goat Blog

Good Parasite Resistance in Goats

Like your mother used to say: “life isn’t always fair.” Whether at your job or on the news, sometimes it can feel like the world is full of parasites who take your hard work and give nothing in return. These same parasites exist in the goat business. Many goats are susceptible to gastrointestinal parasites or “worms” which leach nutrients from the animal’s bloodstream. This drain of the animal’s resources causes anemia which leaves them malnourished, weak, and unable to raise kids. Fortunately, certain goats have a genetically occurring immunity or “resistance” to internal parasites. Good parasite resistance in goats allows them to stay healthy and strong in order to care for themselves and raise their kids without adding economic strain to the rancher.

A goat that is overrun by parasites, becomes feeble and unable to reach food or evade predators. The internal parasites sap the goat’s nutrients making it difficult for them to keep pace with the rest of the herd. This means that the goat must choose between eating less while trying to stay with the group or leaving the group to become a target for coyotes or roaming dogs. If a parasite-weakened goat is attacked by a predator, they will be unable to escape because of their malnourishment. Thus, a goat with intestinal worms is susceptible to starvation or predation due to the nutritional drain of the parasites.

Furthermore, a goat that hosts too many internal parasites is often unable to raise kids because they do not have the resources to get pregnant or care for their young. If a doe (or buck) becomes undernourished due to internal parasites, their fertility will decline in an attempt to preserve their strength. Since a goat that doesn’t produce kids cannot pay their keep on the ranch, a resistance to internal parasites is an integral characteristic of a profitable goat. But, even if a doe manages to get pregnant and give birth, she will not be able to quickly raise her kids to a desirable size for sale or slaughter. If her kids do not sell for a reasonable price because they are underfed, a wormy goat is inherently less profitable than a parasite resistant goat. So, a goat that is not immune to internal parasites will struggle to provide value while skipping breeding cycles or producing underweight stock.

However, some ranchers counteract their goats’ susceptibility to parasites by investing time and money in pasture rotation and wormers. In order to curtail the number of worms which accumulate when goats stay in one place for too long, the herd can be cycled to a ‘fresh’ pen every two weeks to allow the parasites to die without a host. To be effective, this system requires that the pasture be cross-fenced to create at least 3-4 pens. Not only does pasture rotation incur additional fencing costs, but the owner must also be diligent to move their goats on schedule or risk allowing the parasites to gain the upper hand. If the parasites successfully infect the herd, the rancher must purchase expensive wormers to treat the ailing livestock. Though effective wormers are still available, the chemicals in many products have become ineffective since the worms are developing an immunity. This means that more and more wormer is required in order to treat the parasites. Raising goats that are resistant to parasites eliminates the economic and time costs required by rotational grazing and worming.

So, don’t let parasites get you down by killing your goats, ruining your kid crop, and robbing you of time and money! Goats that are not burdened by internal parasites will outperform their peers in the metrics that really matter. Then, even if you can’t solve all the problems you see on the news, at least you’ll still have great goats!

Hornless Goats are Hard to Handle - Quick Tips

If you're trying to decide whether to purchase horned or polled goats, consider this: goat horns make great handles. When you're trying to move a hornless goat, there's not much to hold onto. Although this means the goat won't get stuck in the fence, it also means that you'll need to wrestle with the goat anytime you want to work it.

Improving Bad Breeding Stock - Quick Tips

So you purchased some less-than-ideal breeding stock. Now what? When we first entered the goat business, we purchased Boer crosses in a herd dispersal and attempted to 'breed up' using (comparatively) high-dollar Kiko bucks. Unwelcome as this advice may be, after a few years of disappointing results, we determined that breeding up is too much work. It's easier to cull the bad blood and finance better stock.

Spanish Goats are Hardy!

If you're looking for some genetics to boost the production of your herd, look no further than Spanish goats! Spanish goats have excellent parasite resistance so they don't fall over dead with worms. They have some of the best udders in the business and they have superb mothering instincts. If you'd like to start seeing more twins, Spanish goats have you covered too! When you add it all up, it's pretty simple Spanish goats are hardy! 

When to Breed Goats - Quick Tips

If you haven't already started, breeding season is nearly here! But, maybe you'd like to try a different breeding date this year. Although I'm certainly no expert, we have sometimes found that breeding just after the weather cools yields more twins and triplets than breeding in the extreme heat or bitter cold. You might want to consider the best time to breed your goats.

How Long is a Goat's Gestation Period?

How long after breeding will my goats start kidding? Breeding season is almost upon us again! So, if you're trying to figure out whether to breed now or in a couple months, you may be wondering how much time the goats will be pregnant. Goats have a gestation period of roughly 150 days (about 5 months). As you decide when to breed your goats, be sure to consider the weather conditions, fly population, and predator activity during the time of year that you plan to kid. Be warned - goats are notoriously susceptible to early kidding if bad weather arrives.

Breeding Expected Kidding July December August January September February October March November April December May January June February July March August April September May October June November

Containing Bucks during Breeding Season - Quick Tips

For the last few weeks, the smell as I've walked through the gate to the buck pen has made it obvious - breeding season is almost here! If you want to keep your overly-eager sires from butting through your fence, try reinforcing the fence separating the bucks and does. Life is much easier when you know how to build a good buck pen!

Using Spanish Goats as Boer Recip Does

To quickly increase a pedigreed goat's offspring, show goat ranchers often use embryo transfer to implant artificially fertilized eggs in does with less recognized bloodlines. The recipient, or 'recip', does then carry, birth, and raise the genetically unrelated kid to weaning. While some ranchers may try to use their own 'less showy' stock to rear the kids, many Boer breeders prefer to use Spanish recip does.

Even after paying vet bills and expensive buck fees for the embryo transplants, insufficient mothering can result in poorly developed or even deceased kids. This is why Spanish does make excellent Boer recip does. Spanish does, which owe their genetics to survival of the fittest, have superb mothering abilities from kidding to weaning.

While Boers excel in body mass and aesthetic appeal, Spanish goats are built for raising hardy and healthy kids. With Spanish does, there's no need to worry about kidding. Birthing a Spanish doe is as easy as coming out the next morning to find a happy new kid playing in the barn.

Spanish udders are naturally tight and easy to nurse. Since Spanish does are not registered, commercial ranchers have much less incentive to propagate the genetics of does that do not perform. Therefore, Spanish genetics for mothering and health, on the whole, surpass those of their pedigreed counterparts. Very rarely will you find a Spanish doe that abandons her kid before weaning.

Though I could continue to praise the natural mothering abilities of Spanish goats, many Boer breeders choose Spanish goats for another reason - price. To afford the highest quality Boer bucks and does for the embryo transfer, ranchers need to limit all other expenses as much as possible. Fortunately, Spanish goats are much more economical than pedigreed Boers.

For a fraction of the price of a registered doe, Boer breeders can purchase enough Spanish does to perform their entire embryo transfer. Since the does are self sufficient, the rancher can sleep well at night - no need to worry about pulling kids at 2 o'clock in the morning. Once the kids hit the ground, the excellent instincts of their Spanish surrogate mother will ensure that the kid grows healthy and strong. For more information about Spanish or Spanish/Kiko cross recip does, check out Post Oak Ranch, LLC.

Purchasing Breeding Stock - Quick Tips

When you're buying breeding stock, consider purchasing grown does. Many new ranchers want to buy young doelings to start their herd 'from scratch.' But, they don't realize that their approach has some downsides. Small yearling does are often targets for predators and may not be biologically ready for fall breeding. In our experience, two-year-olds are a safer option for a new herd.

How to Cook Goat Meat

Guest post

Goat meat is quickly on the rise and the demand for it is ever-growing both in the United Stated and the UK.  It is a leaner meat than most and is almost 50% less fatty than beef.  It is lower in fat, cholesterol, and calories making it the healthier option of meat to consume, lowering your chances of developing health problems.  The meat itself is very versatile and easy enough to cook. Due to its low fat content the meat does need to be cooked slower and at lower temperatures but done correctly the meat tastes great and is as juicy and moist as any other meat. Below are a number of ways in which you can cook your goat meat. 

Goat Burgers:

Everybody loves a good burger and goat meat is as good as any to make a decent one.  Due to the goat’s low levels of fat the burgers should be grilled slowly. They are an extremely healthy option and can be served medium rare if desired. 

Goat Sausages:

Goat sausages are a great alternative to pork or venison. They too are very healthy and will need to be grilled to ensure maximum taste. Goat sausages have a gamier flavour and work well with fry-ups, mash or in a sandwich. 

Goat Fillet:

This is the most succulent cut of the goat. It oozes flavour yet has a lot less fat in it than lamb does.  This cut of meat should be pan fried to ensure you get the best from it. 

Diced Goat:

Diced goat can come served on or off the bone. It works brilliantly for putting into curries and casseroles for a great tasting dish.  When using diced goat you should firstly marinate the meat so that it tenderises. The meat can then be cooked until golden brown in a pan with a little oil and then transferred into a pot with water and stock for up to 4 hours. This will ensure that the meat doesn’t dry out or become tough.  Ensure that you cook the meat slowly and at a low temperature. 

Goat Chops:

Chops are small but tasty cuts of meat and it’s no exception when it comes to goat meat. The best way to cook these is to marinade them in garlic and olive and choose from pan frying, grilling, barbecuing or oven cooking. The choice is yours.

Author Bio:

Emma is a keen writer with an interest in goat meat. She loves to write goat recipes and find out new ways of cooking the meat.