Breeding Goat Essentials (Angora, Meat, Dairy)

1. Breeding Goat Essentials(Angora, Meat, Dairy) Texas 4-H and Youth Development

2. Topics to Discuss The following topics will be discussed: • Selection • Facilities and Equipment • Nutrition • Health • Fitting and Showing Texas 4-H and Youth Development

3. Selection Breeds • Types of breeding goats – fiber (Angora, cashmere), meat (Boer, Kiko, pygmy, etc) and dairy (Alpine, LaMancha, Nubian, Oberhasli, Saanen, and Toggenburg) • Most major shows have Angora, Boer, and Dairy goat shows, however Dairy will not be discussed. • For information on Dairy goats contact Dr. Lou Nuti & Scott Horner - Prairie View A&M University (979/857 -3916) Texas 4-H and Youth Development

4. Selection • Breeds Texas 4-H and Youth Development

5. Selection cont. Quality Considerations • The following considerations should be taken when selecting a goats: • Structural correctness • Growth • Muscle • Breed and sex characteristics • Approx. 50% of evaluation of Angora is evaluated on body conformation and 50% on fleece • Important mohair traits – lbs of mohair, grade and uniformity of grade, length, density, style and character, luster, completeness of cover, absence of kemp, absence of sheepy fleeces • Angora and Boer evaluated on structural correctness, growth, muscling, volume and capacity, and breed and sex character. • Disqualifications for Boer goats include: jaw defects, folder ears, blue eyes, wry tail, too little pigmentation, split testicles, teat and udder problems. Texas 4-H and Youth Development

6. Selection cont. Ownership • All goats must be registered in the Handbook of their Association in the name of the Junior owner before they enter the ring. • Most shows will use November 1st as deadline. • Open shows require ownership in Handbook of Association 30 days prior to the show. Texas 4-H and Youth Development

7. Selection cont. Age • Angora and Boer divided into classes based on age on registration papers. • Angora: kid, yearling, aged • Boer: kid, yearling, aged subdivided into more classes Texas 4-H and Youth Development

8. Selection cont. Shearing guidelines • Angora goats must be machine shorn to the skin on or after August 1st of the calendar year preceding the show Health Papers • Most major shows require breeding goats to have health papers upon entering the show grounds. Texas 4-H and Youth Development

9. Facilities and Equipment • Minimum space of 400 ft2 of pen space and 25ft2 of shelter space per goat is recommended • Should be well drained. • Pen height should be at least 42 inches to discourage jumping and predators • Can be hand-fed or self-fed • If hand-feeding allow for 12-18 inches of trough space per goat • If self-feeding allow for 6 inches of trough space per goat • Access to clean water most important when feeding. Texas 4-H and Youth Development

10. Nutrition • No particular feed that should be fed • Goats must have basic daily nutritional requirements: • Water • Protein • Energy • Minerals • Vitamins Texas 4-H and Youth Development

11. Nutrition cont. • If raising own lambs important to not only feed does but also creep feed young kids • Good creep feed contains 16-18% crude protein, proper mineral balance, not too much roughage or fiber, contain antibiotics (coccidiostat and ammonium chloride), palatable and be pelleted • After buying or weaning goats put on growing ration (14-16% protein), proper mineral balance, roughage, and antibiotics if necessary, palatable, and pelleted • Can either be self-fed or hand-fed • Recommended to hand-feed breeding goats to allow more accurate evaluation, however growing kids usually self-fed • Feed should be fresh and consistent • Should gain 3-4% of their body weight a day. Texas 4-H and Youth Development

12. Health • Keeping breeding goats healthy is very important! • Prevention is the key to a successful health program. • Administer vaccination program recommended by local veterinarian • Vaccinate for enterotoxemia and soremouth and treated for internal parasites • Other diseases: urinary calculi, coccidiosis, polioencephalomalcia, ring worm, and pinkeye • Regular hoof trimming is also necessary Texas 4-H and Youth Development

13. Health cont. • When administering drugs follow all directions on drug labels to Quality Assurance. • The use of drugs in manner unintended violates laws set by the Food and Drug Administration • Texas livestock shows have strict laws for illegal drug use and will disqualify animals if illegal drugs are used Texas 4-H and Youth Development

14. Fitting and Showing • Angora goats are shown in their natural state, never washed. • Important that fleece contamination by hay, dirt, etc. be kept to a minimum • When mohair gets long Angora goats tend to urinate on themselves, trimming prevents this. • Mohair can be worked so it will open easier when being evaluated. • Important to do properly otherwise can cause more harm than good. Texas 4-H and Youth Development

15. Fitting and Showing cont. • No set rules for fitting Boer goats • Shorn slick a month or two before show • Boer goats generally washed before show • Both Angora and Boer should be halter broken and taught to lead. Texas 4-H and Youth Development

16. Additional questions to address with Exhibitors • What are the goals of the 4-H member and family? • What breeds of goats do you and your family have an interest in showing? • Do you need assistance in locating and selecting your project? Texas 4-H and Youth Development

17. Additional Resources for Breeding Goats Meat Goat Production Handbook By Langston University Texas 4-H and Youth Development

18. Conclusions • All aspects of the selection process should be understood. (breeds, quality, ownership, age, shearing guidelines) • Proper facilities should be available. • Proper diets and nutritional information about feeding goats should be identified. • Health is one of the most important aspects of raising breeding goats. • All rules should be followed in regards to fitting prior to show. Texas 4-H and Youth Development