Meat Goat
Selection and Care

The lack of a well-defined, distinct, and perhaps superior meat goat breed in the United States has adversely affected meat goat production. However, genetic improvement through selection and breeding programs can produce a more desirable animal with a quality carcass that would improve the demand for the product. This publication discusses several points for the selection and care of meat goats. A sample production budget that can be adapted to a particular operation is included and is designed for producers interested in raising meat-type goats.

Selecting Meat-Type Goats

The best way to increase adaptability is to select for the desired traits under your actual production conditions. Select your breeding stock from animals maintained under the same natural conditions in which their progenies will be raised.

Reproductive efficiency is a major factor contributing to efficient meat production, but it is difficult to select for under range conditions. To increase reproductive efficiency, improved management of the breeding herd--including selection for twinning rate and culling nonproducing nannies--is necessary and will yield good results.

Selecting goats for growth rate should be relatively easy because of the fairly high heritability of the trait. Base growth rate selection on higher postweaning gains of yearling weights.

Selecting for growth rate, reproductive efficiency, and environmental adaptability will greatly improve production efficiency (pounds of production per doe bred) and the likelihood of making a profit.

Marketing

• Know where you are going to market the goats before you purchase any goats.
• Compare production costs (see Budget) with a realistic market to determine a profit.
• Start small and develop a realistic market before establishing a large-scaled enterprise.

Managing Meat Goats

Feeding the Does

1. 50 pounds of corn or milo
   20 pounds of oats or barley
   20 pounds wheat bran 10 pounds of cottonseed meal
2. 40 pounds corn or milo 20 pounds oats or barley 25 pounds wheat bran 15 pounds cottonseed meal

The first ration provides approximately 14 percent CP and the second about 16 percent CP. Goats dislike finely ground, dusty feeds, so grains should be coarsely ground, rolled, crimped, or pelleted. It is recommended you add a trace mineralized salt and a balanced, 12 percent calcium:12 percent phosphorus supplement to any ration. You can add molasses to the supplement (5 to 7 percent usually is recommended) to reduce dust and to enhance palatability. Also, always have salt available to the goats.

Breeding the Does

Signs of estrus are easily detected and include uneasiness, an unusual amount of tail wagging, frequent urination, an abnormal amount of bleating, reddish and swollen vulva, and mucus under the tail. Riding other animals or standing for riding is not seen as often in goats near estrus as in cows. Conception is highest from the middle to the latter part of the heat period, 24 to 36 hours after onset of estrus. The gestation period in goats is 148 to 150 days. Maintaining good records of all heat periods and breeding dates is important to maximize reproductive efficiency.

Young does tend to reach puberty or sexual maturity at 5 to 9 months of age, provided they have been grown adequately and are in good condition. Keep bucks separated from does (except during the breeding season) in order to breed during the desired time interval. Prepare the bucks for the breeding season by daily feeding them 1 to 2 pounds of grain plus 3 to 4 pounds of hay or forage.

If does are thin at breeding time, kidding percent can be increased by "flushing," which is increasing nutrition during breeding. This puts the animal in weight-gaining condition and causes an increase in the ovulation rate. Flushing can be done by turning goats on a fresh, lush pasture if it is available or by feeding grain. For flushing, corn is most often fed at the rate of ½ to ¾ of a pound per head per day. Begin feeding 2 to 3 weeks before the bucks are turned in with the does and continue for 2 to 3 weeks after the introduction of the bucks (for a total feeding period of 4 to 6 weeks). Flushing generally results in a 10- to 20-percent increase in kid crop, but does in good condition generally will not benefit from flushing.

Raising the Kids

Kids must have a warm, dry place to sleep if they are taken from their mothers. A deep wooden box with a slanted floor is raised off the ground to provide drainage makes a good bed for new kids. The box should be well-bedded and draft-free.

For the first 3 to 4 days after birth, a kid should receive 2 to 3 pints of milk in three to four feedings per day. Kids can be fed twice per day thereafter. A creep feed containing approximately 20 percent CP and a high-quality hay should be made available to kids at about 2 weeks of age. Keep clean, fresh water and salt available at all times, especially when the kids are weaned from milk at 8 to 12 weeks of age.

As soon as the kid begins eating a little grain and hay, the rumen will begin to develop, allowing the kid to use roughage materials. The kid will begin chewing its cud at this time. When the kid is eating hay and grain well, usually at about 4 to 6 weeks of age, you can discontinue milk feeding. The rumen will be fully developed at approximately 8 weeks of age.

The kid should have plenty of exercise and as much sunshine as possible. Provide boxes or barrels for older kids to have something on which to climb and jump. Separate the buck kids from the does at about 2 to 4 months of age to avoid premature breeding.

Dehorning

Castration

Internal and External Parasites

Coccidiosis can cause severe problems in goats, especially those managed in confined or drylot conditions. Goats managed under these conditions should receive a coccidostat regularly in their feed. Treatment of coccidiosis with anthelmintics is not effective. If you suspect coccidiosis, consult your veterinarian.

Symptoms of parasite infestation include general unthriftiness, a rundown condition, rough hair coat, loss of weight, poor appetite, diarrhea, and anemia. If you suspect your goats are infested with internal parasites, collect fecal samples and take the samples to your veterinarian. Examination will determine the type and degree of infestation and recommended treatment.

External parasites--including lice, ticks, mites, horn flies, stable flies, horse flies, deer flies, and mosquitoes--might present serious problems. These pests are most prevalent in the spring, summer, and fall but can be a problem throughout the year.

Common Diseases

• Soremouth is a contagious disease that causes formation of scabs on the lips and around the mouths of goats. This virus can affect humans, so be careful when working with goats with soremouth. A live virus soremouth vaccine, available as a preventative measure, is applied to a small scratched area in the fore or rear flank or in the ear. Few medicines help in the actual treatment of soremouth. Iodine can be rubbed into lesions after the scabs are removed to help dry up the area and reduce the infection. If your goats do not have soremouth, do not vaccinate or you will introduce it into your herd.
• Tetanus (lock jaw) is a disease usually resulting from a wound infection. The disease is caused by a powerful toxin produced by a bacterium that grows in the absence of oxygen. The first sign of tetanus is a stiffness about the goat's head; the animal often chews slowly and weakly and swallows awkwardly. Also, the goat's third or inner eyelids protrude over the forward surface of the eyeballs. The animal shows violent spasmotic reactions with the slightest movement or noise and usually remains standing until close to death. All ages are susceptible, but kids weakened due to castration or dehorning are more susceptible to tetanus. Tetanus is hard to treat, and death occurs in more than 50 percent of the cases. Contact your veterinarian immediately; keep infected goats as quiet as possible. Tetanus antitoxin might help if administered early, but prevention is the best policy. Reduce the incidence of wounds, apply sanitary and proper wound treatments, and vaccinate with tetanus toxoid immediately after dehorning or castration surgery.
• Overeating disease (enterotoxemia) generally results in death and seldom exhibits symptoms. This disease is caused by a clostridial organism that is normally in the intestine of most goats. Goats that have their feeding schedules abruptly changed or consume large amounts of grain are the most susceptible to overeating disease. These changes cause the clostridial organism to grow rapidly and to produce a powerful toxin that causes death within a few hours. The two types of enterotoxemia are C and D. Vaccinate all your goats with the combination C and D vaccine; multiple vaccinations are recommended. Two or three vaccinations are preferred, with the booster doses coming at 3- to 4-week intervals following the first vaccination. A good vaccination program should eliminate losses from overeating.
• Foot rot is not often seen in goats, but it may occur if animals spend considerable time in wet, unsanitary yards or barns. The first symptom is lameness, followed by a swelling of the foot that becomes hot to the touch. Carefully trim the rotten area away and the foot treated with a 10- to 30-percent copper sulfate solution or other medication prescribed by a veterinarian.
• Bloat is the accumulation of an excessive amount of gas in the rumen. This may result from overeating tender, young, high-moisture legumes or other green forages still wet with dew. Symptoms of bloated goats include the animal's lying down and getting up at frequent intervals, kicking at the abdomen, making loud grunting noises, or otherwise showing distress. Prevention includes making sure the animals have a good fill of dry hay before turning them onto moist pasture. Animals can die suddenly with bloat; therefore, do not wait too long before calling the veterinarian for assistance.

Few drugs are approved for use on goats. Nonapproved over-the-counter drugs become prescription drugs. Every goat producer should have a valid client-patient relationship with a veterinarian. Goats that are kept on adequate browse and grazing have few disease problems if not overcrowded. Carefully buying new breeding stock and isolation can help prevent bringing in new diseases. Remember--most goats will be sold for meat; therefore, after treating goats with any drug, be sure there is adequate withdrawal time before slaughter.

References

Martinez, Edmundo E., Paschal, Joe C., Craddock, Frank, & Hanselka, C. Wayne. Sept. 1991. Selection, Management and Judging of Meat-Type Spanish Goats. B-5018. Texas Agricultural Extension Service, The Texas A&M University System, College Station, Texas.

Martinez, Edmundo E., Paschal, Joe C., Craddock, Frank, & Rollins, Dale. Spanish Goat Management. B-5021. Texas Agricultural Extension Service, The Texas A&M University System, College Station, Texas.

Strickland, James, Georgia Extension Veterinarian. "Goat Health," Georgia Meat Goat Association, Vol. 1, No. 1, March-April 1996.

Meat-Type Goat Production Calendar

Estimated annual expenses for a meat-type goat operation in Mississippi, 1996.
Does on pasture with supplement during breeding and kidding.
Kids are creep-fed grain and sold at 6 to 7 months of age, weighing an average of 90 pounds.

Item	Unit	Price (Dollars)	Quantity	Amount (Dollars)	Per doe	Your farm
Direct Expenses
Feed
Does and bucks	Cwt	$ 9.00	60.68	$ 546.12	$ 13.65	__________
Kids	Cwt	12.00	225.00	2,700.00	67.50	__________
Hay
Does and bucks	Bale	2.00	369.00	738.00	18.45	__________
Kids	Bale	2.00	180.00	360.00	9.00	__________
Pasture maintenance	Acre	10.00	10.00	100.00	2.50	__________
Salt and minerals	Doe	0.65	40.00	26.00	0.65	__________
Vet/health management	Doe	2.50	40.00	100.00	2.50	__________
Utilities	Month	5.00	12.00	60.00	1.50	__________
Gas, fuel, oil	Month	10.00	12.00	120.00	3.00	__________
Repairs	Dollar	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	__________
Labor	Hour	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	__________
Misc. Supplies	Doe	2.00	40.00	80.00	2.00	__________
Marketing	Kid	2.00	60.00	120.00	3.00	__________
Insurance	Dollar	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	__________
Dues	Year	35.00	1.00	35.00	0.88	__________
Interest on operating capital	Dollar	0.09	1,869.42	168.25	4.21	__________
Total direct expenses				$5,153.37	$128.83	__________
Total fixed expenses	Dollar	$6,000.00	0.09	$540.00	$13.50	__________
Total specified expenses				$5,693.37	$142.33	__________
Break-even point in dollars/cwt sold (direct expenses only)				$95.00

Notes:

1. This budget is for planning purposes--use only as a guide. Use column on the right to adjust these figures to fit your operation.
2. The market for goats in Mississippi is not well-defined. Income figures depend on location and individual access to market outlets.
3. Expense items are based on the production parameters specified.
   Production Parameters:

   Acres per doe	0.25
   Number of does	40.00
   Number of bucks	1.00
   Pounds feed/day--does and bucks	2.00
   Days fed--does and bucks	74.00
   Average pounds feed/day--kids	2.50
   Days fed--kids	150.00
   Pounds hay/day--does and bucks	3.00
   Days fed hay--does and bucks	150.00
   Pounds hay/day--kids	1.00
   Days fed hay--kids	150.00
   Kids sold per doe	1.50
   Investment per doe	$150.00

By R. Kipp Brown, Director of International Livestock Program, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, and Charlie Forrest, Ph.D., Extension Agricultural Economist, Mississippi State University. Adapted from information by the authors and from publications by the Texas A&M Extension System; developed for the Mississippi Agribusiness Council, Fred Heindl, Executive Director.

Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status.

Publication 2177
Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914. Ronald A. Brown, Director