Goat Farming for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know

Goats are intelligent, curious, and versatile animals that can provide meat, milk, fiber, and even land clearing services. Whether you’re interested in a small homestead operation or a commercial enterprise, this guide covers the fundamentals of successful goat farming.

Why Choose Goats?

Goats offer several advantages for small-scale farmers:

• Size: Easier to handle than cattle
• Efficiency: Convert brush and weeds into valuable products
• Multiple Products: Meat, milk, fiber, and breeding stock
• Personality: Social and engaging animals
• Market Demand: Growing interest in goat meat and dairy products

Understanding Goat Breeds

Meat Breeds

Boer The gold standard for meat production. Originally from South Africa, Boer goats are known for:

• Rapid weight gain
• Excellent carcass quality
• Docile temperament
• Distinctive white body with red head

Kiko Developed in New Zealand for hardiness:

• Parasite resistance
• Excellent foraging ability
• Low maintenance
• Good mothers

Spanish Heritage breed with proven durability:

• Heat tolerant
• Browse efficient
• Hardy constitution

Dairy Breeds

Nubian Recognizable by long, floppy ears:

• High butterfat content (5%)
• Lower volume than other dairy breeds
• Dual-purpose potential
• Vocal personality

Alpine Excellent commercial dairy goats:

• High milk production
• Adaptable to various climates
• Range of colors and patterns

Nigerian Dwarf Perfect for small properties:

• Compact size (17-21 inches)
• Surprisingly high milk production for size
• High butterfat (6-10%)
• Year-round breeding

Saanen The Holstein of dairy goats:

• Highest milk production
• White or cream colored
• Calm temperament

Fiber Breeds

Angora Produces mohair fiber:

• Sheared twice yearly
• Requires good nutrition for fiber quality

Cashmere Any goat can produce cashmere, but some breeds produce more:

• Fine undercoat harvested annually
• Premium fiber prices

Housing and Fencing

Shelter Requirements

Goats need protection from rain and wind more than cold:

• Minimum Space: 15-20 square feet per goat indoors
• Ventilation: Critical for respiratory health
• Dry Bedding: Straw or wood shavings
• Draft-Free: Block wind but allow air circulation

Fencing Essentials

Goats are escape artists. Your fencing must be:

• Height: Minimum 4 feet, 5 feet preferred
• Secure: No gaps larger than 4 inches
• Strong: Goats lean, rub, and test fences constantly

Recommended Options:

• Woven wire with electric strand at top
• Cattle panels with electric
• Five-strand high-tensile electric

Avoid:

• Chain link (they climb it)
• Standard field fencing (gaps too large)
• Wood fencing alone (they’ll destroy it)

Nutrition and Feeding

The Ruminant System

Goats are browsers, not grazers. They prefer:

• Brush and shrubs
• Weeds and forbs
• Tree leaves and bark
• Grass (but it’s not their favorite)

Feeding Program

Forage (60-80% of diet)

• Quality hay: 2-4 pounds per day per goat
• Pasture/browse access when available

Grain (supplemental)

• Pregnant/lactating does: 1-2 pounds daily
• Growing kids: 0.5-1 pound daily
• Maintenance: Usually not needed

Minerals

• Loose minerals formulated for goats
• Free-choice access at all times
• Copper is essential (unlike sheep)

Water

• 2-4 gallons per day per goat
• More for lactating does
• Always clean and fresh

Foods to Avoid

• Moldy hay or feed
• Azaleas and rhododendrons (toxic)
• Wild cherry leaves (toxic when wilted)
• Excess grain (causes digestive upset)

Health Management

Routine Care

Hoof Trimming

• Every 4-8 weeks depending on terrain
• Learn proper technique or hire a professional

Deworming

• Use FAMACHA scoring
• Deworm based on need, not schedule
• Rotate dewormers to prevent resistance

Vaccinations

• CD&T (Clostridium/Tetanus): Annual
• Other vaccines based on local disease pressure

Common Health Issues

Parasites The number one health challenge:

• Monitor regularly
• Rotate pastures
• Cull chronically affected animals

Pneumonia Often caused by stress or poor ventilation:

• Watch for coughing, nasal discharge
• Requires veterinary treatment

Bloat Gas buildup in rumen:

• Emergency situation
• Prevention through proper feeding

CAE (Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis) Viral disease spread through milk:

• Test before purchasing
• Buy CAE-free or CAE-negative animals

Getting Started: Your First Goats

How Many?

• Minimum: 2 goats (they’re herd animals)
• Recommended start: 3-5 does

Purchasing Guidelines

Ask About:

• CAE/CL testing status
• Vaccination and deworming history
• Registration papers (if applicable)
• Reason for selling

Observe:

• Bright eyes, clean nose
• Good body condition
• Sound legs and feet
• Alert, curious behavior

Where to Buy:

• Registered breeders (best for quality genetics)
• Local farms (good for adapted animals)
• Sales/auctions (higher risk)

Financial Overview

Startup Costs

Item	Cost Range
Goats (3-5 head)	$300-1,500
Fencing (1 acre)	$1,500-3,000
Shelter	$500-2,000
Equipment	$300-800
Total	$2,600-7,300

Annual Operating Costs (per goat)

• Feed: $150-300
• Health care: $25-75
• Miscellaneous: $25-50

Breeding Basics

Breeding Season

• Does cycle every 18-21 days
• Most breed August-February
• Nigerian Dwarfs breed year-round

Gestation

• 145-155 days (approximately 5 months)
• Twins are common, triplets not unusual

Buck Management

Options for breeding:

1. Keep your own buck (requires separate housing)
2. Borrow or lease a buck
3. Use artificial insemination

Marketing Your Products

Meat

• Direct to consumer (farm sales)
• Farmers markets
• Ethnic markets (high demand)
• Restaurants

Dairy

• Raw milk (check local laws)
• Cheese and soap production
• Herd shares

Breeding Stock

• Registered animals command premiums
• Build reputation through shows and performance testing

Resources for New Goat Farmers

• Your local agricultural extension office
• State goat associations
• American Dairy Goat Association
• American Boer Goat Association
• Local 4-H and FFA programs

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Ready to find quality goat breeding stock? Check our breeder directory to connect with reputable farms in your area.