Goat Husbandry

This course covers goat husbandry from breed selection and breeding through to feeding, health management and housing. You will learn about kids and kidding, and the specifics of dairy, meat and fibre production, finishing with the practicalities of managing a goat farm. Suitable for smallholders and anyone raising goats commercially or as a hobby.

Study goat care, health problems, dairy production, meat production, housing, fencing and much more. Study: Goat care. Health problems. Dairy production. Meat production. Housing. Fencing, and much more. Study with our expert and friendly tutors who are there to help you every step of the way. Domestic goats are one of the most useful animals to have as they are easy to look after and feed. Therefore, they are very good for farming, as pets, or as pack animals (pack goats). As a domestic farm animal they can be used to produce a variety of products, such as dairy (milk, butter, yogurt), meat, leather, wool, and soaps. Goats can also be very useful for the control of weed or grass overgrowth on a property as well as a great source of manure for the garden. COURSE STRUCTURE AND CONTENT Course Duration: 100 hours. Start Date: Start at any time - study at a pace that suits you, and with full tutor support for the duration of your studies. Lessons: The course comprises 9 lessons as outlined, below. Lesson 1. Nature and Scope of Goat Production Introduction and History; Biological Terminology; Uses of Goats and Goat Production; Goats Breeds Overview; Introduction to Farm Systems; Keeping a Buck; Truths and Myths about Goats; Goat Psychology; Social Structure. Lesson 2. Goat Breeds and Breeding Dairy Goats; Saanen; Toggenburg; British Alpine; Anglo-Nubian; Fleece Goats; Angoras; Cashmere; Meat Goats; Boer Goats; Spanish Goats; Savannas; Kiko; Myotonic; Goat Skin; Black Bengal; Garganica; Pet Goats; Australian Miniature; Nigerian Dwarf; African Pygmy; Feral Goats; Selection and Breeding General Objectives; Reproductive System Anatomy; Puberty; Breeding Season; Flock Mating; Pen Mating; Hand Mating; Reproduction Control Methods; Synchronisation of Oestrus; Out of Breeding Season; Superovulation; Artificial Insemination; Genetics and Selection; Understanding Genes. Lesson 3. Feeds and Nutrition Feeding; Forage; Hay; Haylage; Straw; Wild Plants; Concentrates; By-products; Minerals; Feeding Strategies; Feeding for milk production; Feeding for meat production. Lesson 4. Health Management Health Problems; Ecopathology; Signs of Good Health; Bacterial and Viral Diseases; Clostridial Diseases; Johne’s Disease (Paratuberculosis); Listeriosis; Soremouth; Slow viruses; Parasites; Accidents, Emergencies and First Aid; Control of Bleeding; Tear wounds or lacerations; Electric Shock; Snake bites; Fractures; Poisoning; Abortion and Genital Processes; Chlamidiosis; Q Fever; Listeriosis; Leptospirosis; Toxoplasmosis; Ketosis; Digestive Problems; Bloat; Choking; Acidosis; Respiratory problems; White Muscle Diseases; Pinkeye; Urinary Calculi; Mastitis; Metritis; Sanitary Policy of Infectious Goats; Choosing a Vet. Lesson 5. General Husbandry - Housing, Fencing, Grooming Space Requirements; Housing and Fencing; Grazing and Pasture Management; Free Range; Intensive Confinement; Combination System; Grazing Methods; How Much Grazing; Other Areas That Can Be Utilised For Grazing; Hoof care; Disbudding; Dehorning; Tattooing; Vaccination; Worming; Grooming and Hair Care. Lesson 6. Kids and Kidding Hygiene during delivery; The delivery; Parturition/Birth; Care of a newborn kid; Early feeding; Weaning; Castration. Lesson 7. Dairy Production Milk Production; Lactation Curve; Quality and Composition; Compositions of goat's milk; Protein; Fat; Lactose; Ash; Vitamins; Factors of variation; Breeds and production systems; Age and lactation number; Different types of cheese. Lesson 8. Meat and Fibre Production Fibre Production; Mohair; Annual Management of Angora Flock; Mohair Production; Cashmere; Annual Management of a cashmere flock; Cashmere Production; Meat Production; Management of meat flock; Slaughter terminology; Carcass quality and grading; Leather production. Lesson 9. Goat Farm Management On the Farm - Buildings and Structures; Goat shelters; Farming production systems; Keeping records; Goat Management; Occupational Health and Safety Legislation; Farm Safety; Duty of care (employer and employer duties); Lifting and manual handling; Protective Equipment; Dealing with chemicals; Storage and disposal of chemicals; Handling tools and machinery; Safety Audit; Marketing your products; Advertising your stock; Where you can sell. LEARNING AIMS Discuss the significance of goats, the characteristics that differentiate them from other domesticated animals and the scope and nature of goat industries. Select appropriate Goat Breeds for specified purposes. Describe how goats are bred. Determine and manage an appropriate diet for a goat. Identify a sick goat. Describe common health issues that can affect goats; their prevention and treatment. Determine facilities needed, and husbandry tasks that need to be undertaken for the management of a goat. Describe Kidding and Raising Kids. Explain the commercial farming goats for fibre, meat and other products (excluding dairy). Determine viable plans for farming goats. Goats are kept for many different reasons The goat is a member of the family Bovidae. The goat specifically belongs to the subfamily caprinae and is closely related to the sheep. Goats are categorized as an herbivorous mammal and are one of the oldest domesticated species. Neolithic farmers are known to have herded wild goats to provide them with milk and meat and also bone, sinew and hair for making tools, clothes and building. The first area of captivity is known to be in the South-East Asia region about 8000BC. Before this time, goats were only known to be feral Uses for Goat & Goat Products Domestic goats are one of the most useful animals to have as they are easy to look after and feed. As a domestic farm animal they can be used to produce a variety of products, such as: Diary (milk, butter, yoghurt). Meat. Leather. Wool (fleece goats). Soaps, body and hair care products. In Europe and North America, intensive, high-yielding dairy goat herds are common. In Afghanistan cashmere goats are kept on rangelands for their meat and fleeces. In Africa, subsistence farmers commonly keep dual-purpose goats on their smallholdings for milk and meat. In Australia, goats are farmed and exported for meat in large volumes. Feral goats are commonly run alongside sheep and beef herds in New Zealand to help manage weeds and scrub in pasture. In the 1900’s goats have become very popular as pets, more commonly in Europe and North America. Goat Breeds Nowadays, there are over 300 different breeds of goats. Goat breeds fall into a number of general categories. They are generally classified by their main use e.g. dairy, meat, fibre/fleece or companion animals. Dairy goats may be of 4 different breeds: Saanen. Toggenburg. British Alpine. Anglo-Nubian. Examples of specific meat breeds: Spanish meat goat. South African Boer. New Zealand Kiko. Examples of specific fibre/fleece goats Cashmere. Angora. Pygora. Examples of companion goat breeds Pygmy. Kinder. Australia has created its own experimental breeds being the All Brown goats breed and, since 2001, the Australian Melaan (the All Black goats breed). There are also many cross breeds, including crosses between dairy goats and fleece goats. HOW THE COURSE WORKS It is studied by distance learning, so you can study in the comfort of your own home. But this doesn't mean you are all alone in your studies. Our highly qualified and friendly tutors are there to help you every step of the way. If you have any questions at all, they are always happy to help. Each lesson includes set tasks, and is completed with an assignment which the student submits to their course tutor. The tutor will mark the assignment and return this to the student with comments and suggestions for further reading. WHY STUDY WITH ACS ? Quality courses - Our courses are written and taught by experienced professionals, so you know you can expect a high quality of teaching and support. Study at your pace - Study at your own pace - fit your studies around your own busy lifestyle - we provide full tutor support for all the time you are studying. The freedom of online study - Study where you want to - online studies offer the flexibility for you to determine where and when you study. Learn more about goat husbandry with industry experts who have developed this course to increase your knowledge and skills in goat husbandry. QUESTIONS? If you have any questions, please get in touch with our specialist tutors using our FREE COURSE COUNSELLING SERVICE. Our tutors are friendly, and approachable and there to help you! Stay in touch. Follow us on Twitter Facebook Google