Goats
18 breeds
Feeding
Browse and leafy hay plus concentrate for milking does. Goat minerals can contain copper: never give them to sheep.
Common vaccines
PPR, FMD, goat pox, CCPP, clostridial, brucellosis, Rift Valley fever where advised.
This information is general. For doses and treatment, always ask your vet.
Breeds
Baladi
بلدي
Egypt · Meat, milk
Zaraibi
زرايبي
Egypt · Milk, meat
Barki goat
برقي
Egypt NW desert · Meat, hair
Shami (Damascus)
شامي
Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus · Milk
Ardi
عارضي
Saudi Arabia · Meat
Najdi
نجدي
Saudi Arabia, Gulf · Meat, hair
Sudanese Nubian
نوبي
Sudan · Milk
Black Bedouin
بدوي أسود
Levant, Sinai · Meat, milk
Boer
بور
South Africa · Meat
Saanen
سانين
Switzerland · Milk
Alpine
ألبين
French Alps · Milk
Anglo-Nubian
أنجلو نوبي
UK · Milk, meat
Angora
أنجورا
Turkey · Mohair
Habsi (Hijazi)
حبشي (حجازي)
Western Saudi Arabia · Meat, milk
Gulf breed
Harri goat
ماعز حري
Saudi Arabia · Meat
Gulf breed
Jabal Akhdar
الجبل الأخضر
Oman mountains · Meat
Gulf breed
Batinah
الباطنة
Oman coast · Meat, milk
Gulf breed
Dhofari
ظفاري
Southern Oman · Meat, milk
Gulf breedFeeding by stage and goal
Water and general notes: Water: 4-10 liters per day, and lactating does need about 1.5 extra liters for each liter of milk. Goats prefer to eat tree leaves and leafy hay more than straw. Goat mineral mixes contain copper, so don't give them to sheep.
Feeding by stage and goal
| Stage | Weight / goal (kg) | Intake (% of weight) | Ration protein (%) | Energy TDN (%) | Daily ration example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suckling kid (0-3 months) | 2-12 | 18-20 | 75 | Colostrum first 6 hours, mother's milk, and from the second week starter feed and leafy hay | |
| Weaning (3-5 months) | 12-20 | 3.5-4.5 | 16 | 70 | 0.3-0.5 kg concentrate + hay or tree leaves |
| Fattening | 20-35 | 3.5-4 | 14-16 | 70 | 0.5-0.8 kg concentrate + 0.5 kg hay. Expected gain 100-200 g/day (Boer is higher) |
| Dry doe (maintenance) | 40 | 2-2.5 | 9-10 | 55 | Hay or tree leaves + 0.2 kg concentrate |
| Pregnancy: last 6 weeks | 40-50 | 2.5-3 | 12-14 | 60-65 | 0.4-0.6 kg concentrate + good hay |
| Lactating | 40-60 | 3.5-5 | 14-16 | 65-70 | Ad-lib alfalfa or hay + 0.3-0.4 kg concentrate per liter of milk |
| Breeding buck | 60-80 | 2.5-3 | 11-12 | 60 | Hay + 0.5-0.8 kg concentrate during breeding season |
Concentrate mixtures (parts per 100 kg)
| Mixture | Minerals & vitamins | Salt | Limestone | Soybean meal 44% | Bran | Barley | Yellow corn | Approx. protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kid starter | 1 + 1 مولاس | 1 | 2 | 25 | 20 | 50 | 18 | |
| Fattening | 1 + 0٫5 كلوريد أمونيوم | 1 | 2 | 15 | 25٫5 | 55 | 15 | |
| Lactating | 1 + 1 مولاس | 1 | 2 | 18 | 22 | 20 | 35 | 16 |
Vaccine and care calendar, from birth to sale
| Age / timing | Action |
|---|---|
| Day of birth | Colostrum within 6 hours, disinfect umbilical cord, tag the kid |
| 3 weeks - 5 months | Monitor for Coccidiosis, and prevent as per vet's advice in crowded areas |
| 6-8 weeks | Clostridial diseases first dose, and a booster dose after 3-4 weeks |
| 3 months | FMD (booster after a month), Goat Pox, first deworming |
| 3-4 months | PPR, CCPP where present, and Rift Valley Fever where recommended |
| 3-6 months (breeding females) | Brucellosis as part of the governmental program |
| Every 6 months | FMD |
| Every year | Clostridial diseases, Goat Pox, CCPP |
| Every 3-4 months | Deworming based on fecal test, spray for ticks and lice |
| 4-6 weeks before kidding | Clostridial booster dose for the dam |
| Before sale, slaughter, or selling milk | Ensure the withdrawal period for the last medication has passed |
Common diseases
| Disease | Signs | What to do | Prevention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia CCPP | High fever, severe cough, gasping, rapid death | Isolate and call a vet immediately, it is a notifiable disease | Vaccination, quarantine new animals for 21 days |
| Peste des Petits Ruminants PPR | Fever, discharges, mouth sores, diarrhea | Isolate and call a vet immediately | Vaccination |
| Enterotoxemia | Sudden death, diarrhea, convulsions | Vet immediately | Clostridial vaccination, gradual feed changes |
| Coccidiosis | Diarrhea (sometimes bloody) and weakness in kids | Vet, and fluids for dehydration | Clean and dry bedding, raised feeders |
| Internal parasites | Weakness, pale eyelids, diarrhea | Vet after fecal test | Regular deworming |
| Mastitis | Hot and swollen udder, abnormal milk | Vet, and don't sell the milk during the withdrawal period | Clean milking and bedding |
| Pregnancy toxemia | Late-pregnancy doe is lethargic and off-feed | Vet immediately | Adequate nutrition in late pregnancy |
This information is general. For doses and treatment, always ask your vet.