Goat Ori

GOAT PRODUCTION

BREEDS OF GOATS

• Also knows as Alpine dairy goats

• Originated in United

States

• gopher ear – 1inch

• Elf ear – two inches

• hard breed

 pendulous ears

 extends 1 inch

beyond muzzle

o Swiss dairy goat

o chamoisee in color

o(Chamoisee is a bay ranging

from a light to deep red bay.)

o two black stripes down their

face, a black dorsal stripe,

black from knees down and a

black underbelly

• Largest framed of breed

• tolerate cold weather well

• originates from Switzerland,

• has erect ears,

• and is completely white or

light cream in color

• originates from the

Toggenburg Valley of

Switzerland

• oldest breed

• medium size, hardy

• erect ears

MANAGEMENT

Characteristics:

 Range grazing

 Land and space

 unimproved pasture and grasses

 Minimal Housing

 Low productivity

Feeding:

 3-4 animals per unit acre

 No supplementary feeding

 low quality forage

Housing

 cheaply constructed rainproof sheds

Breeding Program

 natural breeding

 bucks are allowed to run w/ the does

throughout the breeding season.

Characteristics:

cut and carry / zero grazing

 animals are housed

 capital intensive – infrastructure buildings

 Equipment

 high Labor intensive

 high productivity

Feeding:

 3.5 – 4% of the body weight (DM)

 capital intensive – infrastructure buildings

 legume, leaves and stems of nutritive plants

 60% forage and 40% concentrate

Housing:

 Housed-full time

 with building partitioned

 with feeding and loafing

area

Breeding System:

 Hand-mating

 Pen mating

 Artificial insemination

Characteristics:

 Night-time housing

 Rotational grazing

 Supplementary feeding

Improved pastures

Feeding:

 Morning grazing (pasture rotation)

 cycle 42 days with 35 days rest

Feeding:

 Morning grazing (pasture rotation)

 cycle 42 days with 35 days rest

Breeding Program:

 Pen / pasture mating

 AI

 Market

 Develop a business plan

- cash flow

- long term profitability

 Find a mentor

 Time, labor...