Getting Started in the Meat Goat Business - Small Farms / Alternative ...

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TABLE OF CONTENTS (continue)References............................................................. 11-12Vendors and Websites................................................ 12Appendix .............................................................. 13-21Notes.................................................................. 22-23iii
INTRODUCTIONFig 1. Dr. Pam Hunter (center) is demonstrating to a group of farmers how to perform aphysical examination on their goat herd.When starting a meat goat enterprise, it isimportant to develop a good facility plan and topurchase the appropriate equipment to operatethe farm efficiently. Adequate facilities arerequired to confine and protect the herd frompredatory animals as well as to provide an areafor shelter, feeding and kidding. This isespecially true if kidding occurs during periodsof inclement weather conditions. Carefulconsideration must also be given to how the animalswill be restrained and controlled duringroutine management practices such as hooftrimming, ear tagging, administeringmedications and weighing. If handled properly,goats are less likely to become stressed andobtain injuries that can severely affectproductivity in the herd.The facility designed for meat goats shouldtherefore include plans for building fences,shelters, a catch pen, a working chute (optional)and a storage shed. It is also important toidentify where these structures will be locatedon the farm to save on labor and energy and toprovide the best view and shelter from the wind,cold and rain (see appendix A).Selecting the Facility SiteIf you need to acquire land to start youroperation, contact the county planningcommissioner’s office to find out which land iszoned for agriculture. Land that is located nearresidential or industrial areas may have somerestrictions placed on it related to animal andchemical use. Before purchasing the land, it isalso important to determine the following: 1.)How the Borders of the land are defined, 2.) Ifthe land is suitable for farming, 3.) How muchfencing is required for the property (Humphreyand Mussen 1994), 4.) If the land is accessibleto electricity and water and 5.) If the land isprone to flooding. Animals that are kept in wetor muddy areas are at risk for developing footrot or other infectious diseases (i.e., coccidiosis)that can quickly spread through the herd.If you need to obtain soil survey maps of theproperty, contact the United StatesDepartment of Agriculture (USDA), NaturalResources Conservation Service (NRCS) in yourarea. NRCS also offers the EnvironmentalQuality Incentive Program (EQIP) that providesfinancial and technical help to assist eligibleparticipants to install or implement structural(cross fencing, well for livestock etc.) andmanagement practices on their land. The EQIPis a cost-shared program and not a grant.Contracts are selected on a competitive basisand all conservation practices must be developedin accordance with NRCS specifications (NRCS,2005).Shelters for GoatsGoats can adapt and reproduce under variousenvironmental conditions. In many cases, a simplehouse will suffice in areas where the weather ismild. If the weather is extremely windy, cold orwet then a house with three sides and a goodroof may be necessary to prevent respiratoryproblems or hypothermia in the herd. During thewarmer months of the year, adequate sheltersmay be required to protect the herd from thesummer heat. The shelters should be draft-free,dry, facing away from prevailing winds, haveaccess to natural lighting and have goodventilation. Good ventilation is necessary toprevent the build up of toxic gases, fumes anddust which can be detrimental to the animal’shealth and performance.Fig. 2 An old gasoline tank cut lengthwise and used for shelter.1
Page 1 and 2: GETTING TING STARTED IN THE MEATGOA
Page 3: TABLE OF CONTENTSAcknowledgment....
Page 7 and 8: The Buck’s FacilityThe buck’s f
Page 9 and 10: the fence post to form the perimete
Page 11 and 12: Fig. 18. A farm gate (left) and a w
Page 13 and 14: Protecting The Goat HerdIf predator
Page 15 and 16: should always be kept in good repai
Page 17 and 18: RacewayRoad WayRacewayAppendix ANFa
Page 19 and 20: Appendix CSchematic Drawing of a Go
Page 21 and 22: Appendix ESchematic Drawing of a Mo
Page 23 and 24: Appendix G19
Page 25 and 26: Appendix ITable 3. The figures are
Page 27 and 28: NOTES23

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