GOAT PRODUCTION

Introduction
The domestic goat (Capra hircus) is a small ruminant species that is kept mainly for meat, milk,
hides and hair. They are mainly browsers and feed on various plant species making them adapt to
wide environmental conditions. Goats are an important component of pastoralist herds, majority
being raised by smallholders, mixed farming systems.
Importance of goat farming
The goat is a multi-purpose animal that produce a variety of products; meat, milk, hide, fibre and
manure.

1. Goats do not require huge demands in terms of housing and management since they are hardy.

2. They so not require a lot of land and can thrive well on various feed types such as leaves, shrubs,
bushes, household wastes, etc, thus can be raised by landless or peasant farmers, vulnerable groups
such as widows, orphans and the old.

3. They have got increased digestibility of crude fibre and can produce even on poor quality
roughages.

4. Goats can adapt to various climatic conditions from arid dry to cold arid to hot humid. They
can be do well in plains, hilly terrain, sandy areas or at high altitudes.

5. Goats suffer from fewer diseases than other large ruminants.

6. Goats are smaller in size and have a younger slaughter age.

7. Goat meat has no religious taboo and is relished by all sections of society.

8. Goat meat (chevon) is highly nutritious and has less fat.

9. Goats are called the foster mother of man, as their milk is considered better for human nutrition
than other species of livestock. Goat milk is cheap, wholesome, easily digestible and nutritious. It
is finer than cow milk i.e. the fats and proteins are present in a finer state and are more easily
digestible, especially by children and invalids.

10. Goat hide is used for the manufacture of leather products and handicraft. (

11. Fibre - Mohair and cashmere and ordinary goat hair are very important fibres in the textile
industry. Ordinary goat hair also has commercial value -used for the manufacture of rugs and
ropes.

12. Goats can be raised on cheap and simple housing

13. Source of Income - Goat farming is an important means of earning supplementary income.
14. Bush control and clearance - goats are used to clear and control the bush.

15. Recreation - socio-economic impact of animal ownership also includes a recreational

contribution especially to small scale farmers.

GOAT BREEDS
EXOTIC GOAT BREEDS
They are popular all over the world due to their high milk yield. They are being used for
developing new breeds with more milk yield and for the improvement of the non-descript breeds.
a) Toggenburg
 It originated from Toggenberg valley in Switzerland.
 It is a hardy and productive breed, adaptable to a wide variety of climates. It is Brown with
white colour on legs. Head is of medium length and size. The male usually has longer hair
than the female giving it a rugged appearance.
 The skin of the doe is very soft and pliable. The udder is well-attached and carried high.
Usually polled. Mature weight : 80/65 kg.
 Average milk production is 5.5 kg/day with 3-4% fat.
b) Saanen
 It originated from Saanen valley in Switzerland.
 Popular for its high milk yield and is known as the “milk queen” of the goat world.
 It is white or light cream with short fairly fine hair.
 Facial line is straight or slightly dished.
 Ears are erect, pointing upward and forward.
 Usually polled or sometimes with horns
 Mature weight: does 65 kg, Buck 94 kg
 Average milk yield ranges from 2-5 kg/day during a lactation period of 8-10 months. Fat
content 3-4%.
 It is usually sensitive to excessive sunlight, thus best suited for cooler climate
 It is docile and the does are alert and feminine, with wedge shaped body.
c) Alpine
 Originated from French, Swiss and Rock Alpine breeds.
 The colour range from black to white. It is also Short.
 May be horned or polled.
 Erect ears and straight nose.
 Mature weight 60-65 kg. Breed is well adapted to mountainous areas.
 Females are excellent milkers. Fat content 3-4%.
d) Anglo-Nubian
 It is a crossbreed of the Nubian goat (long-legged and hardy goat found in Nubia region
of Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia) and the Jamunapari goat (from India) with English
parentage.
 It is one of the most outstanding dual-purpose breed. Its milk has a higher fat percentage,
hence referred to as the “Jersey cow of the goat world”.
 It is most suitable for tropical climates and has widely been used for upgrading indigenous
stock in some countries.
 It is large with fine skin and glossy coat, pendulous ears and Roman nose.
 Udder is capacious and pendulous. Mature weight : 65-80/50-60 kg.
  The milk production is 6.5 kg/day. Average fat content is 4.5%.
e) Angora
 Originated in Turkey or Asia Minor.
 Small-sized with short legs
 Horns are spirally twisted and inclined backward and outward.
 Produces valuable textile fibre called “mohair”.
 The soft, silky hair covers the white body and most of the legs with close-matted ringlets.
Average fleece weight is 1.2 kg.

East African Goat

 It is the widely spread in Kenya and found throughout Eastern Africa.
 They show a wide range of coat colours that range from pure white to pure black with
intermediate colours. They can be different shades of brown mixed with other colours. The
hair is fine mostly short at the front and growing longer towards the hind. Bucks have highly
pronounced mane running up to the back.
 Bucks are between 30 and 40kg live weight and the does weigh 25 to 30kg.
 Both the bucks and does have horns which face backwards and curved upwards at the tip.
 Ears slightly droop and males have beards.
 They have slow growth rate, low milk production and heavy body conformation thus only
suitable for meat production. The goat is resistant to diseases and the hide has good quality
leather.
 It can be crossed with other indigenous breeds such as Galla or others like the Boer, Anglo
Nubian or Alpines goats to give superior cross breeds.
 They are hardy, and can thrive in very harsh environments and are resistant to internal parasites
and diseases such as trypanosomiasis and others.
 They also have high fertility.
The Galla Goats (Boran, or Somali goat)
 They are relatively larger than the Small East African Goat breeds.
 Are docile animals easy to handle with females weighing up to 45 – 55kg and males up to
70kg.
 They do not do well in cold wet climate but thrive best in low altitude areas.
 The milk production is high compared to the Small East African Goat. They can produce
up to half litre of milk per day without extra feeds.
 It is resistant to intestinal parasites, some infectious diseases
 They can be crossed with other breeds such as Anglo Nubian, the Small East African goat
and the Boer goat.
 It is a dual purpose goat and is being used for breeding with Toggenburg.
 The Galla goat can be an ideal breed for both the small and large-scale farmers

Breeding, selection and culling

Breeding is the purposeful and goal driven mating of male and female animals to improve certain
characteristics in the offspring. It may be pure breeding or crossbreeding.
Selection is the process whereby certain individual animals with desirable characteristics are
chosen to be the parents of the next generation.
Culling: It is the process of removing unproductive animals (e.g. old goats, or animals with poor
mothering abilities, poor reproductive performance, and animals with chronic sicknesses, genetic
defects) from the flock.
Selection can be through Natural selection or Artificial selection as discussed in dairy cattle
production.
When selecting does and bucks for breeding, three main tools are used for decision making.
1. Visual selection – quick, efficient and cost effective tool for a large number of traits
e.g conformation traits, temperament and physical traits such as skin colour.
2. Raw data: used for traits that can be measured, such as weight. It can improve the
accuracy of selection and breeding decisions in comparison to visual selection for
these traits. It removes any uncertainity or biasness that results in visual selection.
3. Estimated breeding values (EBVs) are accurate tools for decision making on a
range of commercially important traits. EBVs take into account the environmental
influences that can influence such as birth type (single or twin), age of doe and
whether the goats have been run together or separately. Information from relatives
and the heritability of each trait are also used in determining an EBV.

SELECTION OF BREEDING BUCK

Since the buck contribute a lot in the genetic improvement of the flock, it is important to be
careful in selecting the best buck for breeding. At the same, one buck is used to serve several does
in the herd. Therefore, selection of inferior breeding buck means increase in number of poor quality
animals. Buck can be selected at weaning (3 to 4 months of age) using weaning weight or after -
weaning at 6 to 8 months of age. To avoid inbreeding and increase genetic improvement in the
herd, the buck should be replaced after three years.
Characteristics of a buck used as breeding stock
 Masculinity –with structural breeding soundness, adequate muscling
 Standard buck/ram vocalisation
 Uniform pair of testes with a fine sheath in scrotal sac, must be firm, consistent and elastic
on palpation
  Large scrotum circumference of about 25cm
 Good feet and legs
 Must display mating behavioural signs- good sense of smell, good erection
 Growth rate
SELECTION OF BREEDING DOE
Selection of the breeding females is done when she is ready for breeding. She must show signs of
oestrus. The final selection will be after she has weaned its first kid.
Characteristics to be considered when selecting a breeding doe:
 She must be feminine with good structural conformation
 Faster growth rate
 Fertility and fecundity, kidding every 8-10 months
 Good milk production
 Well-structured udder with two functional teats , well developed jaws
 Large body capacity and volume (associated with ability to breed, carry and rear kids and
good milk production.
 Temperament- good Mothering ability
 Ease of kidding and carry pregnancy to term.
 Does with physical deformities (e.g. bad feet, hard udders, blind eyes ) should not be
selected for breeding
BREEDING SEASON
In general, goat production in communal area is of free ranging goats. Mating occurs throughout
the year. Kids are born anytime. However; free ranging results in kids dropping throughout the
year, makes management, recording and strategic feeding of doe’s impossible or difficult and it
also means that the farmer needs to keep the buck in good condition all year round.
Management of the Does
The Does should be mated as from the age of 12 months. Well fed does grow faster and ready for
mating early. Nutrition also increases fertility and litter size. Mating the does at less than 8 months
will make them remain stunted the rest of their lifetime and will interfere with their reproductive
performance. A well-managed doe can produce kids for about eight years. Gestation period of
goats is between 145 –150 days (five months). A mature doe can only mate when she is on heat.
It has an estrous cycle of 21 days. The heat period lasts between 24 –26 hours. During this time
she should mate with the buck. The presence of the buck in the flock triggers heat. Coming on heat
also depends on the nutritional status of the animal.
Signs of goat on oestrus (heat)
 Shaking (wagging) of the tail
 Mounting the buck and other does
 Seeking males
 Frequent bleating
 Redden of the vulva and mucous discharge from vulva
 Push her back
 Standing for mating (standing reflex)
The does should be mated with the buck after 12-14 hours. If after 21 days mucus is seen in
doe then it is not pregnant; therefore it should be mated again. After 50-65 days post parturition,
doe comes in heat. It is however appropriate to mate at 2-3 months after parturition, this means
within 2 years, 3 times does will have kidded 3 times.

Pregnant females should be separated from the main flock for close monitoring, at least two months
before kidding. This also reduces kid mortality. At this stage they will need quality feed
supplements to enhance feed reserves in the body. This will ensure a healthy kid and enough milk

Management of males (bucks)

Bucks reach sexually maturity earlier than the does. They should therefore be raised separately
from females to avoid unplanned breeding.
Bucks have to be maintained in good condition and properly fed at all times.
For breeding purposes bucks with horns have to be used, so as to avoid haemophrodism, which
comes with the use of hornless/polled bucks.
Bucks to be used for breeding can be selected at an early age.
The characteristics used for selecting the buck for breeding include;
 A male kid born weighing about 2.5kg or more kg.
 Heavier and fast growing bucks
 Bucks from twin births so as to increase the chances of twinning.
Males not suitable for breeding should be castrated or culled.
Castration of male kids
It is the incapacitation of the male sexual organ or destruction of the testes, epididymis and a
portion of each spermatic cord from a buck. Castration should be carried out at less than three
weeks of age.
The importance of castrating:
 To maintain and control the breeding programme
 To carry out breed improvement successfully
 To make them docile because castrated buck is usually less aggressive and easier to
manage.
  To lessen goat smell: meat from castrated male has less tainted odour in the meat than from
uncastrated bucks.
 To improve the carcass composition and weight.
Factors to be considered during breeding of goats
• Does age must reach7-month-old.
• Avoid in-breeding at any cost.
• Parent doe and buck should not be kept mixed in same space, otherwise there are chances of
uncontrolled pregnancy,
• One buck to 25-30 does must be maintained.
• The breeding buck should not be too fat nor too thin.
• Buck’s age must be reached 8-month-old, and can be in breeding for 5 years.
Mating Ratio
In a controlled mating system:
 A buck should run with does for 36-42 days so as to increase the chances of conception for the
female which missed mating or coming into heat.
 A mature buck can mate 40-50 does while a young buck can be given 25-30 females. The
effectiveness of both buck and does depends on their body condition at mating.
Breeding calendar
A breeding calendar is important in goat management as it that can assist the farmers to plan their
flock breeding cycles and also plan when to purchase inputs, market and to carry strategic
operations. It appears as shown below:
Month Activity
1 Selection of breeding stock

2 Mating starts (Putting the buck to the does for 42 days) Routine management
of the flock through
Dipping, dosing,
vaccinations
3 End of mating
4
5
6 Separate the pregnant from the non pregnant ones
7 Do Supplementation and vaccination against pulpy kidney
to all pregnant females
8 Kidding begins.
9 End of kidding
10 Care of kids
11 Vaccination against Pulpy kidney Weaning
12 Flushing of females
Pregnancy
 Goats are sensitive and therefore stress, poor feeding or rough handling during pregnancy
may result in abortion.
 They should be in good health and condition
 Good shelter and shade should be provided
 Sufficient feeds of high quality especially in the last 2 months should be provided
 Mineral salts and plenty of clean water should be constantly given.
 Avoid transportation during this time

Kidding
On approaching kidding, the doe is restless. She bleats often, lie down and get up again, udder
swells, ligaments of the back, belly and pelvic region soften, vulva swells, back and pelvic bones
protrude and the goat is reluctant to feed. It isolates itself from the rest of the flock, and the water
bag appears.
Preparation
 Kidding area should be clean with dry bedding (use straw, hay or maize stovers).
 The doe may stay in the kidding area for a few days before kidding
 The reason for separating pregnant does from the rest of the flock is to prevent
disturbance of birth process and enable good bonding between the doe and kid.
1. During birth
Leave the doe alone once the birth is initiated. Parturition occurs 30 minutes after the water
bag breaks. Front feet hoof points downward with head resting on the feet. The kid is in breach
position (mal- presentation) if the hooves are pointing upwards and assistance may be required.
Kidding completes in three phases:
1. Preparatory phase (relaxing or opening phase)- where the typical signs of kidding are
visible, -restlessness, contraction of uterus, cervix dilates, kid rotate to upright position)
last for 4 to 8 hour
2. Delivery (Expulsion) phase- water bag appear and ruptures, front feet and head appears,
the belly muscles contract to expel the kid(s) out and this lasts about 30 minutes.
3. Cleaning phase: the attachment of the uterus and placenta separate and the placenta is expelled
- it can take up to 8 hrs hours before the complete fetal membranes are expelled.

After kidding, ensure the kid is breathing by cleaning the mouth and nose. The doe must lick and
groom her kids and remain undisturbed for two to four hours after parturition to ensure bonding
between the doe and the kid.
Pour or spray antiseptic (tincture of Iodine) on navel of the kid to protect against
Check the teats of the mother to see if they are open and has milk.
Management of the kids
Proper care of kids is essential in order to reduce mortalities and improve their growth rate. A
reduction in kid mortality leads to an increase in flock size and consequently the increase in
offtake.
Feeding kids
 Kids should suckle colostrum within the first six hours of birth since it has vitamins
antibodies that increase the immunity of the kids and prevent diseases such as pulpy kidney
(enterotoxaemia) and tetanus. At least it should consume 10-20% of its body weight within
3-12 hours after parturition. If the doe is not producing enough milk for her kid, fostering
or bottle feeding is recommended.
 From about 3 weeks of age kids start nibbling young grass and young tree legume leaves,
hay, sweet potato vines, and small quantities of concentrates, important for rumen
development.
 They should be allowed to browse/graze from one month of age. Effective grazing and
browsing starts at 6-7 weeks.
 Second month: the kid can be separated from its mother at night or it can be separated for
some hours before every milking.
 Third month: the kid is allowed to suckle its mother after every milking for a restricted
time.
 Fourth month: the kid can be weaned if it is well developed, or it may be allowed to suckle
after every milking for one more month.

GOAT NUTRITION
Goats are naturally browsers but they are also grazers. However they are selective in their
feeding behaviour and they do well where they feed on a variety of feeds. Their main feed
is shrubs, bushes (and wild fruit/pods) and grass.
Feed requirements
The quantity of feed consumed by a goat depends on: age; breed; sex, size and
physiological status (pregnant /lactating.)
 Goats will consume 3-5% of their own body weight in dry matter daily
 Young goats will consume relatively more than mature goats
 Pregnant and lactating animals will need more feed to produce milk and to enable the
foetus to grow.
Goats need a balanced diet comprising of water, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals
and fibre.

Nutrient Source
Carbohydrates Cereals(maize, sorghum, millet, corn),molasses
Proteins Leguminous plants, Poultry litter, Cotton seed cakes, soya bean, canola,
Vitamins Vegetables, green forages
Minerals Agro-industrial residue, limestone flour
Water Drinking, succulent feeds, water melon, cacti
Fibre Crop residues, hay; at least 12% CF must be maintained