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COLLECTION: GOAT HANDBOOK
ORIGIN: United States
DATE INCLUDED: June 1992
Extension Goat Handbook
This material was contributed from
collections at the National Agricultural Library.
However, users should direct all inquires about the
contents to authors or originating agencies.
DOCN 000000017
NO B-11
MANAGEMENT OF BRUSH GOATS
P. J. Holst; Agr. Res. Sta. Cowra, New South Wales,
Australia
G. F. W. Haenlein; U. of Delaware, Newark
Management and Housing
1 Many brush goats may be feral goats which were originally
domestic goats that escaped or were released by early
settlers. Their number is unknown, but they may represent
a natural resource in some areas and play a role in
today's agriculture, when managed effectively.
2 Current interest in brush or bush
goats is centered on their browsing behavior and dietary
preferences in scrub and weed control. However, this
diet alone does not produce sufficient monetary gains
from goats; their by-products of meat, skin and fiber
are of special economic interest.
3 Breeding The ''type'' of goat upon
which to base this kind of ''wild'' breeding program
is not yet understood. Obviously the selection of
a specific ''type'' will be affected by the by-products
envisaged and the role of the goat itself.
4 Feral goat flocks that have evolved
over years consist of long and short-haired goats,
a mixture of colors and a variety of conformation.
Short-haired goats are thought to be better but research
suggests that long-haired goats lose less weight under
nutritional stress. However, goat deaths in winter
indicate that long-haired goats with little down are
cold sensitive and less viable. For meat production
it is easy to suggest the selection for twin progeny
with high yearling weights, regardless of lengths
of hair and color.
5 The improved Boer goat of South
Africa is valued in various parts of the world for
good meat characteristics and its skin. Boer goat
breeders select a white, short-haired animal but evidence
is lacking on aspects of skin quality. The following
breeds of goats are recognized as having good quality
skins: Maradi, small East African Goat, Boer goat,
Somali, Black Bengal, Moxoto, Marota, and Sahil. Fiber
color appears to be unimportant but the above breeds
are short, fine haired goats. An example is the Sahil
of Africa which has long-haired and short-haired types.
Only the short-haired goats have acceptable skins
with no information on the diameter of fiber.
6 For cashmere (down) goats exist
selection criteria. A difficulty is to determine whether
the associated coarse fiber should be long or short.
This may be dependent on the method of harvesting.
Fortunately, it appears that selection for cashmere
does not conflict with selection for growth rate.
7 Products The products of brush
goats are skin, meat and fiber. Skins may be from
kids up to six weeks or from older goats. Goat skins
are a valuable product in some countries. Processors
identify the following problems:
Coarse grain -- notably from males with ridge-back
hair lines but also in the majority of brush goats
and probably associated with broad diameter fibers
of low density.
Scars -- presumably from fighting, scrub, fences
Excessive odor -- from aged males
Excessive fat -- corium connective tissue ''left-
over''layers
Meat -- may be kid meat, yearling meat or from older
cull goats. Goat meat is valued throughout the world.
Australia exports live goats to the middle East and
Singapore; bone-in and boned carcases to the Pacific
Islands, West Indies, Great Britain, Americas, Japan.
The latter two markets are essentially as manufacturing
meat, e.g. for pet food. A small quantity of carcases
are exported dehaired with skin on primarily to Hong
Kong. Consumption of goat meat is restricted because
of marketing problems and the need for all meat to
be slaughtered i ++++MISSING DATA++++
8 Cashmere can be white, brown, grey
or black in color with a price differential in favor
of white fiber. Commercial processes are available
to separate small amounts of coarse hair from a predominantly
cashmere mixture. Combing produces a relatively pure
sample but obviously shearing includes coarse hair.
There is now an economical, commercial procedure available
for separation of mixtures that include much coarse
hair.
9 Shedding of cashmere occurs annually
in spring. Combing after shedding has begun, is successful
but any delay leads to loss of much of the cashmere.
The operation of combing is physically demanding and
tedious and its economic utilization will probably
depend on mechanization. Traditionally, hand combers
have preferred a long guard hair to minimize tangling
of the cashmere and to modify its rate of loss.
10 Nutrition All grazing animals
have preferences for some forages and dislikes for
others. This determines the order in which forage
plants are eaten and influences management decisions.
Growth and survival of some plants - those that are
readily eaten and those that are never eaten - may
be altered over periods of time. This order of preference
identifies goats as browsing animals. Preference is
always in relation to what kind of plants are available,
how much is available, the relative succulence of
different kinds and the individual habit of eating.
Rarely is the diet made up of one plant species. In
weed and scrub control it must be expected that there
is a maintenance cost in terms of desirable plants
eaten by goats.
11 Brush goats in a weed or scrub
control program should not be expected to receive
supplementary feeding. Normal stocking rate management
should be such, that the goats enter the winter in
good condition. There are two possible exceptions.
In a difficult, cold winter it may be necessary to
feed hay to ensure survival of the goats. In all areas,
there may be periods where phosphorus may have to
be provided as a supplement. There have been instances
of a form of rickets and slow growth rates under rangeland
and browse conditions probably due to an imbalanced
P:Ca ratio.
12 Following is a list of plants
and scrubs observed to be eaten by goats. It is not
complete and tends to identify problem species. Stage
of maturity of plants and scrub influence selection
by goats and produce a marked seasonal variation in
the composition of their diet. Management has to recognize
these factors.
13 Highly preferred plants and scrubs:
Orange bush (Capparis mitchellii), supplejack (Ventilago
viminalis), Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneum), gruie
colane (Owenia acidula), emu bush (Eremophila longifolia),
mature mulga (Acacia aneura), rosewood (Heterodendrum
oleifolium), belah (Casuarina cristata), current bush
warrior (Apophyllum anomalum), white wood (Atalaya
hemiglauca), lignum (Muehlenbeckia cunninghamii),
sucker leaves of boxes, gums and mallees, blackberry
(Rubus spp.), sweet briar (Rosa rubiginosa), lucerne
tree (Chamaecytisus proliferus), flower lucerne -
alfalfa (Medicago falcata), turnip weed (Brassica
tournefortii), rye grass (Lolium spp.), pine (Pinus,
Picea, Abies spp.), maple (Acer spp.), grape (Vitis
spp.), oak (Quercus spp.).
14 Moderately preferred: Punty bush
(Cassia eremophilia), hop bush (Dodonaea viscosa attenuata),
young pine (Callitris spp.), young mulga (Acacia aneura),
ironwood (Acacia excelsa) and other acacias, yarran
(Acacia homalphylla), canegrass (Eragrostis australasica),
some box and gum trees, hawthorn (Crataegus spp.),
poa tussock (Poa labillardieri), serrated tussock
(Nassella trichotoma).
15 Eaten occasionally: Budda (Eremophilia
mitchellii), wilga (Geijera parviflora), mature poplar
box bimble (E. populnea), horse nettle (Solanum carolinense),
common nettle tall (Urtica dioica), kangaroo thorn
(Acacia armata), galvanized burr (Bassia birchii).
16 Readily eaten but dependent on
stage of growth-(frequently associated with the flowering
stage): Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium), variegated
thistle (Silybum marianum), inkweed (Phytolacca octandra),
nodding thistle (Carduus nutans), black thistle (Cirsium
vulgare), rushes (Juncus spp.), sucker regrowth of
yellow box (E. melliodora), white box (E. albens),
and red box (E. polyanthemos), black wattle (Acacia
mearnaii), horehound (Marrubium vulgare), St. John's
Wort (Hypericum perforatum), curled dock (Rumex crispus),
purple top (Verbena bonariensis), skelton weed (Chondrilla
juncea), mustard weed (Sisymbrium spp.), patterson's
curse (Echium plantagineum), barley grass (Hordeum
leporinum), spear grass (Stipa spp.), lucerne - alfalfa
(Medicago sativa).
17 Mechanical damage only: Bracken
fern (Pteridium esculentum).
18 Isolated plants eaten - (yet to
be tested adequately): Sifton bush biddy (Cassinia
arcuata), mature cotton bush (Asclepias fruticosa).
19 Not eaten or harmful: Slender
thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus), peppermint (Mentha
spp.), yew (Taxus spp.), rhododendron, solanaceae.
20 Reproduction The seasonal breeding
activity of brush goat is not unlike Merino sheep
with fall being the most favorable period for breeding.
Under feral conditions, breeding activity is affected
greatly by nutrition and in good seasons it is possible
to have two kid crops in one year. The length of estrus
cycle averages between 19 and 20 days. The presence
of bucks acts as an exteroceptive factor in stimulating
the onset of estrus at the beginning of the breeding
season.
21 Estrus could be successfully synchronized
during the regular breeding season by the use of intravaginal
progestagen pessaries, subcutaneous progestagen implants
or with prostaglandin. Sexual maturity is closely
related to growth rate with well grown bucks reaching
puberty at 6-9 months (4 months even in some cases)
and does at 7-8 months (even 5 months). Gestation
length is approximately 147 days. Parturition is usually
uneventful with dystocia a rare problem.
22 Slaughter and experimental data
indicate that kidding percent in brush goats is usually
150-180 Twins are common but surprisingly, there are
few triplets. For the first 3-4 days the kids rarely
move from the kidding site but thereafter will rejoin
the mob with their dam. Birthweight of kids is approximately
6.5 lbs. Kid losses result from stillbirth, predation
and starvation. Starvation is usually the result of
faulty udders. Abortion does not appear to be a real
problem in brush goats except as a result of severe
stress. In that event, aborted kids are usually in
the third trimester. Abortion can be readily induced
artifically using synthetic prostaglandin.
23 At kidding and for the next four
days, the does often ''plant'' their kids. This appears
to be largely dependent on the availability of feed.
With ample feed available, the doe remains near her
kids - when feed is limited she tends to plant the
kids and forages at a distance.
24 Management Goats are alert and
observant and are easily moved in yards and through
gateways. However, they may balk and do not flow as
evenly as sheep do when being counted through a gateway.
Goats tend to rush more or not go at all.
25 When being forced in confined
areas, such as the approach to a drafting race or
drenching in the working race, goats will go down
very readily. Although surprisingly little damage
results from this packing down, it is best kept to
a minimum. Dogs are rarely necessary once goats have
been yarded and movement in larger yards with big
mobs is best done as quietly as possible. When working
in forcing areas or races, trampling can be minimized
by having only 12 or 15 animals at a time in the area.
26 Brush goats are susceptible to
the same diseases and parasites that commonly affect
sheep (e.g. footrot) with the notable exception of
fly strike. Medication is essentially the same with
due cognizance of liveweight. Samples of feral goats
have been studied for Brucellosis (melitensis, abortus
and ovis) but were found to be free of that disease.
27 Most harvested feral goats are
lice infested and the particular lice involved are
Damalinia caprae and Linognathus stenopsis. The most
common sheep louse is Damalinia ovis. Experiments
have been conducted to investigate louse transfer
between sheep and goats. Though some transfer did
take place under pen conditions, the transferred lice
did not survive longer than 12 days and there was
no hatching of eggs that may have been laid.
28 All feral goats should be assumed
to be lice infested and dipped immediately on arrival
at the property. This has to be followed up with a
second dip two weeks later. It is convenient to initially
vaccinate also at one of these times.
29 Working races should have panels
inserted to shorten exisiting sheep race to approximately
ten feet. Height should be a minimum of four feet;
width not to be greater than 2.5 feet, which will
prevent trampling. Working goat yards use funnel and
pie-shape designs and depend in size on the number
of animals to be handled. Drafting races are shorter
and narrower than sheep races.
30 Fencelines at five feet height
should be clear of obstacles that may facilitate goats
jumping the fence e.g. stumps, trees, logs, stays,
rocks, banks. The agility of the brush goat poses
special problems with fencing. However, in most cases
the goat prefers to go under/or through fences rather
than over. Two low-strand electric fences are effective.
31 Horns on brush goats have been
assessed as a means of restraint and self protection.
They can cause accidents in the working area, inhibit
drafting, and scar skins sufficient to reduce quality.
Electric calf dehorners or modified soldering irons
are used for dehorning. This is not practical in a
large flock. Other methods include calf scoop dehorners
up to sixteen weeks of age or rubber bands or, if
the goats are older, a hacksaw. Polled brush goats
are considered undesirable because of the problem
of intersexes in polled goats.
32 To move a mob of goats, it is
best to lead the way and have a dog at the rear of
the mob. In practice, most goats can be worked as
one works sheep.
33 Disappointing kid survival levels
have been associated with the presence of coyotes,
wild dogs, foxes, wild pigs and other predators. Where
they are a problem, the basic tactic is to kid at
the same time as lambing when food for predators is
more plentiful and diversified. Control by poisoning
or trapping may also be necesary in some circumstances.
34 Attached tables give some indication
of the magnitudes of husbandry of brush goats as measured
by imports and exports.
35 Adapted from New South Wales Mimeo,
November 1978.
MANAGEMENT OF BRUSH GOATS
COLLECTION;GOAT HANDBOOK
ORIGIN;United States
DATE_INCLUDED;June 1992
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