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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 000000010
NO B-4
MEAT GOAT PRODUCTION
J. M. Shelton; Texas A&M U. Agr. Res. Ctr. San
Angelo
G. F. W. Haenlein; U. of Delaware, Newark
Management and Housing
1 Generally, three types of goats
are found in the US. These are Angoras (approximately
two million head), dairy (approximately one million
head), and meat goats (one half million approximately).
In the Southwest, the latter are widely referred to
as Spanish goats, but this is a term of convenience
to distinguish them from the other types. They are
not necessarily of Mexican or Spanish origin. Many
meat goats have been in this country since early times.
Meat may be produced from all three types, but only
the latter is kept exclusively for this purpose. In
many small flocks of dairy goats, the does may not
all be milked, and thus the main product from these
flocks is meat. The sale of breeding stock from small
flocks of dairy goats may represent important sources
of income, but at some point, meat or milk is needed
as a contribution to mankind.
2 Not all meat goats are Spanish
range goats. Goat meat is relished and highly priced
in many parts of the world, as cabrito by Spanish,
chevon by French people, and also favored by US ethnic
groups, e.g. Greek, Moslem, Jews, Arabs, Mexican,
Puerto Ricans. Easter goat kids are in particular
demand but require early spring or late winter kidding.
Goats producing half a gallon of milk per day can
raise two kids without supplemental feeding. Easter
kids should weigh about 25 to 30 lbs and depending
on the price per lb on the hoof can return a profit.
Buck kids will grow faster and can be sold ahead of
doe kids. Some people raise yearling wethers, letting
them nurse as long as a half year and then letting
them graze. They may custom butcher for a fee and
charge retail prices for the carcass. The cost of
hay, feeds and grazing must be recovered from the
meat sales besides a reasonable profit.
3 Income from meat goat or goat meat
production may not compare favorably with other methods
of range management except under situations where
open range, idle land, bush or browse are not readily
utilized by other grazing livestock, or where small
land areas will not support beef or dairy cattle production.
Although, in some instances the owner may have a preference
for goats or wish to exploit special market situations.
4 Goats tend to be better adapted
or are more prevalent in the warmer climates. There
are a number of factors contributing to this, including
some goats suffering in cold climates due to small
body size, lack of extensive coat cover and lack of
owner's income to build winter confinement and feeding
facilities.
5 Problems: Markets There is no established
national or regional marketing or distribution system
for goat meat with the result that market development
is often a case of individual entrepreneurship. As
a result prices may vary widely. Likewise, quality
grades or standards are not in effect, and at the
present stage seem unnecessary until regional or national
distribution systems develop. Meat quality is not
a serious problem for those slaughtered as kids or
yearlings. Some references to lack of tenderness appear
to be explained by cold shortening or quick chilling
due to small carcass weights. Satisfactory market
outlets for age or cull breeding stock may present
problems for some producers, since such would largely
go for the boning trade and the small volume would
prevent effective exploitation.
6 Problems: Predators Almost any
place where goats are located in this country, predators
(dogs, coyotes, etc.) are a big problem. Many approaches
including approved poisons, and traps and guarding
animals are available, but none are totally satisfactory.
Thus, the producer needs a plan for dealing with this
problem. Good net fences, at least 4.5 feet in height,
or well maintained electric fences are almost a requirement.
Goats are not necessarily more difficult to fence
than other species, except that barb wire fences which
may often be used for cattle are unsuitable because
of the usual spacing between strands through which
goats will be able to pass.
7 Reproduction Most meat goat producers
follow a practice of running males with the females
on a more or less continuous basis. This is the simplest
practice and may well contribute to maximum production.
Most meat goats found in this country are seasonally
polyestrus with recurring estrual periods from approximately
August through February. Some matings outside these
dates may occur. A more controlled breeding program
may be indicated in order to (a) exploit special market
situations, (b) avoid mid-winter kidding which may
often be the norm under random matings, or (c) fit
seasonal feed supplies.
8 Even with the continuous presence
of males, kiddings tend to be grouped. The explanation
is not always obvious. The presence of the male and
his rutting activity has a strong influence in terminating
lactational and seasonal anestrus of does. It is possible
to have some degree of control over kidding dates
and the periodic removal and readdition of rutting
males (i.e. one month in and one month out) can have
a stimulating effect on total kid production. Due
to the relatively long breeding season, twice per
year kiddings do occur with individual does, especially
those which lose kids, but it is by no means the norm
on a flock basis. The anticipated norm for kid production
should be on the order of 1.25 to 1.5 kids raised
per doe per year, but may well deviate from this by
a large amount due to inherent potential or production
conditions.
9 Genetics Excluding the dairy breeds,
which are also relatively good meat producers, well
established breed types do not exist in the USA for
meat production alone. The Swiss dairy breeds are
not very popular for meat production under range conditions.
Udder problems and leggy conformation are the primary
reasons. The absence of well defined US meat breed
types tends to prevent organized crossbreeding programs.
Some selective breeding efforts have been carried
out in Texas, but as of yet breed types or names (aside
from ''Spanish'' goats) have not been established.
There is need for improvement in growth rate, carcass
yield and meat to bone ratio. An optimally high kidding
rate (preferably not above two kids per parturition)
should also be maintained. Selection pressures should
be exerted in these directions. Limited research indicates
that it should be possible to change these traits
through selection.
10 Nutrition Intensive feeding of
meat goats is not the norm and likely may not be an
economical goal. Meat goats are infrequently fattened
on harvested feeds for slaughter, and heavy supplemental
feeding is not normally practiced. There are times
when it may be desirable to feed meat type goats.
It is necessary to remember that they are small ruminants,
but they do not possess the magic to digest poor quality
or trash type feeds as some people think. They appear
to require some more quality in their rations than
larger ruminants. Their ability to survive under adverse
conditions stems from their being more selective in
feeding and able to conserve critical nutrients (minerals,
protein, water, etc.). For a high level of production
of growing kids they respond to good quality diets
with 12-180001:0000rotein contents. They do utilize
poor quality roughages such as stovers, straw, etc.
very well. In commercial practice, supplemental feeding
of goats will be restricted to winter or drought periods,
and then almost any available feedstuffs will be used.
Younger goats will require a better quality ration
than mature animals to provide nutrients for growth
and development.
11 Health Goats are as susceptible
to all the diseases and parasites as other ruminants.
However, grazing habits and inborn resistance appear
to give some advantages. Goats which are primarily
browsers may require no treatment for internal parasites,
but otherwise may require regularly anthelmintics.
Drugs of choice may be the same as used for sheep.
Coccidiosis may cause severe problems with goats,
especially when managed under confined conditions.
Isolated flocks with no history of problems may well
require no immunizations at all. On pastures and ranges
with past history of soremouth, flocks will benefit
from immunization. Intensively managed flocks may
benefit from vaccination for enterotoxemia, especially
when large quantities of concentrate feeds (e.g. corn)
are utilized. Pinkeye (keratoconjunctivitis) can be
a problem, but no satisfactory immunizing agents seem
to exist.
12 Management The only management
practice which is widely practiced is castration of
surplus male meat type kids. This improves growth
rate little, and eliminates odor and sanitation problems.
Castration also eliminates breeding by undesirable
males. In the market place, castrated meat goats are
preferred over the intact males.
MEAT GOAT PRODUCTION
COLLECTION;GOAT HANDBOOK
ORIGIN;United States
DATE_INCLUDED;June 1992
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