Learn how to keep goats.
- Suitable on even less than half an acre
- Can be hardy, relatively low maintenance animals
These are ideal animals for a hobby farm or self sufficiency purposes. They can provide a regular source of milk, which can be used as is, or to make cheese. Some breeds produce excellent wool (eg. Mohair), and others can be a source of meat and leather. Goats are useful for controlling weeds, and making use of food scraps. They can be destructive if not properly managed; but with the application of proper knowledge, goats can be an excellent resource for anyone striving toward a more self sufficient lifestyle.
Lesson Structure
There are 9 lessons in this course:
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Introduction to Goat Husbandry
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Goat Breeds and Breeding
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Feeds and Nutrition
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Health Management
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General Husbandry -Housing, Fencing, Grooming
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Kids and Kidding
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Dairy Production
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Meat and Fibre Production
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Goat Farm Management
Aims
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Discuss the relevance different types of goats, their distinguishing features and significance of domesticated goat husbandry
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Choose Goat Breeds that are appropriate to use in different situations.
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Discuss goat breeding
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Identify appropriate feeding for a goat and manage their diet
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Identify illness in goats
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Describe a range of health problems that can arise in goats; and how to deal with those issues
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Determine all resources required to keep one or many goats, including facilities and husbandry tasks.
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Describe the birth process and caring for new born goats
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Explain commercial farming practices for production of fibre, meat and other products
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Plan for farming goats
What is Involved in Goat Husbandry?
Goat husbandry involves all of the things you do to manage the goats, including:
- Where you keep them
- How you control their movement
- The ways you protect them from adverse weather conditions
- How you manage their interaction with other animals
- How to provide important routine health care tasks
How Much Space Does a Goat Require
Seven goats can produce the same quantity of milk as one cow, and can be maintained on a similar amount of feed and water as one cow. They are, however, only 10% the size of a cow, and easier to maintain.
Goats can be used to improve poorer farmland, grazing together with cattle and sheep. The goats eat large amounts of brush and weeds and good quality grass then develops in its place, and cattle or sheep will graze on the grass. By grazing a few goats with cattle or sheep pasture can be protected from establishment of brush or weed species. For these reasons goats can be incorporated into a sustainable farming enterprise.
Goats prefer drier hilly country (wet conditions are not desirable). They can be raised on flat land as well though, provided conditions do not get too wet (Flat land doesn't drain as much and it is not ideal for them to be standing and lying down on very wet ground for extended periods). They need direct sunlight, but also shelter from excessive heat. They require protection after shearing, but are otherwise hardy. They are susceptible, however, to respiratory diseases so some type of shelter is essential. This may be an appropriate goat shed or a simple “A” frame construction in the paddock.
Housing and appropriate facilities for a flock of goats may be adapted from original buildings already standing on the property or they can be purpose built. A small size flock of goats can be managed without elaborate facilities. For medium or large size flocks more permanent, purpose built facilities may need to be considered.
How Will You Benefit?
- Learn to care for a one goat or a whole herd
- Keep goats, healthier, fitter, and reduce veterinary and other costs
- Explore your passion
- Fast track business or employment opportunities with goats
- Save time -don't waste time and money traveling to classes
- Take control over when and where you study
- Take control over your speed of learning - halve the time to qualify if you want.
- Access international knowledge and experience. Our faculty include veterinary and animal professionals in both Australia and the UK.
- With a deeper understanding of goats, make better decisions about their management and care
- Develop connections with the goat industry, and see opportunities that may otherwise pass you by
Employment Prospects
- Farm Hand
- Animal Rescue
- Farm Supplies
Business Opportunities
- Start or buy your own farm
- Dairy Production
- Angora wool production
- Animal Breeding
- Manufacture or buy in products to sell at online or at local markets
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