Goat
Overview
Goats were farmed as early as 7,000 BC, and were brought to America hundreds of years ago. They became a great farming choice for their milk, fibre, and meat. In Canada, most goats are raised in Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta.
Many people drink goat’s milk.
Industry Overview
In Saskatchewan, most of the goat farming focus is on meat production. In 2011, there were 480 goats on 460 farms in Saskatchewan. However, industry experts guess that this number is much lower than the actual number of goats raised in Saskatchewan. Herd sizes vary within the province; some herds might only have 10 goats, whereas larger producers might have a herd of 1,500 goats.
Herd sizes vary in Saskatchewan from small to large.
Goat meat has become a much more popular red meat option. The prices are influenced by certain holidays. The average cost for goat meat is $2.00-$2.50 per pound.
Goat sale markets can be difficult for Saskatchewan goat farmers because they compete with other Canadian producers, as well as international imports from countries like New Zealand and Australia. Goats take a lot of work to raise to a profitable weight and prime health. Much like cattle, goats can be sold privately between the producer and a consumer. Or they can be sold to large production companies that process the goats for meat, dairy, or fibre and transport them to the grocery store shelves.
Goats can be sold at sales, privately to consumers, or to large production companies.
Who is Who?
Buck
A male goat is called a buck.
A young male goat is called a buckling.
Dam
A mother goat is called a dam. They are pregnant for 5 months.
Kid
A newborn goat is called a kid.
Whether
A male that has had his reproductive organs removed is called a whether.
Doe
A female goat is called a doe and a young female is called a doeling.
Animal Care
Goat farmers follow the Recommended Code of Practice that was developed by government, farmers, animal protection groups, and researchers. Farmers know that keeping their goats happy and healthy is important. They must provide them with healthy food and clean water. Vaccinating goats once or twice a year helps protect them from getting sick from a disease or parasite.
Goat farmers do everything they can to keep goats happy and healthy!
When farmers register their goats, they must go to The Canadian Goat Society. This agency was founded in 1917 and they are dedicated to maintaining herd record books, providing evaluation programs, as well as promoting the responsible and humane treatment of goats.
There are three categories for registering goats depending on the pedigree (the known ancestors of the animal).
Animal Housing
Goats can live outdoors and live on rough land that other livestock are not able to. They require a shelter for shade in the summer, and an area that can protect them from the wind in the winter. Goats require fences to protect them from predators as they are easy prey for coyotes and wolves.
Goats can live outdoors, but need shelter to protect them when the weather is too hot or too cold for them.
Milking goats are milked twice a day and spend more time indoors because they are milked in the barn. They are fed by a farmer twice a day.
Goats that are milked spend more time in barns, but can still live indoors and outdoors.
Technology
Many goat farmers have started to use automatic milking systems. The goats step onto a rotating platform and the farmer connects the milking nozzle to the goat. As the platform rotates, the goats are fed and by the time the platform makes it around, the goats are done being milked and walk straight out to be sorted into their pens!
These goats are eating from a trough while they are being milked.
Check out the ways goat farmers use technology to milk, sort, and keep track of goats!
Products
Goat Cheese
Goat Yogurt
Goat Butter
Goat Ice Cream
Goat Meat
Goat fibres can be made into yarn.
Goats provide us with milk that can make many dairy products. Sheep also provide us with meat and fibre.
Nutrition
Goat meat is high in iron, has low calories and fat, and is an excellent source of protein. In other parts of the world, goat meat is a main source of meat.
Goat meat is tasty and is low in calories and fat.
