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For many first time homesteaders, the decision of what food to grow, which animals to keep and how to initially set up their property for maximum efficiency and ease of use is often fraught with confusion. Some start with backyard chickens and other poultry, but others opt for keeping small livestock instead. Goats are a common choice.
At first look, goats seem to be a no-brainer. They’re small, multi-purpose animals that produce milk, meat and even fiber, depending upon the breed. Why not start your homesteading journey with goats? It’s an important question, and we’re here with some answers. Some of them may surprise you. Here’s a quick look at goat ownership for the homesteading beginner.
Pros and Cons of Goat Ownership:
Pros:
- Goats are smart (see Cons) and friendly, they are easy to tame, and even children can handle them safely with proper supervision. A milk goat makes a great family pet, and there are multiple products you can make with goat’s milk.
- Goats are small, and there are dwarf (mini) breeds so that you can maximize space and they don’t eat a lot so they’re a smart choice economically.
- Goats produce meat and milk, so they are a great choice if your goal is to move towards sustainable food production.
- Gestation for goats is only 150 days, so if you choose to start a breeding program, your results happen quickly.
- Goats are used in agriculture youth education in programs such as 4H and FFA so they can be used to compete with at the local, regional and state levels with children beginning at age 8 and through 18.
- Goat manure makes excellent garden compost. This is a renewable resource that is a happy by-product of keeping goats.
- Goats are browsers, and will eat just about anything, so they do a great job of clearing your land. If you have overgrown places that you want cleared, simply turn your goats out (confined, of course, with temporary fencing), and let them go to work.
- Goats are multi-purpose animals. Not only do they produce meat and milk, the larger breeds can also be used as beasts of burden. Pack goats can be taken on hikes and camping trips to help carry your supplies.
Cons:
- Goats are smart. This means that they are excellent escape artists and can potentially do a great deal of damage to your garden or feed supplies. They can jump and climb. Fencing needs to be high and secure or electrified, and gates need to be secured with snaps or locking latches and housing needs to be far enough away from the perimeter that they can’t leap from the roof of their house over the fence.
- Goats detest being wet. They need snug and secure housing built to keep out the rain and wet. This also means that you need a way to clean out the shelters and pens for sanitation.
- Goats need regular care for hooves and horns. If you are not able to learn the skills necessary to trim goat hooves, cut horns or de-bud kids, you will be paying a farrier or vet to do these things for you. Goats can do significant damage to each other and to fences and property with their horns, and it’s recommended that they be de-budded as kids. Even still, some will grow scurs that have to be dealt with on a regular basis.
- If you are going to have a milk goat, you will need to breed the doe. Once she’s producing, the kids can be weaned at 8 weeks, and the doe will milk for about a year. You would then need to breed again in the Fall for Spring kids to refresh her. This means you need a buck and a schedule of breeding.
- Bucks smell. They smell bad. They urinate on their own faces to increase that smell. If you’ve never smelled a buck goat, you’re in for an unpleasant time. If you have, then you know what I’m referring to. If you want a goat breeding program you will either need to keep a buck on site, in a separate housing situation away from the does, and somewhere that’s generally upwind. Otherwise, you will need to contract with someone who owns a breeding buck to keep your doe in milk. If you choose to keep a buck, you will need to keep him very securely so he can’t escape and get to the does. Bucks can also become aggressive during the breeding season depending upon how much handling you do to keep them tame. .
- Goat meat is not a commonly consumed food in the U.S. It’s an acquired taste. When prepared correctly, it’s delicious. However, it requires a lot of effort for two bites of a goat chop, and that is a deterrent for a lot of folks.
- Then there’s goat math. If you intend to breed, your herd can double in size in one breeding season. Goats will commonly give birth to twins, triplets, and even quadruplets. That’s a lot of mouths to feed once the kids are weaned.
Things to consider when starting your goat adventure:
Breed Choice
Before you purchase goats, you need to decide the purpose for your homestead. You can get Alpine or Saanen goats if you are interested in strictly dairy uses. Boer and Nigerian goats are multi-purpose breeds and first-time homesteaders will often start with Nigerian Dwarf goats.
Angora goats provide fiber for spinning and weaving. Do your homework and start small. If you can get a doe already in milk, it’s a great way to dip your toes in the water, so to speak, and get a feel for what it’s like to house and care for a goat.
Housing and Space
Goat shelters need to be shade in the summer and protection from the elements in the winter. Use removable bedding such as hay, shavings, straw or pellets that can be raked out. Make sure there is adequate airflow and the shelter is large enough for you to get in and clean it for sanitation. A flat or slightly angled roof is best, because goats love to climb and will spend time up on the roof if it is accessible.
Fencing should be tall and at least one strand of electrified wire is recommended, because goats will escape at any opportunity, no matter how nice their accommodations are. The area should be large enough for them to have room to move around freely and not be overly confined.
See your county’s requirements of animal units per acre where you live to learn how many goats you’re legally able to house on your homestead.
Feeding
Feed your goat good quality grass hay or alfalfa. If possible, they should be able to browse your property and are excellent at clearing land of weeds and trimming shrubbery. A varied diet is the healthiest for them. You will need to provide salt and minerals as well. Goats that are pregnant and milking may need extra feed supplements. Your veterinarian can advise you.
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