Homesteading practices range from rearing livestock, poultry farming, and lawn mowing, trimming hedges to gardening. In this post, we look at goats-witty, yet known escapist domestic animals that assign meaning to a notion that ‘grass is always greener on the other side of the fence‘.
For starters, choosing the right type of goats for a farm is often a difficult challenge. It is because, with more than 210 breeds in the world from which to choose, you won’t be able to make the right decision without the input of an expert.
Now, to help you get started, fromscratchmag.com walks you through ten things you didn’t know about goats. Take a look.
Surprising Goat Facts You Didn’t Know
You may have been raising goats for years now; maybe for milk, hides/skin or meat, but the following facts are about these animals are things you may have never known:
1. Rut Period In Male Goats
The Rut is the period during which male goats (bucks/Billy) they are ready to mate, and it often coincides with the onset of the breeding season. Notable characteristic in a Billy during the Rut are an obsession with does/nannies, a goaty smell, frequent fights over female goats and poor appetite.
2. Domestic Goats Are Descendants Of Bezoars Ibex- Anatolian Zagros
According to scientific studies on domesticating goats, all are descendants of a wild species from the Middle East known as Bezoars Ibex. Science further indicates that man started breeding goats more than ten thousand years ago.
3. Goats Are Curious Animals
While it is challenging looking after goats in a grazing field given that they like escaping into bushes and shrubs, it should interest you to note that these animals are naturally curious.
According to behaviourists, one of the reasons why goats chew everything and anything is to find out more about objects. [1]
4. Tribe A Proper Name For A Group Of Goats
You may have been referring to a group of goats as a herd, and that’s okay. However, trip or tribe are arguably the ideal collective noun of many goats.
5. Cashmere Wool Is From Goats
If you thought cashmere wood is from a breed of sheep such as merino, then you’ve got to discard that belief henceforth. It turns out the soft wool we use in making garments comes from cashmere goats.
After harvesting from goats, the outer hard wool gets removed to remain with a soft-downy inner coat. In textile industries, cashmere wools exist in threads and yarns.
A historical fact you didn’t know about this wool is that thousands of years ago, Nepal and Kashmir were the leading regions in raising cashmere goats. Things have changed though, because today, you will find cashmere goats in most parts of the world.
6. The Truth Behind Fainting Goats
You must have heard fainting goats and maybe thought it is a severe health condition, if not biological. Well, it is a nervous condition, congenital myotonia, which is a muscle paralysis in response to panic. It is painless. Older goats hardly fall, but instead, lean against a wall or anything.
7. Strong Smell From Bucks Results Into ‘Goaty Smell’ In Goat Milk
If you prefer to raise goat for milk to meat, then you should know that strong goat scent in bucks is the reason why your product will smell goaty.
It is especially true if you keep male and female breeds in the same room during milking season. However, someone farmers say they wouldn’t observe such breeding practices as separating bucks and nannies during breeding.
8. Boars Are The Most Popular Meat Breeds In The U.S
The United States is a leading importer of goat meat according to recent studies. But despite that, the country’s most popular goat meat breed is the boar. Mature male boars can weigh up to 380 pounds while females can weigh as much as 310 and hardly less than 200 pounds. [2]
9. Discovery Of Coffee And Goats
A story goes that many centuries ago, goats led to the discovery of coffee. History books record that when these domestic animals ate seeds of the plants, they became aggressive and energetic. Does it, therefore, establish a connection with fact #3 that goats are curious animals? Well, now, you know.
10. Mahatma Gandhi Was A Lover Of Goat Milk
Compared to cow milk, milk from goats is leaner and low in fat. It is a dietary recommendation to those who want to cut down on fat intake without forgoing milk.
For 30 years, Mahatma Gandhi drank goat milk, something you be learning about for the time in this review fromscratchmag.com.
Things You Need To Know BEFORE Getting Goats:
5 Myths About Goats:
Best Books On How To Raise Goats:
Successful livestock keepers do more than buying the best breed there is in the world. They always want to know more. Moreover, whether you are a beginner or experienced, we have handpicked the best goat keeping books to help hone your skills in this area.
Raising Goats for Dummies-by Cheryl K. Smith
Dummies too can learn how to keep livestock, and if you are a lover of goats, keeping these extremely active domestic animals require more than guts. You need an excellent book to help you find answers to the hows, whats, and whys.
The good news is that you’ve landed in the right place. Fromscratchmag.com recommends the best books to help you get started, and this time, we begin with Cheryl K. Smith’s novel, ‘Raising Goats for Dummies.’
In this publication, you will learn the following:
- Learn how to acquire goats and day-to-day breeding practices of keeping these animals healthy and active on the farm.
- Tips on how to groom, handle, and milk goats.
- Dive into the depths of knowledge and become a professional on livestock feeding and nutrition.
- Learn about meat goats and raising fibre breeds.
Since 1998, Cheryl has been publishing books on livestock keeping- majoring on goats, not to mention occasional blogs on the same on leading homesteading websites.
The Backyard Goat: An Introductory Guide to Keeping and Enjoying Pet Goats-Feeding, housing and cheese making-By Sue Weaver
Are you interested in keeping goats as pets? What about getting them fort milk? The truth is that anyone who would wish to keep livestock animals wouldn’t turn down a chance to do so.
Thus, if goats are your favourite, a novel, The Backyard Goat by Sue Weaver is worth the money. We wanted to make sure you have the best starter kit, which in this case is a book that will guide you on essential practices.
You should, therefore, have this book because of the following:
- It presents straightforward guidelines on choosing goat breed, feeding, housing, and housing goats.
- You don’t need experience in livestock keeping to get hold of this book because it is an easy-to-read publication, which notwithstanding sheds light on the benefits of owning goats.
- If you are looking to raise cashmere breeds, this is one of the best books out there. It walks you through a detailed approach of getting started with goats 101. In the end, you will have learned so much from 224 pages that you will like a professional livestock keeper.
How to Raise Goats-By Carol Amundson
If you are looking to raising goats, the first and most important question you will ask, like everyone else, is this: How do I raise goats? Well, for starters, it is always about getting hold of an excellent book to learn the basics and principles of a successful livestock keeper.
There is every reason to put money on this book, which includes:
- The author, Carol Amundson, is an authority in this field, providing you in-depth approach to raising milk or milk goats.
- If you want to learn about the history of goats and how to raise a healthy herd, Carol’s copy is the book for you.
- Find answers to all pertinent questions on getting goats such as how to profiteer from it, how to choose the best breeds, and livestock keeping regulations and acquiring land for the homesteading practice.
- Most importantly, Carol’s book walks you through dos and don ts of raising goats, while ensuring they are healthy. It is comprehensive, handy, and concise in every aspect.
Storey’s Guide to Raising Dairy Goats: Breed Selection, Fencing, Feeding, Dairying, Healthcare and Marketing-5th Edition by Jerry Belanger
The author of this book, Jerry Belanger, and co-author, Sara Thomson Bredesen, have over 30 years of experience in dairy farming. Now, with Jerry’slevel of expertise in raising goats, the book, “Storey’s Guide to Raising Goats,” isn’t like any other book you will find on e-commerce websites. It is a must-have for every need entrant who wants to succeed in this enterprise.
Sara Thomson Bredesen is a licensed commercial maker of cheese from goat milk and promoter in Wisconsin.
First published in the year 1975, there is every reason to read this bestseller such as:
- It is not only a book that is easy to access but also very comprehensive, providing you with a detailed approach to raising milk goats.
- A new edition of Storey’s Guide to Raising Goats features updated information and comes with packed with detailed information on such matters as milking goats, milking equipment, how to properly hand-milk goats and techniques for doing so, and storing your produce.
- The new edition of Storey’s Guide to Raising Goats has color illustrations. It explores issues such as kidding, goat health, and approved practices for raising these animals on your farm.
- By putting money on this publication numbering 296 pages, you are in for a powerfully educating farming book on the web. Most importantly, it is from publishers who boast of unmatched experiences in getting goats.
The Trouble with Goats and Sheep: a novel by Joanna Cannon
Many publishers, people, and media have applauded Joanna Cannon for her masterpiece, The Trouble with Goats. While the book isn’t expressly about raising goats, it paints a picture of Britain’s past-in the gardens, suburbs, fields, farms, and pantries.
It is a worthy read, especially if you want in a charming, humorous yet honest piece of literary.
And if you are looking for a plot that takes you on a ride from which you will never come, this novel is more like an Atlas, painting a picture of landscapes and places.
Questions That Goat Keepers Ask Frequently:
In this section, we provide answers to questions that may have kept lingering in your mind. Take a look:
Q: What Does The Term ‘Browsers’ Mean About Goats?
A: Goats, apart from being herbivores (plant eaters), exude unusual feeding habits. It is the habit of climbing onto shrubs, bushes, and plants to feed on leafy greens that earned them the name browsers.
Q: What Is The Average Goat Population In The World?
A: There are more than 900 million goats in the world, cutting across all species/breeds. Out of these numbers, China is leading with a population totaling over 200 million according to recent stats. Other countries that follow suit are Australia, India, Sudan, Iran, and Nigeria.
Q: Which Signs Indicate That My Goats Are Not Eating Well?
A: Goats are ruminants (chew cud), in which case, you would expect them to have a protruding stomach-an indication of good health. However, in cases where yours doesn’t browse, sleeps a lot or has protruding ribs on the sides, it is always time to see a veterinarian for diagnosis.
Conclusion
While mistakes are part and parcel of learning, they should be minimal when it comes to raising livestock animals. In this review, we wanted to help you put money on the right book on raising goats.
Thus far, we hope you have information to help you start raising goats. Moreover, with the above little-known facts about goats at the back of your mind, please keep checking our site for our upcoming posts like this one about goats.
We would also want to urge you to post your questions, suggestions, views, and opinions in the comment section below. Also, do remember to share this post with friends who might be interested in getting goats.
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