ints:goats

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ints:goats [2025/12/04 14:28] – [People] daveints:goats [2025/12/17 04:30] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 Goats have evolved to be browsers, foraging a wide variety of fibrous woody material from shrubs and trees, and are liable to chew on anything remotely woody. This has given rise to a reputation for indiscriminately eating everything in sight, including your pants off the washing line. In fact, they can be extremely fussy about their food, rejecting anything from a bucket that is not perfectly clean. Goats have evolved to be browsers, foraging a wide variety of fibrous woody material from shrubs and trees, and are liable to chew on anything remotely woody. This has given rise to a reputation for indiscriminately eating everything in sight, including your pants off the washing line. In fact, they can be extremely fussy about their food, rejecting anything from a bucket that is not perfectly clean.
  
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 ## What are the benefits of keeping goats? ## What are the benefits of keeping goats?
  
 +### Personal
  
 Goats are well suited to smallholdings. They're accessible and affordable for those wanting to produce their own meat, dairy or fibre. The expanding market for goat products means that farm surplus can often be sold with ease. They can produce well on land considered to be marginal and can be an effective tool for the control of weeds - choosing to eat nettles, top thistles and eradicate bramble patches and Japanese knotweed. This preference for browsing over grazing means they're suitable for those interested in multi-species grazing as they efficiently convert sub-quality grazing matter that is less desirable for other livestock into nutritious food. Goats are well suited to smallholdings. They're accessible and affordable for those wanting to produce their own meat, dairy or fibre. The expanding market for goat products means that farm surplus can often be sold with ease. They can produce well on land considered to be marginal and can be an effective tool for the control of weeds - choosing to eat nettles, top thistles and eradicate bramble patches and Japanese knotweed. This preference for browsing over grazing means they're suitable for those interested in multi-species grazing as they efficiently convert sub-quality grazing matter that is less desirable for other livestock into nutritious food.
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 Goat meat contains low amounts of saturated fatty acids and is considered to be a healthier alternative to other types of red meat. Unprocessed goat milk, which is commonly made into cheese, ice cream, yogurt and kefir, also has a reputation for being healthier, which could be due to the fact that goat milk has smaller, well-emulsified fat globules that make it easier to digest. Goat milk also responds well to simple cheesemaking methods and aspiring cheesemakers can often achieve success with chevre recipes. Goat meat contains low amounts of saturated fatty acids and is considered to be a healthier alternative to other types of red meat. Unprocessed goat milk, which is commonly made into cheese, ice cream, yogurt and kefir, also has a reputation for being healthier, which could be due to the fact that goat milk has smaller, well-emulsified fat globules that make it easier to digest. Goat milk also responds well to simple cheesemaking methods and aspiring cheesemakers can often achieve success with chevre recipes.
  
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 +### Environmental
  
 Producing meat ourselves in communities reduces the length of supply chains, and you have control over the way it's produced – i.e. no nasty chemicals. Producing meat ourselves in communities reduces the length of supply chains, and you have control over the way it's produced – i.e. no nasty chemicals.
 +
 +### Democracy
  
 Providing things for ourselves in communities rather than buying them from corporations helps prevent extraction, decentralises power and therefore prevents the corruption of democracy. Providing things for ourselves in communities rather than buying them from corporations helps prevent extraction, decentralises power and therefore prevents the corruption of democracy.
 +
 +### Community
  
 In case of any kind of collapse scenario (broken supply chains, environmental destruction, financial crash, war, civil unrest etc.), we're going to have to look after ourselves in our communities, and so the more people with useful skills (including animal husbandry) the better. In case of any kind of collapse scenario (broken supply chains, environmental destruction, financial crash, war, civil unrest etc.), we're going to have to look after ourselves in our communities, and so the more people with useful skills (including animal husbandry) the better.
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 Once you've done some basic research (see further resources to start with), it's well worth getting in touch with a local goat keeper to get a feel for how to handle goats and whether they're the animal for you. You can find people who keep goats through [WWOOF](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/wwoofing/), smallholder forums and associations, or local goat keeping societies (ask the [British Goat Society](https://www.britishgoatsociety.com/)). These are also excellent places to ask questions and get advice from experienced keepers. You could spend some time volunteering with goats, through WWOOF for example, or you might want to attend one of the courses available to prospective goat keepers. Once you've done some basic research (see further resources to start with), it's well worth getting in touch with a local goat keeper to get a feel for how to handle goats and whether they're the animal for you. You can find people who keep goats through [WWOOF](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/wwoofing/), smallholder forums and associations, or local goat keeping societies (ask the [British Goat Society](https://www.britishgoatsociety.com/)). These are also excellent places to ask questions and get advice from experienced keepers. You could spend some time volunteering with goats, through WWOOF for example, or you might want to attend one of the courses available to prospective goat keepers.
  
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 Unlike sheep, goats are miserable in cold, wet weather and in a British climate require draught-proof shelter at night and access to a field shelter while outdoors. They like to sleep together; if penned individually at night, they should have stalls which allow them to make some physical contact with their neighbours. Unlike sheep, goats are miserable in cold, wet weather and in a British climate require draught-proof shelter at night and access to a field shelter while outdoors. They like to sleep together; if penned individually at night, they should have stalls which allow them to make some physical contact with their neighbours.
  
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 Goats are browsers rather than grazers and their natural foraging habitat is a mix of grassland, scrubland and woodland. Goats are often kept on pasture and will graze (some breeds more than others) but cropped grass can worsen parasite problems, to which grazing goats are particularly susceptible. If you have an area of woodland and scrubland, this is goat heaven, but be aware that they will destroy your trees! Solutions to this include rotating browsing areas, protecting young trees with guards, or fencing ‘islands of browse’ for goats to forage around the edge of. Goats are browsers rather than grazers and their natural foraging habitat is a mix of grassland, scrubland and woodland. Goats are often kept on pasture and will graze (some breeds more than others) but cropped grass can worsen parasite problems, to which grazing goats are particularly susceptible. If you have an area of woodland and scrubland, this is goat heaven, but be aware that they will destroy your trees! Solutions to this include rotating browsing areas, protecting young trees with guards, or fencing ‘islands of browse’ for goats to forage around the edge of.
  
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 Even goats with access to browse and grazing should receive additional roughage at night and over winter. Commonly, this is in the form of hay and haylage, but the ideal option for them is ‘tree hay’ - material cut from trees and fed fresh in the spring and summer or hung to dry for feeding in winter. Concentrated feed will also be required by goats who are producing milk, in late pregnancy or still growing. You can buy ready-mixed goat feed or, with a bit of research, you can buy ‘straight’ feeds such as wheat, oats, peas etc. and mix your own. This allows you to avoid ingredients such as soya, and reduce food miles. Vitamins and minerals are essential for goat health and all goats should have access to a mineral lick. There are mineral licks formulated specifically for goats, but if you keep other animals, please note that some goat mineral licks can be toxic to sheep. Even goats with access to browse and grazing should receive additional roughage at night and over winter. Commonly, this is in the form of hay and haylage, but the ideal option for them is ‘tree hay’ - material cut from trees and fed fresh in the spring and summer or hung to dry for feeding in winter. Concentrated feed will also be required by goats who are producing milk, in late pregnancy or still growing. You can buy ready-mixed goat feed or, with a bit of research, you can buy ‘straight’ feeds such as wheat, oats, peas etc. and mix your own. This allows you to avoid ingredients such as soya, and reduce food miles. Vitamins and minerals are essential for goat health and all goats should have access to a mineral lick. There are mineral licks formulated specifically for goats, but if you keep other animals, please note that some goat mineral licks can be toxic to sheep.
  
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 Keeping goats and poultry together works well, they are unlikely to compete for food, and poultry can help keep down parasite levels on the pasture. Goats can be kept with sheep with careful planning; you would need to consider separate feeding areas, how to prevent sheep accessing goat mineral licks, and keeping only dehorned goats. It is also important to note that goats are more susceptible to the parasites they share with sheep; sharing a pasture may lead to an increase in the need to medicate your goats. Though grazing goats with cows is less common it is theoretically less problematic; goats are not susceptible to cow parasites and cows are not as vulnerable to goat horns. Keeping goats and poultry together works well, they are unlikely to compete for food, and poultry can help keep down parasite levels on the pasture. Goats can be kept with sheep with careful planning; you would need to consider separate feeding areas, how to prevent sheep accessing goat mineral licks, and keeping only dehorned goats. It is also important to note that goats are more susceptible to the parasites they share with sheep; sharing a pasture may lead to an increase in the need to medicate your goats. Though grazing goats with cows is less common it is theoretically less problematic; goats are not susceptible to cow parasites and cows are not as vulnerable to goat horns.
  
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 If you're producing milk for consumption at home, there's little regulation surrounding this; you should, however, take sensible hygiene precautions. As a minimum, you'll need a milking platform with some form of shelter and a water supply nearby, plus a kitchen where milk can be filtered and cooled and equipment can be sterilised. If you're producing milk for consumption at home, there's little regulation surrounding this; you should, however, take sensible hygiene precautions. As a minimum, you'll need a milking platform with some form of shelter and a water supply nearby, plus a kitchen where milk can be filtered and cooled and equipment can be sterilised.
  
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 Angora goats are usually shorn in spring and autumn, and produce a fibre known as mohair. Fine but hard-wearing, mohair is known for its silk-like texture and sheen. It takes dye easily, so often comes in vibrant colours. As the fibre is so smooth, it's often blended with other fibres, such as wool, to give it more structure and make it easier to [spin](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/spinning) into yarn. Angora goats are usually shorn in spring and autumn, and produce a fibre known as mohair. Fine but hard-wearing, mohair is known for its silk-like texture and sheen. It takes dye easily, so often comes in vibrant colours. As the fibre is so smooth, it's often blended with other fibres, such as wool, to give it more structure and make it easier to [spin](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/spinning) into yarn.
  
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 Goats are covered by EU 'TSE' regulations which require that certain parts of the carcass are removed and disposed of in specific ways. See the Food Standards Agency for further information. Goats are covered by EU 'TSE' regulations which require that certain parts of the carcass are removed and disposed of in specific ways. See the Food Standards Agency for further information.
  
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 You'll need to routinely inspect and trim your goats' feet; this is easy to learn with the help of an experienced person. You'll probably need to treat your goats for intestinal parasites; how frequently you need to do this will depend on the area of pasture your goats have to roam in, your pasture rotation system, and whether your goats have access to browse. It's important not to treat your goats for worms more often than necessary, as this can lead to resistance to the medications. It's worth researching pasture rotation for parasite control, and considering regular fecal egg counts to monitor the parasite levels in your herd. You'll also need to check your goats for lice, ensure they have the necessary vaccinations, and generally keep an eye out for infectious disease. You'll need to routinely inspect and trim your goats' feet; this is easy to learn with the help of an experienced person. You'll probably need to treat your goats for intestinal parasites; how frequently you need to do this will depend on the area of pasture your goats have to roam in, your pasture rotation system, and whether your goats have access to browse. It's important not to treat your goats for worms more often than necessary, as this can lead to resistance to the medications. It's worth researching pasture rotation for parasite control, and considering regular fecal egg counts to monitor the parasite levels in your herd. You'll also need to check your goats for lice, ensure they have the necessary vaccinations, and generally keep an eye out for infectious disease.
  
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 - [List of goat breeds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_goat_breeds) - [List of goat breeds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_goat_breeds)
  
-## Specialists 
-[[p:Lesley Anderson]] of [Permaculture Scotland](https://scotland.permaculture.org.uk/)  
  
 +## People
 +[[p:Lesley Anderson]] of [Permaculture Scotland](https://scotland.permaculture.org.uk/) 
  • ints/goats.txt
  • Last modified: 2025/12/17 04:30
  • (external edit)