Goats

As ruminants (animals with four stomachs that chew a cud and primarily consume a plant-based diet), goats require a daily intake of roughage in the form of hay, especially during the winter when...

Slippery elm is an herbal supplement that has been used for decades as a treatment and dietary aid for both humans and animals. Made from the interior bark of the slippery elm tree native to North...

There are many ways you can go about attaining a goat harness.You can opt to buy a goat harness, or if you are feeling industrious, you can try making your own. Cost for materials for a goat...

Ruminal acidosis, or grain overload, in goats can be life threatening. When goats consume large quantities of easily fermentable grain, the rumen distends and diarrhea begins, dehydration ensues...

Pinkeye in goats can originate from many different sources. Non-infectious pinkeye can be caused by dust or other airborne irritants, vitamin A deficiency or toxins. Infectious pinkeye is caused...

Cydectin as a medication for both internal parasites (such as worms) and external parasites (such as lice, ticks, and fleas) has an ambivalent reputation in the goat farming industry. Concerns...

Lice are tiny, wingless insects that can infest most any species of mammals and birds. There are two types of lice; biting lice feed on skin cells on the surface of the animal and sucking lice...

Slippery Elm has been used for centuries as an herbal remedy for humans and animals alike. First used by Native Americans more than 500 years ago, this powdered inner bark of the Slippery Elm tree...

There are several possible causes of warts appearing on a goat's mouth. If they are papillomatosis (common warts), they are likely to fall off on their own. However, the most likely cause is a...

Pinkeye in goats (also called infectious keratoconjunctivitis) is an inflammation of the eye typically caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma conjunctivae or Chlamydia. According to Maria...

If you've decided to raise goats for meat, milk, or pleasure, you'll need to have a strong, predator-proof fence around your property to keep them safely contained. Though prefabricated goat...

Caseous lymphadenitis, commonly referred to as CL, is a highly contagious bacterial infection that occurs in goats throughout the world. The bacterium enters your goat's body through breaks in the...

Feeding goats whole sunflower seeds is a common practice among both small- and large-scale goat owners to help boost their goats' nutritional intake. Black oil sunflower seeds (BOSS), the type of...

Goats have voracious appetites and can easily spend most of their day eating. To help keep goats healthy and active, owners can provide a variety of trees and plants for their goats to browse on....

Mosquitoes and fleas are some of the most troublesome pests that afflict pets and farm animals, including goats. These little insects can not only pose serious health risks to the animals, but the...

The sticktight and cat fleas are the two most common fleas found on goats. Sticktight fleas are usually found on the head and neck, where they can live for two to three weeks. Sticktight fleas can...

The arrival of goat kids is usually a joyful time on your farm or homestead, unless your new baby goats develop diarrhea or scours. Characterized by the presence of watery white, pale brown or...

Having your beloved pet wether (castrated male goat) or prized show buck (uncastrated male goat) exhibit signs of urinary calculi--also called urolithiasis--can be a stressful experience for any...

Goats have a tendency to jump over or crawl under anything in their way, so they are difficult to contain within a fence. Although wire fencing can be electrified to keep goats in, you should...

Gardenias grow white or cream-colored flowers and generally are from 2 to 6 feet tall, though they can grow much taller. Some goats will eat the plant and its flowers.

Goats are susceptible to a variety of external parasites, including fleas, mosquitoes and ticks. Treating goats for these parasites is similar as it is for cats or dogs, but there are remedies...

While store-bought creams can make delicious dessert toppings, it is impossible to match the taste and sweetness that comes with making your own fresh cream. Goat milk takes longer to separate...

Due to their curious nature and tendency to jump over and crawl under wires, goats are one of the most difficult species of livestock to secure within a fence. Electric fences deliver an...

Goats need some form of shelter to get out of severe weather. The shelter does not have to be fancy, or even completely enclosed. It needs to prevent drafts in cold weather and allow the goats to...

If you have goats, you know how hard they can be on everything within reach, and how difficult it can be to hold them for milking or other maintenance. Building a stand will help you solve both...

If you have, or plan to have dairy goats you probably plan to milk them. If you've never milked before this can seem to be a daunting task. Training your dairy goat to milk will make all the...

Humans have used goat's milk for many things over the centuries. People use the milk for purposes such as cleaning and culinary products, although it is most common as a diet staple for people...

When a goat damages one of its horns, it can be a very painful experience. There is a blood vessel and a nerve that extends up into each horn, so depending on the extent of the injury, there can...

Goats and cattle both belong to the same family of ungulates (hoofed mammals), Bovidae. Horns are a defining feature of most species in both subfamilies. The underlying anatomy in goat and cattle...

Even if you have just one goat, sooner or later the time will come when using a goat stanchion (also called a milk stand) will make your job as a goat owner much easier. Between being able to use...

Castration--removing the testicles--is a common management tool used by goat owners to prevent unwanted pregnancies and undesirable buck behavior, such as aggression and unpleasant odors during...

According to data from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, goat meat is consumed more than any other red meat in the world. A common source of goat meat in the United States, market goats...

Naturally homogenized, goat milk is often touted as superior to cow's milk, but it does not come without potential problems. Problems you might encounter with goat milk typically occur as a result...

Regardless of what kind of goat you own, your animal needs nutrients every day to stay alive; most goat owners provide these nutrients in the form of fresh grass, hay and grain. Trying to predict...

Whether you own one goat or 30 goats, you will need to consider milking if you plan on breeding your goats. Being aware of factors affecting how often you need to milk your goat will help you...

Although many goat owners still use natural breeding methods for their goats, artificial insemination in goats is becoming a popular option. If you're considering artificial insemination for your...

Often taking place after a goat escapes and gets into the grain bin, goat acidosis occurs when your goat eats too much concentrate (grain). Knowing goat acidosis symptoms will help you identify...

Deworming your goats on a regular basis is critical to their overall health. Parasites are notorious for causing poor hair coats, low milk production and general lassitude. Especially in cases...

A healthy goat has a shiny coat and loose, pliable skin that is free of irritation and sores. Keeping your eyes open for signs of common skin problems will help you more quickly discover and treat...

Although the development of urinary calculi (stones) is a more common ailment with goats, a goat urinary tract infection can occur fairly regularly in goat herds. Typically affecting female goats...

Goat's milk has many uses and is found in various products worldwide. Consumption is beneficial in many ways due to its nutritional value and easy digestion.

According to the American Dairy Goat Association, more people in the world drink the milk of goats than any other single animal, including the cow. Goat's milk is generally considered to be easier...

There are different ways to remove the horns of a goat and knowledgeable people disagree on which way is best. Debudding of young goats can be done using a hot iron to burn the emerging horn buds...

Corn gluten is a byproduct of the process of making corn starch and corn syrup. It is often used as a dietary supplement for goats and cattle as it is very high in protein. Various corn gluten...

Finding the perfect goat for your family and farm takes a little forethought and planning, but is very rewarding. This article will walk you through purchasing a good dairy goat.

Goats, like many other mammals, are subject to developing anemia if heavily infected by one or more of any number of parasites. These parasites include liver flukes and barber pole or wire worms....

Vibrosis, a bacterial condition common in farmed fishes, is caused by the bacteria Vibrio (V.) anguillarum. V. anguillarum attackes marine and brackish water fishes, particularly targeting salmon...

Hello, I am writing to help all the little Orphans out there. Orphan goats that is. It was my first time and I made some mistakes but it was all worth it in the end

Milking is not hard to do, but you do but it helps if you understand how the udder works: Imagine the udder as latex glove filled with water, imagine the teats of the udder as the fingers of the...

Joint pain in goats can occur for a variety of reasons, such as injury, the normal wear and tear of old age (osteoarthritis) or a viral infection like CAE (Caprine arthritis encephalitis) or...