How Does a Goat Farmer Spend a Workday?

A goat farmer's workday is multifaceted and largely dependent upon the methods of his goat raising and, even more importantly, the reason behind the goat raising. Goats may be raised for a variety of purposes, and each purpose can lead to a level of sustainability for the goat farmer. Generally, there are four main purposes behind the raising of goats, outside of the sheer recreation it may entail. The first reason is to process milk, the second is for cheese, the third is for meat, and the fourth is for wool. Each method requires a different discipline and a different course to the day and general routine. The goat farmer's workday starts early.

The key to goat raising is reproduction. Goats must breed in order to keep product incoming and in order to maintain an income level that can support the goat farmer's lifestyle. Females, known as does, breed in the fall with males. Once spring rolls around, the offspring of the goats are born, known as kids. In the process of breeding and tending to goats, the goat farmer must keep in mind that the does must not be allowed to breed before the age of 8 months. While technically it is possible to breed by the third or fourth month, this is not recommended. In the fall, the goat farmer oversees the mating of goats, and in the spring, the farmer oversees birth. So, workday tasks vary depending upon the season.
Throughout each season, and especially when new kids come along in the spring, the goat farmer must be sure to keep strong records of each goat, as this is critical to the farming routine. Goats are kept tagged by the goat farmer, in order to keep track of individuals and their vital statistics. Further, such identification is necessary when treating goats for illnesses and getting the goats proper shots, which again is a task that is heavily performed in the spring.

Goats aren't like other animals in that they need to always be fed to survive, per se. Goats do not actually graze like cows, either. Instead, they are considered to browse, in which they are selective in what they eat and from where, consuming tree leaves and such. However, farmers must still supplement that with grain and related foods, and this is a year-round endeavor. Disease prevention in the animals is also a year-round endeavor. A common misconception is that farmers lead a simple life with nature, but any successful goat farmer is first and foremost a businessperson.