How to Pick a 4-H Doe Goat

Look for a 4-H project goat that has the necessary characteristics.

When children want to join the 4-H organization, a group that promotes youth learning by doing, one of the first things they must do is to choose a project to focus on. For children in rural or semi-rural environments, raising goats is a common choice. It is important to choose the best possible goat for the project, though that doesn't necessarily mean it has to be expensive or purebred.

Instructions

1. Determine the budget for buying a goat. The initial purchase is only a small part of the overall cost of keeping a goat, but it affects choices such as whether to buy a purebred or mixed-breed goat, the goat's age and its background.

2. Decide if you want to have a meat goat or a dairy goat. Both types can be used as 4-H projects and shown in 4-H shows, but at the end a dairy goat is normally kept for milk and breeding while a meat goat may end up being sold for slaughter.

3. Go to a local goat breeder and review the goats that are for sale. You may be able to buy either an adult or a young kid, though most breeders will not sell their good-quality females. Many 4-H members prefer to use younger goats for their projects, as they are easier to tame and train for show. For some projects it is a requirement to start with a young goat, called a kid.

4. Inspect any does -- females -- that you are interested in to see if they have the correct characteristics for the breed and type of goat. Specific breed requirements vary widely, but type requirements are divided into two categories: meat and dairy.

5. Purchase a dairy goat doe if she has an even udder, strong, wide-set legs, a straight back and appears to be healthy. Purchase a meat goat doe if she has a sturdy, square appearance and a heavy chest and thighs.

Tips & Warnings

• Some 4-H members decide they want to show their goats at regular goat shows in addition to 4-H shows. Although papers are not required for 4-H entries, most goat shows mandate that entrants have papers proving that the goats are purebred representatives of their breed. The initial cost for a purebred goat is higher, but after that the costs are the same. Purebred kids can be sold for more money, which can help to recover the initial purchase price of the doe.

• Look for problems before buying a goat and reject any that show signs of diarrhea, limping, coughing, runny eyes or nose, abscesses or other health issues.

References

• Oregon State University: 4-H Dairy Goat Project; May 2004
• Mother Earth News: An Introduction to Common Goat Breeds; Aubrey Vaughn; May 28, 2008
• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Dairy Goat Production Guide; Barnet Harris Jr.; June 2003
• University of Kentucky Extension Service: Kentucky 4-H: Goat