Farm Animals

Cows are not the only animals that can be kept as pets and supply you with milk; goats make great pets and provide milk as well. The milk of a goat is said to be among the healthiest milk...

Female goats (called does) will most commonly spontaneously abort during the last two months of their gestation -- earlier abortions during pregnancy cannot usually be detected. There can be many...

Raising meat goats can be a very exciting and rewarding experience, but can also be very challenging. With a bit of preparation and understanding of the nutritional needs of goats, even the newest...

Lice are a common problem on goats nearly everywhere. The signs and symptoms are obvious: incessant itching, restless behavior and general irritability frequently point to lice infestation. A...

Sheep and goats require a special diet. One of the things that they both eat is cracked corn. There is a certain way to feed them so they will be healthy and strong. The corn needs to be mixed in...

Homemade goat feeders, for hay and grain, can be made with a few basic tools and supplies. In putting up your feeders, keep in mind your goats' basic behaviors and likes and dislikes. The type of...

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...

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...

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....

Johne's disease is an intestinal bacterial infection that usually affects hoofed animals with three to four chambered stomachs, such as sheep, cows, goats, and deer. It is a contagious disease and...

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 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...

If you're a goat owner, your animals' health and comfort is of utmost importance. And if your goats have lice, you'll want to take care of this problem as soon as possible. Lice can cause a goat...

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...

Ants can be harmful to all types of farm animals, including goats. In addition to irritating bites ants deliver to goats and humans, ants can also cause damage to your lawn, plant and vegetable...

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...

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...

Goats are one of the oldest and most common livestock species worldwide. Humans have kept herds of goats for thousands of years, using them for their milk, meat, skins and hair. Within the last...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Parasites are nasty creatures that affect all domestic livestock. Goats have a particularly horrible affliction in the form of nose bots--a larvae that hatches from an egg laid in the mucosa of...

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...

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...

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...

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.

The female goat, also called a doe, is pregnant for an average of 150 days. This is called the gestation period. To track the stages of pregnancy and accurately predict the due date, it is...

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...

Goats will eat just about anything, but owners want to ensure they are getting a balanced diet. With hay prices rising, farmers and researchers seek out less costly alternatives that still provide...

Breeding and raising goats for meat can be a profitable livestock venture that requires simple facilities and reasonable management.

While some goats are born without horns, a distinction known as "polled," most are born with them, and are later dehorned by breeders. The dehorning procedure is done for several reasons,...

According to the experts at Fias Co Farm, you cannot confirm that a goat is pregnant simply by sight alone. To make matters more complicated, pregnant female goats, which are called does, do not...

If you are interested in keeping a few chickens or goats or other small animals on your property, but still want your landscape to look attractive while keeping your animals safe and comfortable,...

Goats and sheep sometimes look quite similar, and their pregnancy and gestation are similar. Both have their breeding seasons in early fall, and both give birth in spring, with gestation periods...

When selecting a buck goat to sire a flock of goats, pick an animal with traits that would be beneficial to the herd. Pick buck goats with deeper, larger bones using insight from a livestock...

When breeding goats, give does a small portion of concentrates prior to breeding to increase the number of kids produced. Feed goats quality food when breeding with tips from a livestock...

Separate mother goats from kids after 60 days, and keep aggressive goats in different pens from less aggressive goats. Keep bucks and does separated from each other until breeding season with tips...

Goats can be trained to pull carts, be pack animals or do specialty tricks through repetitive training. Stay patient when training goats because it requires a lot of repetition and advice from a...

Care for pygmy goats by providing them with fresh water, nutritious food and a quality breed program. Raise quality goats that are profitable with tips from a livestock consultant in this free...