eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.
Goat care requires feeding goats a proper diet and providing the right shelter with good ventilation. Learn how to care for goats with tips from a livestock consultant in this free video series on goat care.
There are 23 videos in this series:
Basic goat care should include a diet rich in protein, carbohydrates and fiber, along with proper vaccinations and parasite control. Care for goats properly by providing quality exercise opportunity and fresh water with tips from a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
Bottle feed pygmy goats by purchasing a quality lamb or goat milk replacer, placing a Prichard teat on a disposable bottle and then dispensing milk through an automated dispensing unit or by hand. Keep pygmy goats on bottled milk for 60 days and then ween them on to regular feed with tips from a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
The different breeds of goats include Boer goats, Spanish Angoras, pygmy goats, Norwegian dwarfs and Kikos. Identify which goats are dairy goats and which are used for meat with information from a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
Medicine is available for goats, but it is easier to prevent illness and keep goats healthy with a clean environment, quality food and fresh water. Find a veterinarian that specializes in goats with tips from a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
Goats need to be wormed often in warm, humid areas and less frequently in cooler, dryer areas of the country. De-worm goats with both clear and white de-wormers to successfully rid goats of pests with tips from a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
Breed pygmy goats by deciding on the quality of breed and whether the goats will be used for show or for meat. Decide what level to breed goats at, and in what quantity, with tips from a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
Build a goat pen that has open sides and a sturdy roof, so that fresh air can flow around the goats, but they are still protected from storms and the sun. Use vertical rods instead of horizontal on a goat pen to prevent the goats from catching and breaking a leg with tips from a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
Care for baby goats by keeping the kids warm and getting them full of milk as soon as possible. Allow the mother goat to care for the baby goat if possible, and ensure the baby is feeding properly with tips from a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
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 video on goat care.
Choose a goat that has a well-structured body with legs set at the corners, a nice foot size, a deep body and easy movements. Decide what quality of goat you want to breed with tips from a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
Feed goats a high-fiber diet from bunk line feeders, which will keep the goats healthy and not waste the food. Avoid feeding goats too much grain that could deplete their health with tips from a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
Groom pygmy goats for showing by keeping the feet trimmed and clipping the goat in order to maximize good qualities. Increase the length of the goat, emphasize leg muscle and increase neck length with tips from a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
Shave a goat for shows by washing the goat first and then using clippers that will leave a little bit of hair to protect the goat from the elements. Use smaller clippers to shave the head, ears and legs of a goat with the help of a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
Show a 4-H goat in a show ring by using a chain instead of a collar and holding the goat with the right handle or a snap handle across the top of the goat. Help young people get experienced with training goats for show with advice from a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
It is difficult to tell if a goat is pregnant and generally requires a blood test or sonogram from a veterinarian. Look for a sagging over the tail head right before a goat gives birth using insight from a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
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 livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
Trim goat hooves by securing the goat in an alley and then using hoof trimmers that will keep the feet level from the heel to the toe. Ensure that there is no excess hoof on either the inside or outside of the goat hoof with instructions from a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
To treat goat scours, which causes liquid bowel movements, get electrolytes into the goat's system and use an antibiotic or other medication to treat the different types of scours. Consult a veterinarian to determine which treatment is best for the goat with information from a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
A goat's diet consists of hay roughage, a protein source, lots of fiber and fresh, clean water. Make sure goat food is fresh and palatable with tips from a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
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 consultant in this free video on goat care.
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 consultant in this free video on goat care.
Manage goat diseases by visiting a veterinarian to treat goat polio and pneumonia with antibiotics and other drugs. Provide goats with a proper diet and good ventilation to help prevent diseases using insight from a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
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 from a livestock consultant in this free video on goat care.
For thousands of years, goats have been used for their milk, meat, hair and skins over much of the world. In the last century, they have also gained some popularity as pets. Female goats are referred to as does or nannies, intact males as bucks or billies; their offspring are kids. Goats were domesticated in the Indian subcontinent by 9000 B.C. and were generally kept in herds that wandered on hills or other grazing areas, often tended by goat herders who were frequently children or adolescents, similar to the more widely known shepherd. In this free video series on goat care, a livestock consultant explains how to care for goats. Learn about the different breeds of goats, what to feed goats and how to groom goats for shows. Get information on breeding goats, building a goat pen and protecting goats from disease. Caring for goats is a great way to make money and have fun with animals, so learn how in this free video series.
Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.
