Breeding Goat Essentials
(Angora, Meat, Dairy)
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
Topics to Discuss
The following topics will be discussed:
• Selection
• Facilities and Equipment
• Nutrition
• Health
• Fitting and Showing
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
Selection
Breeds
• Types of breeding goats – fiber (Angora,
cashmere), meat (Boer, Kiko, pygmy, etc) and dairy
(Alpine, LaMancha, Nubian, Oberhasli, Saanen,
and Toggenburg)
• Most major shows have Angora, Boer, and Dairy
goat shows, however Dairy will not be discussed.
• For information on Dairy goats contact Dr. Lou Nuti
& Scott Horner - Prairie View A&M University
(979/857 -3916)
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
Selection
• Breeds
Shows
Breeds
Dallas (junior & open)
Junior – Dairy
Open – Angora, Boer, Cashmere,
Dairy, Meat Goat
Fort Worth (open)
Boer and Dairy
San Antonio (junior & open)
Angora and Boer
San Angelo (junior & open)
Junior – Angora, Boer, Angora Wether
Futurity
Open – Boer and Pygmy
Houston (open)
Boer and Dairy
Austin (open)
Boer
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
Selection cont.
Quality Considerations
• The following considerations should be taken when selecting a
goats:
– Structural correctness
– Growth
– Muscle
– Breed and sex characteristics
• Approx. 50% of evaluation of Angora is evaluated on body
conformation and 50% on fleece
• Important mohair traits – lbs of mohair, grade and uniformity of
grade, length, density, style and character, luster, completeness
of cover, absence of kemp, absence of sheepy fleeces
• Angora and Boer evaluated on structural correctness, growth,
muscling, volume and capacity, and breed and sex character.
• Disqualifications for Boer goats include: jaw defects, folder ears,
blue eyes, wry tail, too little pigmentation, split testicles, teat and
udder problems.
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
Selection cont.
Ownership
• All goats must be registered in the
Handbook of their Association in the
name of the Junior owner before they
enter the ring.
• Most shows will use November 1st as
deadline.
• Open shows require ownership in
Handbook of Association 30 days prior to
the show.
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
Selection cont.
Age
• Angora and Boer divided into classes
based on age on registration papers.
• Angora: kid, yearling, aged
• Boer: kid, yearling, aged subdivided into
more classes
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
Selection cont.
Shearing guidelines
• Angora goats must be machine shorn to
the skin on or after August 1st of the
calendar year preceding the show
Health Papers
• Most major shows require breeding
goats to have health papers upon
entering the show grounds.
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
Facilities and
Equipment
• Minimum space of 400 ft2 of pen space and 25ft2
of shelter space per goat is recommended
• Should be well drained.
• Pen height should be at least 42 inches to
discourage jumping and predators
• Can be hand-fed or self-fed
• If hand-feeding allow for 12-18 inches of trough
space per goat
• If self-feeding allow for 6 inches of trough space
per goat
• Access to clean water most important when
feeding.
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
Nutrition
• No particular feed that should be fed
• Goats must have basic daily nutritional
requirements:
– Water
– Protein
– Energy
– Minerals
– Vitamins
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
Nutrition cont.
• If raising own lambs important to not only feed does
but also creep feed young kids
• Good creep feed contains 16-18% crude protein,
proper mineral balance, not too much roughage or
fiber, contain antibiotics (coccidiostat and ammonium
chloride), palatable and be pelleted
• After buying or weaning goats put on growing ration
(14-16% protein), proper mineral balance, roughage,
and antibiotics if necessary, palatable, and pelleted
• Can either be self-fed or hand-fed
• Recommended to hand-feed breeding goats to allow
more accurate evaluation, however growing kids
usually self-fed
• Feed should be fresh and consistent
• Should gain 3-4% of their body weight a day.
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
Health
• Keeping breeding goats healthy is very
important!
• Prevention is the key to a successful health
program.
• Administer vaccination program
recommended by local veterinarian
– Vaccinate for enterotoxemia and soremouth and
treated for internal parasites
• Other diseases: urinary calculi, coccidiosis,
polioencephalomalcia, ring worm, and
pinkeye
• Regular hoof trimming is also necessary
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
Health cont.
• When administering drugs follow all
directions on drug labels to Quality
Assurance.
• The use of drugs in manner unintended
violates laws set by the Food and Drug
Administration
• Texas livestock shows have strict laws
for illegal drug use and will disqualify
animals if illegal drugs are used
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
Fitting and Showing
• Angora goats are shown in their natural
state, never washed.
• Important that fleece contamination by hay,
dirt, etc. be kept to a minimum
• When mohair gets long Angora goats tend
to urinate on themselves, trimming
prevents this.
• Mohair can be worked so it will open easier
when being evaluated.
• Important to do properly otherwise can
cause more harm than good.
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
Fitting and Showing cont.
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•
•
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No set rules for fitting Boer goats
Shorn slick a month or two before show
Boer goats generally washed before show
Both Angora and Boer should be halter
broken and taught to lead.
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
Additional questions to
address with Exhibitors
• What are the goals of the 4-H member and
family?
• What breeds of goats do you and your family
have an interest in showing?
• Do you need assistance in locating and selecting
your project?
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
Additional Resources for Breeding
Goats
Meat Goat Production Handbook
By Langston University
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
Conclusions
• All aspects of the selection process
should be understood. (breeds, quality,
ownership, age, shearing guidelines)
• Proper facilities should be available.
• Proper diets and nutritional information
about feeding goats should be identified.
• Health is one of the most important
aspects of raising breeding goats.
• All rules should be followed in regards to
fitting prior to show.
Texas 4-H and Youth Development