| Some people prefer to have goats as pets, but for | | | | a certain weight. The right weight will differ from |
| the most part, people have goats for meat and milk. | | | | goat to goat, but will mostly be between 35 to 90 |
| The goats for milk and meat have a lot of similarities | | | | pounds. |
| in the way they are raised. | | | | Whether you are raising them as pets, or for milk or |
| Raising meat goats have an added benefit, as they | | | | meat purposes, you will need to ensure that your |
| can also be milked, so an owner gets both milk and | | | | goats are protected from predators at all times. |
| meat from one goat. | | | | Besides the predators getting to your goats, they |
| Goats are pregnant for 4 months, and can have | | | | may also wander off, only to be lost, which would be |
| between one to 5 babies. It is important to know | | | | quite a loss for you, so you want to make sure that |
| that female goats should not be milked until they turn | | | | they are enclosed and protected. |
| a year, even though it is ok for them to mate from | | | | The fundamental difference in the way you raise |
| 7 months. | | | | meat goats or milk goats, is the food that is fed to |
| As with humans, it is best for a baby goat to be fed | | | | them. There are other differences, but there is more |
| milk from the mother. The reason for this is because | | | | common than differences. To ensure you raise the |
| the baby goats get Colostrum, which contains | | | | healthiest goats, you must provide effective fencing |
| minerals, vitamins and antibodies which make the | | | | so they stay protected, clean water, good pasture |
| baby goat healthy and strong. | | | | and last but not least, they must have enough space |
| Goat farming for meat purposes will require that the | | | | to walk and run around as well as adequate shelter. |
| goats be fed hay, grain and pasture, until they reach | | | | |